Meditation: The Evolving Tradition (DS1600C)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

Intense interest in meditation is a sign of the times. People from diverse backgrounds engage in meditation today from religious, spiritual and secular perspectives. Students will be enabled to explore individual spiritual gifts by studying the riches of the Christian tradition of prayer. This unit will study especially the Christian meditative techniques that emphasise the ‘wordless’ and mystical dimension of prayer, and how they relate to the public liturgy. They will explore in depth at least one of the great teachers of the Christian mystical tradition. Students will come to a clearer understanding of the specific identity of Christian meditation with reference to other traditions such as Buddhism and Yoga. They will also examine how the Christian tradition of meditation can enhance and challenge modern life.

Unit code: DS1600C

Unit status: Approved (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 1

Unit discipline: Spirituality

Proposing College: Catholic Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Describe the diverse approaches to meditation today.
2.

Explain the specific character of Christian meditation in relation to other religious traditions.
3.

Relate the connection between private meditative prayer and public liturgy.
4.

Apply ancient techniques of prayer and meditation to the modern experience.

Pedagogy

Lectures and tutorial engagement help the students appreciate the many aspects of the complex subject and develop their ability to reflect and critique.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Dieker, Bernadette, and Jonathan Montaldo, eds. Merton and Hesychasm: The Prayer of the Heart. Cambridge: Fons Vitae, 2003.
  • Dupuche, John. Jesus, the Mantra of God. Melbourne: David Lovell, 2005.
  • Freeman, Lawrence. Jesus – The Teacher Within. New York: Continuum, 2000.
  • Griffith, Bede. The New Creation in Christ. London: Darton, Longman and Todd, 1992.
  • Kabat-Zinn, Jon. Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment and Your Life. Boulder, CO: Sounds True, 2012.
  • Keating, Thomas. Open Mind, Open Heart. New York: Bloomsbury, 2019.
  • Matthew, I. The Impact of God: Soundings from St John of the Cross. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1995.
  • May, G. The Dark Night of the Soul: A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection Between Darkness and Spiritual Growth. New York: HarperCollins, 2004.
  • Stead, Tim. Mindfulness and Christian Spirituality: Making Space for God. Louisville: John Knox, 2017.
  • Williams, Rowan. The Dwelling of the Light: Praying with Icons of Christ. Mulgrave: John Garratt, 2003.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay 1000 20.0
Essay 1500 40.0
Multi-media project 1500 40.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 27 Jun, 2024

Unit record last updated: 2024-06-27 10:43:29 +1000