“The role of meditation in service of the gospel… creates a bridge between the two levels of awareness [ordinary and spiritual] within us, offering a consistent and reliable way of practicing the passage from small self to greater Self. When, during the time of meditation, angry or frightened or self-justifying thoughts arise, we use whatever method our practice teaches (saying the mantra, inner witnessing, letting go, etc.) to help us stay clear of attachment (which drags us immediately back to our smaller self) and connected to that deeper level of awareness. With patience and persistence, these skills first patterned in meditation can be transferred to “real life” so that we actually begin to live like the Good Samaritan, the woman at the well, or the generous father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son.”
–Cynthia Bourgeault, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening
