Meditation and Intoxicating Substances: Conclusion

Meditation and Intoxicating Substances: Conclusion

The bird is merely an example of how one can choose value-neutral meditation themes in order to rise above the particular. With such themes one can address any audience. That does not mean that for groups who wish it and who are more or less homogeneous in composition, religious themes cannot be extremely meaningful.

Every meditation leader will in one way or another interact with the audience in order to sense who is present. This is a prerequisite for effective communication: one tries to know one’s interlocutor so that tone and vocabulary can be adapted to the expectations that exist there.

I like to ask participants what they feel a need for. The result can be different every time. With a close group of experienced participants one can be very non-directive. For a larger group with less experience, it is useful to choose a theme to maintain attention, while always taking possible sensitivities into account.

This is also the great advantage of Jacobson’s method, which is culturally neutral. I generally assume that we are speaking to a heterogeneous audience with participants of different backgrounds. One must then choose themes that are not—or as little as possible—culturally coloured, although this can never be avoided completely.

The bird and the fish can speak to every person, believer or non-believer, Muslim or Christian—it does not matter. In more cohesive groups that are accustomed to one another, however, one may also choose a theme highlighting a particular figure or author from mystical literature: for example Ruusbroec, Teresa, John of the Cross or Father Surin for Catholics, or Rumi, Hafez or Averroes for Muslims.

The danger is always that controversy arises if someone believes they know more about the historical circumstances. Discussion is of course allowed, but if emotions flare up, this does not benefit meditation.

We should not name too many things so as not to close doors.

For the moment, this concludes the discussion on meditation. It has become a long contribution—but every song must come to an end.

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