Christian meditation. A Path to oneself and Others. Qualitative study of Christian meditation and cultural encounters in lives of adults in Latvia

摘要

AbstractThis master thesis examines individual experiences regarding “Christian Meditation” of JohnMain and cultural encounters. Through qualitative interviews with Christian meditators the thesisaims to understand the subjective meanings of Christian Meditation from the informant’s point ofview. The purpose of the thesis is to explore the subjective experiences of Christian Meditationand cultural encounters; and to explore the subjective experiences of the meaning of ChristianMeditation in cultural encounters. Christian Meditation is a path to oneself, which goes throughbecoming aware of one’s dark sides and accepting them. It is a constant observing of the particulardistress within oneself and letting it go. Christian Meditation functions as an anchor in theinformants’ lives, which involves a greater focus on the present moment, inner peace and balancebetween one’s inner and outer life. Christian Meditation is experienced as contributing to one’sinner change, thus to transformation of one’s outer life, relationships. Christian Meditation servesas a ground for how one approaches others and the world. Cultural encounters are experienced as apersonal meeting and dialogue, which involve individual efforts in order to truly meet other people.Encounters with other people of different cultures, promote a more comprehensive understandingof oneself. Christian Meditation plays a significant role in establishing a more profound culturalencounter. An inner dialogue and working individually on oneself in meditation is a way toexperience a profound unity with other people. Christian Meditation promotes a deeper existentialrealization of belonging to other people. Shared meditation in the context of cultural encounters isexperienced as developing a sense of community and silent relationship with other participants.Finally, Christian Meditation functions as a way to unify different spiritual practices in one’s lifewithout experiencing them as conflicting.Key words: Christian Meditation, John Main, contemplative prayer, cultural encounter,intrareligious dialogue, dialogue of life, dialogue of heart, silence, false self, true self