Frequently Asked Questions....
Here you will find a growing list of questions that are frequently asked by visitors to our site. You will find that the surest way to find answers regarding your meditation practice is to remain as faithful as you can to your twice-daily meditations -- regardless of any perceptible "results." John Main reminded his listeners of the utter poverty and simplicity of the practice by telling them to, "Just say your word."
Q. Why do we use the mantra?
Q. Is it necessary to meditate twice a day?
Q. Is the length of the meditation period important?
Q. Is the way of breathing important?
Q. Is posture important when meditating?
Q. I like to meditate but it is a very private thing for me. Why should I meditate with a group? It is distracting for me. Why should I go to a meditation group?
Q. How is this different from other forms of meditation, like Transcendental Meditation, or other forms of contemplative prayer? How does meditation help us to relate to other people?
Q. Do some people come to meditation without being taught?
Q. When I meditate I get a tingling sensation in my hands or a thumping heart, feelings of heat or cold, or some other physical sensation. Is this all right?
Q. When I meditate I see colours and this is very pleasant. There might also be sensations of light or of love, peace, etc. Should I just enjoy it?
Q. I have been meditating for some time, but it seems to be making me worse! I often experience a lot of anger when I meditate. At other times I feel very sad and cry a lot. What is happening?
Q. I find that sometimes in the meditation, I am saying the mantra and I become at peace and it seems to me, at that moment, that the appropriate thing to do is to stop saying the mantra and to remain at peace. If I continue to say the mantra at that moment, I am interfering with this open window of peace. I am forcing my head to keep thinking. What is your teaching on this?
Q. What is the relationship between meditation and social action?
Q. Sometimes when you are on holiday, family members may be all together in one room and it can be difficult to get the time or quiet for meditation. Do you have any suggestions on how to handle that situation?
Q. Does the Church approve of meditation?
Q. Does Christian meditation accord with the general teaching of the Church?
Q. How does this relate to the Mass and the Sacraments?
Q. Doesn't meditation mean “Ignatian” meditation?
Q. What about Reason?
Q. Where does it say that Jesus meditated with a mantra?
Q. Is meditation the same as contemplation?
Q. Isn't this Buddhist?
Q. What makes meditation “Christian”?
Q. Does the Devil enter the empty mind?
Q. Where is meditation mentioned in Scripture?
Q. Isn't meditation self-centred?
Q. Isn't meditation just self-hypnosis?
Q. If I concentrate on the mantra am I locking out the Holy Spirit?
Q. Isn't this practice just for Catholics?
Q. Why do we have to bring religion into meditation?
Q. Do I need faith to meditate?
Q. What are the physical benefits of meditation?
Q. Is this the same as Centering Prayer?
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