Gathering across Spiritual Traditions

Rev. Susan Morrison and Kathryn O’Connell Cleary

On Monday, September 12, 2011, a meeting of the Greater Boston Spiritual Directors was held at Hebrew College in Newton Center, Massachusetts, USA. Spiritual directors from the Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, and Quaker traditions met for two hours within a contemplative format. This group has been meeting quarterly for a year. At each gathering, two members of the group share the role of facilitator on a rotating basis.

The meeting began with a centering meditation, followed by introductions and brief sharing. One of the facilitators then offered a guided imagery meditation integrating the body and the spirit. In triads, group members were invited to share their experience of the meditation. The group then turned to reflection questions which had been submitted by the facilitators prior to the gathering. Since the meeting was held on September 12, the first question was: “How has September 11 affected my ministry as a spiritual director? Do I have a personal reflection or a memory or observation or hope on this anniversary of 9/11?” Following a period of silent, personal reflection, members shared their responses.  The second question was: “As a spiritual director, how do I cultivate contemplative living through practices that enhance deeper mindfulness?” Again, after some time of reflection, there was sharing in the large group. Individual taper candles were then lit, and the meeting closed with a meditation song entitled “Deep Peace” and the ringing of the meditation bowl.

Members have experienced a depth of sharing in the mystic heart of meditative awareness; the gathering has been nourishment for the call to spiritual direction across spiritual traditions.

Editor’s note: For more reflections on 9/11 and the ministry of spiritual direction, please see the blog post “From Bereft to Befriended” by Liz Budd Ellmann, MDiv, and the Connections article “Discerning Anger to Grow Compassion” by Susan Coppage Evans, DMin.