SadhanaOriental Meditation and Christian Prayer
Prayer with fantasy
[8] Jesus comes in history of my life - 1
All the scenes in the history of our life were in the hands of Jesus. In all the scenes, Jesus stayed close to us. Let’s try to experience that fact using the power of imagination.
For the first session of this series, let’s use a sad and bitter experience in childhood as a scene in our history.
First, take some time to calm yourself. (5 minutes)
Now, remember bitter and sad occasions in your childhood, and choose one from these experiences. Then remember the place where it happened. Was it at home or outside? If it was at home, remember the size of the room. Where are windows and entrance? Where are you sitting? Is there anybody with you? If it was outside, look at what surround you. Hear sounds. Are they human voice, or natural sounds? If you are in a room, touch tatami (or floor). Does it feel rough? Look, hear, and touch carefully, and re-experience the occasion.
What kind of emotion do you have? Pain, or sadness? Try to re-experience the emotion as much as you can and repeatedly. (10 minutes)
Jesus comes in the place. What does he do? Observe carefully what he does. Stay with Jesus for a while, and talk to him. (5 minutes)
Return to this room. Where are windows and entrance? Who are you with? What kind of emotion do you have returning to this room? Is it difficult to return to this room? Keep focused. (2 minutes)
Recall again the past unhappy occasion. Look at the place, hear sounds, and touch things again. If you are outside, look at what surround you. And re-experience the emotion again. (2 minutes)
Return to this room. Where are windows? Where are you sitting? Who is next to you? What kind of emotion do you have returning to this room? Be focused as much as possible. (2 minutes)
Remember again the past unhappy occasion, the difficult, bitter, and sad experience. Look at the place, hear sounds, and touch things. If you are outside, look at what surround you. And re-experience the emotion again. (2 minutes)
Keep closing your eyes, return to this room. Where are windows? Where are you sitting? Who is next to you? What kind of emotion do you have returning to the room? Be focused as much as possible.
(You could beautifully conclude this prayer with Tenrei Seika (Japanese liturgical hymn book) #53 “Kami no Hakarai wa (God’s grace).”)