the sacred way 06
6. the centering prayer
Bab ini bercerita tentang sebuah metode doa yang bernama ‘centering prayer.’ Doa yang berasal dari tradisi Ortodoks Timur juga. Di sini si pendoa diam dan berusaha untuk hanya diam. Be still adalah kunci dari metode doa semacam ini. Ketika si pendoa mulai kehilangan konsentrasinya, ia akan menyebutkan satu kata yang dapat membantunya kembali berkonsentrasi, seperti ‘kasih’ atau ‘Yesus.’ Tujuan keheningan ini adalah untuk berdiam di hadirat Allah. Berikut metode yang dianjurkan dalam melakukan doa ini:
Here is what you are to do: lift up your heart up to the Lord, with a gentle stirring of love desiring him for his own sake and not for his gifts. Center all your attention and desire on him and let this be the sole concern of your mind and heart. Do all in your power to forget anything else, keeping your thoughts and desires free from involvement with any of God’s creatures or their affairs in general or in particular. Perhaps this will seem like an irresponsible attitude, but I tell you, let them all be; pay no attention to them.
Secara praktis, doanya dilakukan seperti ini: (diambil dari Wikipedia)
- Sit comfortably with your eyes closed, relax, and quiet yourself. Be in love and faith to God.
- Choose a sacred word that best supports your sincere intention to be in the Lord’s presence and open to His divine action within you (i.e. “Jesus,” “Lord,” “God,” “Savior,” “Abba,” “Divine,” “Shalom,” “Spirit,” “Love,” etc.).
- Let that word be gently present as your symbol of your sincere intention to be in the Lord’s presence and open to His divine action within you.
- Whenever you become aware of anything (thoughts, feelings, perceptions, images, associations, etc.), simply return to your sacred word, your anchor.
Sungguh saya masih belum mengerti (mungkin memang bukan untuk dimengerti?!) disiplin rohani seperti ini. >.<
