Sending A Package Paper

Reading March 11, 2011

Friday after Ash Wednesday, 2011


THE WORLD COMMUNITY FOR CHRISTIAN MEDITATION

LEARN TO LIVE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
ComunicaSoluciones
Religion without praxis is hypocrisy. In Greek, the word hints at what makes the free. Involves putting theory into practice and good intentions. Spiritually, it means living at the level of experience. In practice, we embarked on a process, rather than simply pointing at a target. Agreed to work with our own imperfections - because, however good it might be our practice, our goal is to achieve self-perfection. This would fall into the trap of ego.

This process is practical, yes, but also quite subtle, since it involves the purification of our motivation. As we set off, spiritually, egocentric strength of our reasons is gradually reduced. Little by little, we find ourselves doing good simply because we are improving; for the sake of good
rather than our own satisfaction. Virtue is its own reward. We love God for God's sake, not for what we could draw from a special relationship with Him If this seems too abstract to them, apply it to their changing motivation to meditate for a period of time, and see clearer what I mean.

Christian spirituality identifies three forms of praxis that are particularly relevant for people who want to get something for Lent: fasting, almsgiving and prayer.

Some people fast or refrain from eating meat during Lent - Fasting usually involves taking a single main meal day and do not snack between meals. But fasting can be applied to other areas, in addition to the food. We can reduce our intake of other consumer goods, or what we eat in the media, or habits that could easily become compulsive, like television, text messaging, Internet, the use of the iPod, magazines, unnecessary purchases ... Through meditation we come to the root cause of any imbalance and extremism
through the essential spiritual practice to "make our center to others" (Becoming other-center). For it makes us feel better, because we can experience the true meaning of kindness.





Laurence Freeman OSB