Laurence Freeman is a Benedictine monk and teacher and is Director of The World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) a global, inclusive contemplative community. He resides at the international centre of the WCCM at Bonnevaux Centre for Peace near Paris.
With Irish and English roots, he was educated by the Benedictines and studied English Literature at New College, Oxford University. Before entering monastic life, he worked with the United Nations in New York, in Banking and Journalism.
Fr. Laurence is a monk of the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Oliveto Maggiore. John Main was his teacher and Fr. Laurence assisted him in establishing the foundations of the Community. Laurence is the author of a number of books on Meditation. He teaches meditation in religious and secular contexts and works in interfaith dialogue. He travels extensively teaching and leading Retreats dialogues. Laurence sees meditation as opening the common ground of humanity and developing the contemplative consciousness that he believes the world today needs for its survival.
Books
Jesus the Teacher Within
Good Work: Meditation for Personal & Organisational Transformation
Christian Meditation: Your Daily Practice
Light Within: Meditation as Pure Prayer
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Summary and Transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded June 5, 2021
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
00:03:01 - The Roots of Meditation in Christianity
00:06:32 - The Roots of Meditation
00:09:49 - The Radically Simple Way of Meditation
00:12:42 - The Mantra in Christian Prayer
00:15:13 - The Cycle of Losing and Finding
00:17:42 - The Flowing Tradition of Christianity
00:20:53 - Rediscovering the Mystical Dimension of Religion
00:24:42 - The Growth of Contemplative Consciousness
00:31:19 - Transformational Effects in Your World and Work
00:36:30 - The Progressive Development of Consciousness
00:42:20 - The Relevance of Meditation to the Deeper Meaning of Life
00:50:16 - Pursuing Happiness and the Meaning of Suffering
00:55:27 - Nurturing a Community of Love and Faith
01:00:05 - The Influence of Consciousness and Leadership in Society
01:04:32 - The Loss of the Moral Consensus
01:09:51 - Ethical Integrity in the Spiritual Community
01:15:40 - The Fruits of the Spirit
01:20:44 - Jesus' Miracles and Compassion
01:26:03 - The Shared Divinity of Humanity
01:30:31 - The Emptying of God and the Fullness of Self
01:36:24 - The Question of Identity
01:40:51 - The Stories and Questions of Jesus' Life
01:46:05 - The Debate on Reincarnation and its Importance
01:50:46 - The Concept of Purgatory and Reincarnation
01:54:41 - The Practice of Meditation
01:59:25 - The Work of Meditation
02:03:08 - Introduction to Meditation
02:08:24 - Conclusion and Resources
02:13:18 - Daily Wisdom and Community Building
02:16:28 - Farewell and Future Endeavors