Voice and Vision

"...he speaks these words to each, And silently walks with us from the dark..." - a Rainer Maria Rilke poem

God Speaks to Each of Us

God speaks to each of us before we are,
Before he's formed us then, in cloudy speech,
But only then, he speaks these words to each
And silently walks with us from the dark:

Driven by your senses, dare
To the edge of longing. Grow
Like a fire's shadowcasting glare
Behind assembled things, so you can spread
Their shapes on me as clothes.
Don't leave me bare.

Let it all happen to you: beauty and dread.
Simply keep going, no feeling is final.
And only this way can we stay in touch.

Near here is the land
That they call Life.
You'll know when you arrive
By how real it is.

Give me your hand.

- Rainer Maria Rilke

How many years have you had a regular practice of Centering Prayer? You're invited to say in this little poll.

I'm always interested in hearing from people who are following @centeringprayer on Twitter and who read this weblog as to how these communication tools can better serve you the reader. The informal "poll" below is a way to take a snapshot of the extent of experience with the prayer practice and thereby to tailor content and communications accordingly. While some needs are common to all it is likely that the needs of someone just starting the practice differ from someone with 15 years of experience.  I hope you'll consider responding below. All responses are anonymous. Blessings -

Directions: Click one option below to indicate the number of years you have had a regular practice of Centering Prayer. If you do not have a regular practice at this time select the last option. After making your selection the current percentage of persons selecting each option is shown. Thank you.

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/NTI1ODUzMTk

A Brief, Impromptu Introduction to Lectio Divina - video

This 11 minute, unscripted conversation, recorded with a hand-held iPhone, took place at a Contemplative Outreach retreat on deepening the contemplative dimension of servant leadership near St. Louis MO, November 2009. A transcript follows.

Lectio divina (divine reading) is a contemplative prayer practice that is complimentary to centering prayer. Sr. Maria Tasto's willingness to share her considerable experience with lectio divina on short notice and "rolling" with the spontaneous questions and conversation that developed are most appreciated.

Its recommended that you increase the volume on both your computer and the video itself to maximum. If you have earphones so much the better. This post was automatically forwarded to Twitter where "tweeps" having been following the retreat at @centeringprayer.

In the video Sr. Maria suggests Thelma Hall's book "Too Deep for Words" as a good introduction to the practice. Have you found other introductory readings on lectio divina helpful? If so, please comment below.

An Impromptu Conversation on Contemplative Servant Leadership - Video

This 9 minute, unscripted conversation, recorded with a hand-held iPhone, took place at a Contemplative Outreach retreat on deepening the contemplative dimension of servant leadership near St. Louis MO during November 2009.

Its recommended that you increase the volume on both your computer and the video itself to maximum. If you have earphones so much the better.

This post was automatically forwarded to Twitter where "tweeps" having been following the retreat at @centeringprayer.

YouTube as Social Media (video)

In September 2009, Fr. Matthew Moretz of Rye, NY, posted the mini introduction to Centering Prayer below on YouTube, the preimment social media site devoted to video. Of note were the social aspects of the posting at YouTube with 24 ratings, 14 viewers who shared comments and the social interaction between Fr. Moretz and one of the viewers. In additon, Fr. Moretz tweeted news of the video posting on Twitter at @FatherMatthew, thereby linking two types of social media (YouTube and Twitter) and broadening the range of persons who might view the video.

What do you think of this approach to sharing Centering Prayer? Does it have value? Does it have limitations?

Amen Clinics Study on Meditation Using Brain SPECT Imaging

 I saw this item in the Clinic's 06/23/09 Newsletter. I hope it may prove interesting/informative. - John Curran

"Brain in the News" is a weekly commentary on how brain science relates to the news. The brain is involved in everything we do. Wherever there are human stories the brain is involved. From the impact of war and natural disasters on the brain to drug abuse scandals to courtroom dramas to politics, the brain is in the news, and you can read about it here.

Amen Clinics Study on Meditation Using Brain SPECT* Imaging
(*Single photon emission computed tomography)


We just received some exciting news here at the Amen Clinics. A study we conducted on the effects of meditation on the brain will be appearing in an upcoming issue of the journal Nuclear Medicine Communications, one of the premiere journals in the field of nuclear medicine.

For years, I’ve been recommending meditation to my patients as a great way to relieve stress, increase focus, and improve relaxation. In our practice, we have seen patients with Alzheimer’s disease or who have had a stroke make great improvements thanks to meditation. With this study, we set out to examine what happens in the brain during meditation to bring about these positive benefits.

We performed the study in conjunction with Dharma Singh Kalsa at the Alzheimer’s Prevention Research Foundation in Arizona and Dr. Andrew Newberg at the University of Pennsylvania. Together, we examined changes in brain physiology during Kirtan Kriya meditation using SPECT imaging.

Here’s what we found. The left posterior parietal lobe, a region known to control spatial orientation, was deactivated during meditation. Consistent with this finding, the participants reported a sense of transcendence or detachment.

The subjects also reported an increased sense of focus and capacity for concentration, although we did not find increased activation in the attentional networks of the brain. This suggests that it is the willful act of focusing, not necessarily the mere act of meditating, that improves attention.

We also found heightened activity in the areas associated with working memory and language. Deactivation in a region called the subgenual cingulated gyrus might explain subjective reports of happiness and a sense of well-being while meditating.

Overall, the results offer evidence that this form of meditation changes brain function in a way that is consistent with the positive benefits we have observed in our patients.

Try meditation in your own life to enhance brain function and reduce stress. Just a few minutes a day may be all you need to see results.

To your brain health,
Daniel

Daniel G. Amen, MD
CEO, Amen Clinics, Inc.
Distinguished Fellow, American Psychiatric Association