In Being in Love, William Johnston addresses the question of the purpose of prayer. He shares with the reader the discovery of new ways to a prayerful life that is both meditative and active.
His message is to surrender in love to God, to love God with one’s own being, through prayer. Here Being in Love shows us how to pray―with heart, mind, intellect and body―as a form of communicating with God, one another, and the world around us. Johnston reveals, using his relationship with the Eastern traditions as a backdrop, the need and importance of finding stillness in our inner lives. He demonstrates in a clear and practical way, how we can make prayer a place for meditation and personal growth.
William Johnston, a Jesuit missionary living in Japan, has extensive knowledge both of Western spirituality and mysticism and also, through his experiences in Japan, of Eastern spirituality and mysticism, especially Zen Buddhism.
An authority on fourteenth century spirituality, he has translated several works from the contemplative traditions of both East and West, as well as work by the great Japanese novelist Shusaku Endo.
It took me a while to 'get this' one. I read it years ago but kept it for some reason. Throughout the last ten years Ive picked it up again and again, and slowly it started seeping into my brain. Yes, I could assimilate my Christian views with Eastern thinking. The student (me) just wasnt ready to when I began the journey.
For writing, I'd probably give it three stars. For content, I gave it four because I found it very useful. Everyone will get something different out of it, and some will get nothing. But if you are into the eastern/western merging of spiritual philosophies, this is a very interesting book.
Johnston, and Irish priest living in Tokyo for most of his life has a fresh way to weave Eastern prayer with Christian prayer and coming out with something very spiritual. He leans heavily towards contemplation or the prayer of quiet or prayer of the heart. I really enjoy reading his books.