Quieting The Mind? A Carmelite Perspective

[BarbTherese]

http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2014/01/11/should-i-quiet-my-mind-during-prayer?utm_source=Catholic+Spiritual+Direction&utm_campaign=2c3cc16209-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9dd96593f8-2c3cc16209-59796817

 

Q: Dear Saint Teresa, I have read a number of books on prayer that advocate methods of suppressing, shutting down, or eliminating thinking all together during prayer.  In one centering prayer book it said to “let your thoughts go” and that “thoughts are a normal part of prayer.” Even though the book claimed that it was not teaching to eliminate thoughts, in the end, the method taught that we seek a state where thoughts have no impact on our mind or prayer so… Anyway, do you recommend this approach?

___________________

 

Four Teresian Carmelite responses adapted from "The Interior Castle" 4:3 (St Teresa of Avila) -  see above link
 

[Julian]

http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2014/01/11/should-i-quiet-my-mind-during-prayer?utm_source=Catholic+Spiritual+Direction&utm_campaign=2c3cc16209-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9dd96593f8-2c3cc16209-59796817

 

Q: Dear Saint Teresa, I have read a number of books on prayer that advocate methods of suppressing, shutting down, or eliminating thinking all together during prayer.  In one centering prayer book it said to “let your thoughts go” and that “thoughts are a normal part of prayer.” Even though the book claimed that it was not teaching to eliminate thoughts, in the end, the method taught that we seek a state where thoughts have no impact on our mind or prayer so… Anyway, do you recommend this approach?

___________________

 

Four Teresian Carmelite responses adapted from "The Interior Castle" 4:3 (St Teresa of Avila) -  see above link
 

 

Quieting of mind is recollection.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12676b.htm

 

You can’t eliminate annoying thoughts. They are temptations. So if you don’t pay attention to them you gain merit. Even St. Theresa talked about it in this way. I just finished reading some of her Interior Mansions book. 

 

Edited January 27, 2014 by Julian

[NotreDame]

Thanks BT!  Saved it and will read it today!

[BarbTherese]

Quieting of mind is recollection.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12676b.htm

 

You can’t eliminate annoying thoughts. They are temptations. So if you don’t pay attention to them you gain merit. Even St. Theresa talked about it in this way. I just finished reading some of her Interior Mansions book. 

 

What I posted was a subscriber's question.  On the link I gave is the response or answer.  Personally, no I do not advocate trying to still the mind and cast out all thoughts, if this is what you are asking, and as one's method of prayer.  I am inclined towards the answer given on the link I gave.  Certainly, one should try to avoid distractions during prayer - as when for example I start to think about the appointment I have this afternoon rather than being present to The Lord............although I probably would pray about the appointment and then attempt to ignore the distraction.

 

I think there is a huge difference between trying to still the mind completely as one's prayer and avoiding distractions.  I am getting ready to go to work and this is the best I can do in the few minutes I have to respond. :)

[BarbTherese]

If you go to the link I gave http://rcspiritualdi...c16209-59796817, you will see Dan Burke's qualifications to respond to the question.  You will also note this quoted at the bottom of the article:

 

"St. Teresa of Avila

Adapted from The Interior Castle, 4:3

PS: You might also be interested in the post “Can Centering Prayer be Redeemed?”

 

[BarbTherese]

Thanks BT!  Saved it and will read it today!

 

....... :)
 

[Julian]

If you go to the link I gave http://rcspiritualdi...c16209-59796817, you will see Dan Burke's qualifications to respond to the question.  You will also note this quoted at the bottom of the article:

 

"St. Teresa of Avila

Adapted from The Interior Castle, 4:3

PS: You might also be interested in the post “Can Centering Prayer be Redeemed?”

 

 

I thought centering prayer was dangerous? http://www.moiranoonan.com/Tracts.html

 

It increases focus on the self; a hidden pride. While recollection centers on God, it is the practice of the first Commandment, to love God above everything.

[Julian]

What I posted was a subscriber's question.  On the link I gave is the response or answer.  Personally, no I do not advocate trying to still the mind and cast out all thoughts, if this is what you are asking, and as one's method of prayer.  I am inclined towards the answer given on the link I gave.  Certainly, one should try to avoid distractions during prayer - as when for example I start to think about the appointment I have this afternoon rather than being present to The Lord............although I probably would pray about the appointment and then attempt to ignore the distraction.

 

I think there is a huge difference between trying to still the mind completely as one's prayer and avoiding distractions.  I am getting ready to go to work and this is the best I can do in the few minutes I have to respond. :)

 

Sorry I didn't know this was subscriber post. I am out of here.

Edited January 28, 2014 by Julian

[BarbTherese]

I may have been misleading in my opening post and should have posted the opening paragraph to the response to a subscriber question and then the link. :blush:

[BarbTherese]

Here is the response in full :

 

"A: I cannot understand how the mind can be stopped. There is no way of doing so without bringing about more harm than good. For my part, those in favor of stopping the mind have never given me an adequate argument for submitting to what they say.

Here are my reasons:

 

First, in this work of the spirit the one who thinks less and has less desire to act (in suppressing their thoughts) does more. What we must do is beg like the needy poor before a rich and great emperor, and then lower our eyes and wait with humility. When through His secret paths it seems we understand that He hears us, then it is good to be silent since He has allowed us to remain near Him; and it will not be wrong to avoid working with the intellect. But, if we don’t yet know whether this King has heard or seen us, we mustn’t become fools. The soul does become quite a fool as when it tries to induce this prayer, and it is left much drier; and the imagination perhaps becomes more restless through the effort made not to think of anything. But the Lord desires that we beseech Him and call to mind that we are in His presence; He knows what is suitable for us. I cannot persuade myself to use human diligence in a matter in which it seems His Majesty has placed a limit, and I want to leave the diligence to Him. What He did not reserve to Himself are many other efforts we can make with His help, such as: penance, good deeds, and prayer – insofar as our wretchedness can do these things.

 

Second, is that these interior works are all gentle and peaceful; doing something arduous would cause more harm than good. I call any force that we might want to use “something arduous.” Leave the soul in God’s hands, let Him do whatever He wants with it, with the greatest disinterest about your own benefit as is possible and the greatest resignation to the will of God.

 

Third, the very care used not to think of anything will perhaps rouse the mind to think very much.

 

Fourth, what is most essential and pleasing to God is that we be mindful of His honor and glory and forget ourselves and our own profit and comfort and delight. How is a person forgetful of self if he is so careful not to stir or even to allow his intellect or desires to be stirred to a longing for the greater glory of God? When His Majesty desires the intellect to stop, He occupies it in another way and gives it a light so far above what we can attain that it remains absorbed. Then, without knowing how, the intellect is much better instructed than it was through all the soul’s effort not to make use of it. Since God gave us our faculties that we might work with them and in this work they find their reward, there is no reason to charm them; we should let them perform their task until God appoints them to another greater one.

 

Without any effort or noise, the soul should strive to cut down the rambling of the intellect – but not suspend either it or the mind; it is good to be aware that one is in God’s presence and of who God is when in prayer.

St. Teresa of Avila

Adapted from The Interior Castle, 4:3 "

 

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