‘The School’ and the vital role of the Christian meditation group

Paul Harris and Kim Nataraja

‘The School’ has always acknowledged the very vital role of the weekly Christian Meditation group meeting that is actually the primary delivery system for the ‘Essential Teaching’. The whole purpose of 'The School' is, in fact, to support the group leaders in this essential work, along with meditators who want to deepen their own journey in our tradition. The 'Resources Book', which is presented to each participant has a whole section on 'The Role of the Christian Meditation Group'. Moreover, each participant leaves with a copy of 'A pearl of Great Price' with excellent advice by Laurence Freeman on starting groups, but no doubt more can be done.

The Christian Meditation group is in fact the ideal vehicle for the ‘Essential Teaching’, since at the weekly meeting newcomers not only hear the teaching but more importantly enter into the discipline and the actual experience of the practice itself. At the same time on-going meditators receive the support and encouragement to keep on the journey. ‘The School’ in enriching both the background knowledge and practice of individual group leaders has therefore an essential role to play in maintaining the simplicity and consistency of the teaching as passed onto us by John Main and Laurence Freeman.

Laurence Freeman has pointed out, that John Main saw this modern development of contemplation as originating in the communities of faith and the liturgy at the heart of the early church. These early Christians also gathered in small groups in one another's houses. This coming together in prayer formed the ‘koinonia’, or the social interaction and communion that were the distinguishing mark and power of the early church. These small groups met to pray and offer support and encouragement to each other in their common faith.

There is no doubt that the teaching of Christian spirituality is historically rooted in the tradition of the small group. Jesus chose a group of 12, and desert communities of monks formed to offer each other support on the spiritual journey. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the most successful “small group" organization in the world, has demonstrated that all that is needed is to have a teaching and a small weekly group meeting to effect change and transform lives.

The Trustees are now encouraging a refocusing and emphasis on this important role of the group. The ‘International Resource Group’ of ‘The School’ and its coordinator welcome this reminder and will consider and discuss among themselves, how best to achieve this refocusing and discern the way forward. A help in this will no doubt be Paul Harris's "School seminar" devoted to "groups", prepared in 2003 at Kim's invitation and which was widely distributed at the time. This 90 minute workshop is designed to give participants a deeper understanding of how to lead a group and how to start a group. If you do not have a copy please contact Kim Nataraja at nataraja@onetel.com to receive this.