Pilgrimage Into God : A Study of John Main's Meditation-Oriented Spirituality

Pilgrimage into God: A Study of John Main’s Meditation-Oriented Spirituality is a comprehensive investigation of the heritage of the Benedictine monk John Main (1926 – 1982). This founder of a worldwide movement for Christian meditation understands meditation as an intentional transcending of all mental processes. Contrary to popular opinion, which associates meditation uniquely with Eastern traditions, Main considers meditative practice to be essential and central to Christian faith. This study not only explores Main’s views on practise, but also looks into his theology, his understanding of spiritual growth and the (ideal) contexts for achieving such growth. It does this by critically situating Main’s spiritual teaching within the Christian tradition and exploring its relation to Charles Taylor’s interpretation of the modern spiritual condition. This study also aims at exploring how Main’s heritage may contribute to illuminating Christian spiritual life today.