Week 13 – The Forms of Meditation – Re-Collection and Centering Down

Celebration of Discipline Bible Study

Prepared by: Rev. Willetta Ar-Rahmaan

Week 13 – The Forms of Meditation – Re-Collection and Centering Down

            The second form of meditation Foster defined is “re-collection” which comes from the Middle Ages, and the Quakers called it “centering down”.  Both terms means the same thing according to Foster, “It is a time to become still, to enter into the recreating silence, to allow the fragmentation of our minds to become centered” (p. 30).  Basically we are eliminating all distractions so we can focus being in the presence of God. 

            As we focus being in the presence of God we are turning over all burdens to God as we seek internal silence.  While researching this topic the following website: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12676b.htm talked about two types of recollection, active and passive.  “Active recollection may be acquired by our own efforts aided by the ordinary grace of God. Thus any devout soul can acquire the habit of thinking of God's presence and of fixing attention upon Him and his Divine perfections.”  This seems more like an exercise in yoga where we are asked to focus on a certain thing.  The key word is active we must do something to be a participant in this recollection.  We are recollection our thoughts and recalling to our memory what it means to recreate an internal silence while in the presence of God.  Internal silence is peace we are releasing our fear, frustration and anxiety that is going on externally.  We start to feel a burden lifted when we release our external issue.

The second type is “passive recollection does not depend upon our own efforts, but is an extraordinary grace infused by God, by which He summons together the faculties of the soul and manifests His presence and His perfections; this kind of recollection is classed by mystical writers as the first degree of infused contemplation.”  As we all know being passive is sitting by doing nothing in the process.  We are not thinking about God, but God shows up without us being active.  When God manifest God’s self we are allowing God to commune with and in us.  Just remember, we can not always be passive in our meditation with God. 

The centering down is apart of the Quaker’s worship.  The practice of removing the external distraction so one can be in the spirit with God.  Take a look at this website:  http://www.wfmc.net/essays/centering_down.htm.   When we are in the spirit, we are able to see and hear God differently.  Even in the centering down moments we may have to find a quiet place in order to remove ourselves from distractions.

As we think about this second form of meditation, we may become more aware of those in the Bible who used this form of meditation.  Take the time to read the book of Psalms, the Gospel especially areas where Jesus’ teaches his disciples and the book of Daniel.