Recently something struck me for the first time. Amazingly, since I have been meditating for a long time. I was struck by John Main’s emphasis on small groups.
During a spell as headmaster in the USA a student, who had travelled in the Far East and experienced Eastern spirituality, asked John Main a life-changing question: ‘What is there like this in Christianity?’ This sent him off on the trail to answer this question. He found it in the writings of the Desert Fathers. And what did he do? He started a small group of lay contemplatives who practised meditation 3 times a day in the grounds of Ealing Abbey. Others who couldn’t commit to that, were pressing him to teach them. And very soon in response to requests, he started forming small groups for people leading ordinary busy lives in the world, to gather together to meditate weekly.
The small group is the essential unit of our community. Community is an essential aspect of the spiritual life. Kabir Helminski writes,
‘There is no such thing as individual spirituality’. And again, ‘Wherever two or three are gathered in presence, maturity of spirit is communicated from one heart to another. It is rarely achieved alone’(Living Presence).
One of John Main’s most frequent sayings was,
‘Meditation creates Community’
In our fractured and fragmenting world more and more people who are concerned for human welfare are advocating the value of community. Laurence Freeman spoke recently of ‘releasing a contemplative spirit in our complex and violent global crisis’.
This newsletter illustrates some of the joys and rewards of team-creating and gatherings of small groups being fostered in our UK community. Even the individual journey of the Camino – ends up creating community! The Cumbria community is an object lesson in creating community. Almost every possible aspect is represented there. Notice how dynamic and flexible a team of seven can be!
It is a joy to be able to spread this good news by reporting some of what is going on. We can be an example and inspiration to one another. Whether they be in person or online small groups work – they create community.
We cover the whole spectrum – from the little local group to those who carry the responsibility of representing the community at the national level. And the Outreach of the Community as expressed in the Ampleforth event ‘The Joy of Encounter’. All share in the precious gift that binds us – opening to the presence of the divine mystery of which we are a part.
My hope is that the Newsletter will help us communicate with one another. It’s good to hear what other people are doing. And it’s good to let other people know what we are doing. We are a community!
Shelagh Layet