Sitting in stillness, the practice of meditation, and the cultivation of
awareness are commonly thought to be the preserves of Hindus and
Buddhists. Martin Laird shows that the Christian tradition of
contemplation has its own refined teachings on using a prayer word to
focus the mind, working with the breath to cultivate stillness, and the
practice of inner vigilance or awareness.
But this book is not a mere historical survey of these teachings. In
Into the Silent Land, we see the ancient wisdom of both the Christian
East and West brought sharply to bear on the modern-day longing for
radical openness to God in the depths of the heart. Laird's book is not
like the many presentations for beginners. While useful for those just
starting out, this book serves especially as a guide for those who
desire to journey yet deeper into the silence of God.
The heart of the book focuses on negotiating key moments of struggle on
the contemplative path, when the whirlwind of distractions or the brick
wall of boredom makes it difficult to continue. Laird shows that these
inner struggles, even wounds, that any person of prayer must face, are
like riddles, trying to draw out of us our own inner silence.
Ultimately Laird shows how the wounds we loathe become vehicles of the
healing silence we seek, beyond technique and achievement. Throughout,
the language is fresh, direct, and focused on real-life examples of
people whose lives are incomparably enriched by the practice of
contemplation.
