Over the last 20 years, I have become a practitioner of meditation. While there are clear meditative practices in all religions (see, for instance, "Lost Christianity" by Jacob Needleman or enter, say, "Methodist meditation" or "Jewish meditation" into Google), most people acknowledge the Buddhists as the champions at focusing on meditation. I was struck by the similarity of Zen sitting practice and Quaker unprogrammed meetings. Over time, I have gotten a better grasp of the difference and they are real but the similarities are very great.
The Quakers cite George Fox (1624-1691), as their founder. The basic idea of their religious practice is that all humans are connected to God, who speaks to us all. Therefore, in a meeting for worship, one sits in a group, quietly waiting for inspiration for God, without intermediary. As ideas enter a worshiper's mind, the person is to consider the import and applicability of the idea or message to the assembled group.
One important difference between Quaker practice and Buddhist meditation is this opening to God. Another is the obligation of the Quaker worshiper to stand and state aloud any inspiration that has come to the worshiper, which has been examined by that person and found to be relevant to the assembled group. The messages so delivered are said to be the ministry of the meeting.
When a person is moved to minister to the group, it is important to deliver the inspiration as it came, not in opposition or continuation of previous speakers. One waits for several full minutes before rising to speak after the previous speaker. The format is not that of a debate nor conversation. It is more of a series of reports. The format calls for patience and forbearance. It is not unknown for one's estimate of the relevancy and urgency of one's inspiration to change as one listens attentively to other inspirations.
Large groups of over 100 persons conduct a meeting for worship using this arrangement without any presiding officer or leader. Often, the spoken messages are very moving and authentic. Sometimes, a given speaker will go on a bit long. In an active meeting, speakers may pop up in all different parts of the meeting room, which is said to be a "popcorn" meeting.
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Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
