Meditation Part I

Meditation: Part One — Saint Francis

In January, I commenced a daily practice of early morning meditations based on Eknath Easwaran’s book “Passage Meditation.” 

His method involves memorizing some religious or spiritual piece of work and repeating it very slowly in your head through 30 minutes of quiet meditation.

Easwaran provides a wonderful list of suggested possible passages from a variety of religions (both Eastern and Western). The first example in his book, and the first one of three that I’ve incorporated so far, is The Prayer of Saint Francis. 

Like my mother, Saint Francis holds a special place in my heart. Among many reasons, I’m drawn to his extreme example of eschewing materialism and things of the world in favor of the eternal.

This particular passage is very simple and short, but each clause is dense with meaning ripe for deep contemplation, therein revealing its beauty. I sometime linger on the words, which often spark memory of my son and his special life.

The concept of dying to self or letting go (the penultimate clause) is a common theme across many of the world’s great religions -- pointing the way to heaven, nirvana, unification with the one or common ground, etc.

I’m sharing this in the spirit of love.

The Prayer of St Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console, To be understood as to understand, To be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.