Silence

[Chris Corrigan]

I guess there are different forms of prayer.  In our meetings what is
most common is for an Elder to lead us in a prayer and so we focus
outward on the Elder's words.  Often Elder's prayers take us to an
acknowledgement of everything that holds us, our relationships with the
universe and the animals and the natural world, and in this respect it
becomes a bit of a guided meditation.  Many Elders invite us to take a
moment to pray in our own ways using our own languages and addressing
our own deities.  When that happens you get the full deal, outer focus
and inner reflection.

It's a good way to start a meeting.  As a result of having this great
resource available to me in most of the work I do with our communities I
find myself not needing to do anything special in opening and closing
circles.  The Elders take care of that.

Chris

---
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Bowen Island, BC, Canada
http://www.chriscorrigan.com
chris at chriscorrigan.com

(604) 947-9236






> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
Ashley
> Cooper
> Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 4:28 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Re: Silence
>
> thanks Mik and Chris. it helped me to think in terms of meditation
verses
> just prayer. it doesn't seem like prayer automatically  fits into that
> equation for me.
>
> warm regards,
> Ashley
>
> > From: Chris Corrigan <chris at CHRISCORRIGAN.COM>
> > To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
> > Date: 1/25/2004 4:38:49 PM
> > Subject: Re: Silence
> >
> > Ashley and Artur...what Mik said.
> >
> > Basically prayer (or maybe more precisely meditation) is the
exercise
> > whereby we focus ourselves on a silent spot within and then open
> > ourselves to fully and truly experience the world as it really is.
That
> > means all the sounds and sensations that envelop us: we experience
them
> > acutely as we become more and more aware of our connection to the
> > greater whole, which is what prayer and meditation is about for me.
> > Also, when someone is leading a prayer, I find myself very focused
on
> > that person's words, sounds which are obviously "out there."
> >
> > Reflection on the other hand is what happens when we turn the
spotlight
> > inwards, and as Mik said, we concentrate deeply on our own internal
> > sounds and images and find ourselves blocking out the world from our
> > minds.
> >
> > Both are good and important forms of silence in my life.
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > ---
> > CHRIS CORRIGAN
> > Bowen Island, BC, Canada
> > http://www.chriscorrigan.com
> > chris at chriscorrigan.com
> >
> > (604) 947-9236
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
> > Artur
> > > Ferreira da Silva
> > > Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 11:45 AM
> > > To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> > > Subject: Re: Silence
> > >
> > > At 13:59 23-01-2004 -0800, Chris Corrigan wrote:
> > >
> > > >So, to conclude, in terms Artur might appreciate:
> > > >
> > > >Prayer = IS + EN
> > > >Reflection = IN + ES
> > > >
> > > >Where IS=internal silence, IN=internal noise, ES=external silence
and
> > > >EN=external noise.
> > >
> > > Sorry, Chris, but I share Ashley's doubts. And I am not able to
> > appreciate
> > > what I am unable to understand :-(
> > >
> > > Best regards
> > >
> > > Artur
> > >
> > > *
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