‘How to describe Tai mountain?
Its green towers above all of Chi and Lu!
Here the Creator concentrated divine beauty;
its north and south sides split dark from dawn.
Chest pounding, you reach the birthplace of clouds;
bursting eyes fill with birds returning to nest.
Someday I must climb to the very top,
look down on all of the little mountains at once.’
Gazing at Mount Tai, Du fu [translation: Daniel Hsieh, Purdue University]
Du Fu (712-770AD), a master in Chinese poetry, created a serene mood in the poem above. Are you familiar with this serenity? Friends who practice meditation daily may recognise its implications; they will marvel at the greatness of the Lord, while realising how insignificant mankind is!
The important and memorable beginnings of the World Community for Christian Meditation (Hong Kong) go back to 20 August 2006, when Benedictine Father Laurence Freeman, director of the World Community for Christian Meditation, presided over a silent retreat for the Hong Kong faithful, during which the Lord’s love nourished the hearts of every participant.
On that day, through the personal testimonies of Father Freeman and then-Bishop John Tong Hon—and despite the stormy and turbulent weather—the community in Hong Kong was born in a joyful atmosphere.
We have since lived by the message: “Whatever happens, love remains”—the last words that Father Laurence heard from his fellow Benedictine, the famed meditation teacher Father John Main, before the latter’s death in 1982.
For the next 15 years, Father Laurence worked tirelessly, hosting many silent retreats and talks in Hong Kong for us. Together we “dived deep” and encouraged the spread of meditation through the establishment of meditation groups.
Elizabeth King, who brought Father Laurence to Hong Kong in 2002, hopes that one day every parish in Hong Kong will have a Christian meditation group, allowing more people to immerse themselves in the serenity the practice brings, resulting in a closer relationship with the Lord.
The current 14 groups have grown continuously through the teachings of Father Laurence. Our relationship with the Lord is solidified by our daily discipline of silently meditating for 20 to 30 minutes; our mantra, or prayer phrase, “Ma-ra-na-tha” [Aramaic for “come, Lord!”], becomes a fragrant offering.
As Father Main once said: “The beauty of prayer is that the opening of our heart is as natural as the opening of a flower.”
Our local Christian meditation communities have gone through a long process of irrigation over the years, developing from early seedlings, then spreading in branches. This prayer is firmly grounded in the hearts of many people and the growth process involved was most secret and amazing (Mark: 4:26-29).
Parishes on Hong Kong side have taken the lead in setting up meditation groups. As if the glory had to be shared, over the past few years, several parishes in Kowloon and the New Territories, including the Franciscan Friary, have also set up their own meditation groups.
Elizabeth King, who brought Father Laurence to Hong Kong in 2002, hopes that one day every parish in Hong Kong will have a Christian meditation group, allowing more people to immerse themselves in the serenity the practice brings, resulting in a closer relationship with the Lord.
Years of practicing silent meditation has enabled our minds to become calm, allowing us to face our life challenges courageously. Regular meditation purifies the heart and we have confidence that the Lord is our shield in the midst of hardship and difficulties. In this way, we can face life with confidence, perseverance and joy.
The number of online participants is increasing day by day, reflecting the need for silence and stillness in each person’s life of faith. In addition to meditation groups regularly meeting in their respective parishes when the Covid-19 gathering rules allow, the community has a concurrent online meditation session in Cantonese at 8.00pm every Thursday night.
Support from meditation in challenging times
In the past two years, due to social turmoil and the Covid-19 pandemic, the faithful have often been unable to go to church for Mass and other religious activities. The meditation community responded and redoubled efforts to hold online meditation prayer sessions, so that our faith can continue to be enlivened in the Holy Spirit, while building deeper spiritual friendship with each other.
The number of online participants is increasing day by day, reflecting the need for silence and stillness in each person’s life of faith. In addition to meditation groups regularly meeting in their respective parishes when the Covid-19 gathering rules allow, the community has a concurrent online meditation session in Cantonese at 8.00pm every Thursday night.
The members of each group gather to meditate together in fellowship and in silence. How happy and beautiful! We understand that only by supporting each other in the Lord and practicing faith, hope and love, can we find the true way.
Although we may feel vulnerable many times, we are not at all discouraged! This reminds us of the disciples going through rough seas in a small boat and calling for help from the Lord Jesus (Matthew 8:23-27). Even though we face strong winds and high waves, we have had the Lord in our hearts for a long time, so why should we be afraid?
Over the past 15 years, the Lord has been gracious to us. Thanks to the Lord for sending us Father Freeman, who is most generous in feeding us spiritual food.
Even in Hong Kong, we are never alone. Over the past 12 years, we have been fortunate to have the faithful companionship and teachings of Columban Father Tommy Murphy, our spiritual advisor.
Whenever we have trouble, our community’s founding spiritual advisor, Maryknoll Father Sean Burke, now in heaven, will also help us resolve our difficulties; we are also blessed with countless benefactors and priests, plus the efforts of the team leaders and members, who keep reminding each other not to forget their “first love” of meditation.
Let us first set good examples and then work together to promote meditation to more, hoping that more brothers and sisters will truly realise that the Holy Spirit resides in our hearts through the love of Christ.
Giving thanks
Over the years, we have deeply appreciated the truth: “Meditation creates community.” The community’s regular meditation sessions, as well as other spiritual activities, such as talks, retreats and overseas pilgrimages, have played a cohesive role in uniting us in the Lord.
From the time the community was set up, we had the privilege of having Father Laurence, a great, gentle and refined spiritual master, with us. His broad vision and profound theological knowledge offer us uninterrupted guidance and inspiration. He is not a hermit placing himself above the common people, but instead he treats and cares for us as his family.
Entering our 15th anniversary, the World Community for Christian Meditation (Hong Kong) is committed to introducing more young people to the spiritual practice of meditation. Young people today often find the meaning of life elusive and experience a difficult transition into adulthood. If their hearts are set early in Christ, early, their path will be smoother!
From the time the community was set up, we had the privilege of having Father Laurence, a great, gentle and refined spiritual master, with us. His broad vision and profound theological knowledge offer us uninterrupted guidance and inspiration. He is not a hermit placing himself above the common people, but instead he treats and cares for us as his family.
At the end of 2017, I suffered from ill health and had major surgery. During my recuperation, he personally called me and sent me greetings, adding warmth in addition to the lovely visits and prayers from the brothers and sisters in the community.
In 2019, the community experienced some personnel challenges. Father Laurence laboured hard and personally selected Vivian Lee as the coordinator who started her duties in early 2020.
Vivian is capable and hard working, is steadfast in her love of the Lord and is bringing about a new vitality to the community. Thanks and praise the Lord!
Father Lawrence Lee Len, chancellor of the Diocese of Hong Kong, who is most humble and respected by all, has been a true mentor and friend of the Hong Kong meditation community since 2006. Each year, he concelebrates Mass with Father Murphy for us at the community’s annual general meetings.
Moreover, he has been supportive and solicitous of the well being of the community over the years, providing us valuable advice, particularly in the preparation and amendments of our constitution. Thank you, Father Lee!
I would also like to express my sincere thanks to Brother William of the Franciscan Order. Not content with merely hosting a group at the Franciscan Friary, he often leads meditation sessions himself. Moreover, for many years he has led a team translating the daily spiritual reflections of Father Laurence into Chinese for Lent each year, so more can benefit from them.
Entering our 15th anniversary, the World Community for Christian Meditation (Hong Kong) is committed to introducing more young people to the spiritual practice of meditation. Young people today often find the meaning of life elusive and experience a difficult transition into adulthood. If their hearts are set early in Christ, early, their path will be smoother!
We would like to invite you to join us in October for the Six Week Introductory Course to Meditation, which is suitable for all aspiring “to dig into the deep” and explore the spiritual practice of meditation. Look forward to seeing you then!
May we always live well and happily every day with faith and hope. “Sturdy grass withstands strong wind” the saying goes. Having the Lord within us is sufficient.
Lina Lee
Former coordinator of the World Community for Christian Meditation (Hong Kong), 2006 2019
Worldwide: www.wccm.org • Hong Kong: www.wccm.hk
