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ContemplativePrayerforChristianswithStressandAnxiety:TheoreticalandEmpiricalSupportJoshuaKnabb,PsyD,ABPP
Director,PsyD Program
AssociateProfessorofPsychology
CaliforniaBaptistUniversity
Objectives• Compareandcontrastcontemplativeprayerandmindfulnessmeditationformanagingstressandanxiety� Theoreticalfoundations� Coreconcepts�Mechanismsofchange� Techniquesforeachapproach
• IdentifytheemergingresearchoncontemplativeprayerforChristianswithstressandanxiety
• ExploreareasforfutureresearchontheuseofcontemplativeprayerforChristianswithstressandanxiety
Introduction“Unlessapersonsaysinhisheart,’IaloneandGodareintheworld,’hewillnotfindrest”AbbaAlonius
“Itisnotpossessingsomethingthatisharmful,butbeingattachedtoit”AbbaZosimas
TheExplosionofMindfulness• Inthe21st century,mindfulness-basedinterventionshavehadasignificantimpactonclinicalpsychology
• Examples� Mindfulness-basedstressreduction(MBSR)� Mindfulness-basedcognitivetherapy(MBCT)� Acceptanceandcommitmenttherapy(ACT)� Dialecticalbehaviortherapy(DBT)� Compassion-focusedtherapy(CFT)
• Sometimesreferredtoas“thirdwave”or“acceptance-based”
• Balanceacceptanceandchangeinthetherapyroom
• Mindfulnessaddressestherecurrentnatureofpsychiatricdisorders
TheBasicIngredientsofMindfulness• Afewbasicingredients� Focusingononeaspectofawareness� Stayingrootedinthepresentmoment� Practicingnon-judgment� Relatingtothoughtsandfeelingswithcompassion,distance,andflexibility
• Vehiclethroughwhichtopromoteacceptanceoftheinnerworld
• Clientscanusemindfulnesstoanchorthemselvestothepresentmoment(ratherthanruminatingaboutthepastorworryingaboutthefuture)
• Althoughmindfulnesshasmorerecentlybeen“secularized,”ithasitsrootsintheBuddhisttradition
NonattachmentandMindfulness• NonattachmenthasbeenoperationalizedintheclinicalpsychologyliteratureinrecentyearsbydrawingfromBuddhism
• Mediatingvariablethathelpstoexplainthelinkbetweenmindfulnessandvariousmentalhealthoutcomes
• Definedas“releasefrommentalfixations”(Sahdra,Shaver,&Brown,2010)
• Involvesbeinginthemomentwithoutclingingtoorpushingawayeitherpositiveornegativeexperiences
• Nonattachmentmediatestherelationshipbetweenmindfulnessandpsychologicalvariables,suchasdistressandlifesatisfaction(Coffey&Hartman,2008;Sahdra,Ciarrochi,&Parker,2016)
ABriefHistoryoftheContemplativeTradition• Aroundthethirdcentury,ChristiansbeganmovingtothedeserttocultivateadeeperunionwithGod,rejectingsocietalemphasesonwealthandmaterialpossessions
• Inthedesert,monkswouldfrequentlyrecitethePsalmsinanefforttofocusonGod,pivotingawayfromperceivedtemptationsfromdemons
• SimilartoJesus’temptationinthedesert(Matthew4:1-11),thesemonksusedshortphrasesinscripturetocombattemptationsandunitewithGod(Harmless,2004;Paintner,2012)
ABriefHistoryoftheContemplativeTradition• ShortenedphrasesledtotheJesusPrayer(i.e.,“LordJesusChrist,SonofGod,havemercyonme,asinner”),aswellasotherapophatic formsofprayer(Harmless,2004;Paintner,2012)
• Asanexamplefromthe14th century,intheCloudofUnknowing,theanonymousauthorsuggeststhatsomeChristiansgettoapointwheretheylongtoreachouttoGodinlove,ratherthanknowledge,placingalloftheirthoughtsbeneatha”cloudofforgetting”duringcontemplativepractice
• Usingasingle-syllableprayerword(e.g.,“God,”“love”),contemplativeslookuptoGod,whoexistsbeyondadark,densecloud,lettinggoofallothercognitiveeffortstoknowhim
TheDesertintheContemplativeTradition• Forearlydesertmonks,thedesertrepresentedastrippingawayofmaterialpossessionsinordertocultivateadeeperunionwithGod—a“desertpsychology”(Laird,2006)
• Ratherthanrelyingonsocietalcomforts,thesedesertmonkswouldletgoofeffortstomaskornumbinnerpain
• Instead,theywouldattempttoenduretheinnerandouterworld,yieldingtoGod’spresenceandrelyingentirelyonhimforlife(Chryssavgis,2008;Paintner,2012)
TheCellintheContemplativeTradition•Withinthecontemplativetradition,the“cell”isasmallroomthatmonkslivedin,representingtheplacetheygottoknowtheinnerworldthroughwatchfulness(nepsis)� “Gositinyourcell,andyourcellwillteachyoueverything”
• Inthecell,whereinmonkswouldbattletemptingthoughts(logismoi),Godwaswiththemsotheycouldpatientlyendurewithasenseofhope(hupomone)(Chryssavgis,2008;Paintner,2012)
DetachmentintheContemplativeTradition• TheChristiantraditionhasitsownversionofnonattachment�“Detachmentisanactofspiritualfreedom.Itisalsothevirtueofhabituallychoosingoutoffreedomnotcompulsion,fear,orroutine”(Lonsdale,2004,p.234)�“Correctingone’sownanxiousgraspinginordertofreeoneselfforcommittedrelationshipwithGod”(Miles,1983,p.111)
• DetachmentsynonymsinChristianity:self-forgetfulness,humility,self-denial,self-sacrifice,self-renunciation(Lonsdale,2004)• Jesusistheperfectexample,yieldingtotheFather’swilltofulfillhisearthlymission
DetachmentintheContemplativeTradition• JohnCalvinevendiscusseddetachmentwithin”TheRulesofRightPrayer”inInstitutesoftheChristianReligion� “Wearetoridourselvesofallalienandoutsidecares,bywhichthemind,itselfawanderer,isborneabouthitherandthither,drawnawayfromheaven,andpresseddowntoearth.ImeanthatitoughttoberaisedaboveitselfthatitmaynotbringintoGod'ssightanythingourblindandstupidreasoniswonttodevise,norholditselfwithinthelimitsofitsownvanity,butrisetoapurityworthyofGod”
IngredientsinContemplativePrayer• TheJesusPrayerintheEast(Johnson,2010)� FocusingtheattentiononGod(proseuch)� RememberingGod(mneme theou)� Remainingwatchfulovertheinnerworld(nepsis),includingtemptingthoughts(logismoi)
� Cultivatingastill,peacefulinnerstate(hesychia)� IndirectwayofrelatingdifferentlytonegativethoughtsviarepeatedlypivotingtoGod(Ware,2000)
• TheCloudofUnknowingintheWest(Knabb,Vazquez,Wang,&Bates,2017)� Usingasingle-syllableprayerwordtofocusonGod� Detachingfromeverythingelsebygentlyplacingallotherthoughtsandfeelingsbeneatha“cloudofforgetting”
� Cultivating“humbledetachment”� Surrenderingrepetitivenegativethinking,includingworryandintoleranceofuncertainty,toGod,overandoveragain
IngredientsinContemplativePrayer• Puritansevenhadtheirownsimilarformofshortprayer—ejaculatoryprayer� “Short,spontaneousoutreachestoGodpromptedbyeverydayevents”(Bremer,2012,p.198)
� “Ejaculatoryprayers[are]asarrowsinthehandofamightyman…Happyisthemanthathashisquiverfullofthem”(Bremer,2012,p.198)
� “Untowhichprayersthereisnotrequiredthatweshoulduseourvoiceorgesturesofthebodywhichareusedinsetprayers…butsuddenandshortejaculation...adartinguntotheThroneofGrace”(Wakefield,1959,p.68)
PossibleBiblicalInspirationforContemplativePrayer• TheJesusPrayer� InstancesinthegospelswhereinindividualsaskedJesusformercy(see,e.g.,Luke18:38)
� “Praywithoutceasing”(1Thessalonians5:16-18)
• TheCloudofUnknowing� “Since,then,youhavebeenraisedwithChrist,setyourheartsonthingsabove,whereChristis,seatedattherighthandofGod.Setyourmindsonthingsabove,notearthythings”(Colossians3:1-2)
� “TheLORDsaidtoMoses,‘Iamgoingtocometoyouinadensecloud…[atMountSinai]’”(Exodus19:9)
InstructionsinContemplativePrayer• JesusPrayer� “LordJesusChrist,SonofGod,havemercyonme,asinner”� Breathinwithfirsthalf,andoutwithsecondhalf� FirsthalfisaboutinvitingGodin,andthesecondhalfisaboutlettinggo� Trytoreciteabout100timesin20to30minutes� Focusonthemeaning,ratherthanrepetition� Since“mercy”(eleos)canalsomeanoliveoil(usedforhealinginancienttimes),compassion,andempathy,viewtheJesusPrayerasawaytoaskJesustohelpyousoothetheinnerworldwithcompassionandempathy
• CloudofUnknowing� Recitetheprayerword(“Lord,”“God,”“love”)asawaytofocusonGod� Placeallelsebeneatha“cloudofforgetting”
PossibleMechanismofActioninContemplativePrayer• Cultivatinganattitudeofsurrender,detachment,andtrustbeforeGodwhenrelatingtodifficultstress- andanxiety-relatedthoughtsandfeelings
• GentlypivotingfromapreoccupationwiththoughtsandfeelingstoGod’spresence
• Anxiety:catastrophizingabouttomorrow’suncertainties;contemplativeprayerhelpsChristianstoacceptuncertaintyandletgoofworry,giventheireyesarefocusedonGod’sprovidential,soothingcare
• Stress:environmentaldemandsseeminglyexceedChristians’abilitytohandlethem;contemplativeprayerhelpstofirstfocusonGod’spresence,includinghisprovidentialcare,followedbyacommitmenttolivingoutJesus’teachings
ChristianPsychotherapyandContemplativePrayer• Thedesertandthecellsymbolizeacceptance,enduringinnerpainbecauseGodispresent
• ChristianclientscanlearntoendurepsychicpainbecausetheyarecultivatinganawarenessofGod’sactive,lovingpresence—Godoffersstrengthandhopeduringmomentsofstressandanxiety
• Christianclientsaretemptedintheirsymboliccell,butcanendurebecauseofGod’sloving,sovereignpresence
• ThevehiclethroughwhichacceptanceandunionwithGodcanbecultivatediscontemplativepractice,ratherthanmindfulnessmeditation
MindfulnessVersustheContemplativeTradition• Buddhistmindfulnessmeditation� Focusononethinginthepresentmoment(withthebreathorthesenses)
� Non-judgmentallyshifttothepointoffocuswhenthemindhasdrifted
� “Clinging,”“attachment,”“desire,”and“permanence”aresourcesofsufferingthataretoberelinquishedinordertoaccepthowthingsare
� Sincetheselfisanillusion,no-selfiscultivatedtoachieveoneness
• Contemplativeprayer� FocusonGodinthepresentmoment(withasingle-syllableprayerwordortheJesusPrayer)
� PivotfrominnerorouterpreoccupationstoGodwhenthemindhaswandered
� Centralgoalisnottoamelioratesufferingthroughlettinggoofaseparateself,butadeeperunionwithGod
� Healingthedarkenednous,corruptedduetosin
PrioritizingEpistemologies• Asanalternativetomindfulnessmeditation(i.e.,operationalizingBuddhistpsychologyandusingthescientificmethodforvalidation),ChristianpsychologistscanstartwithaChristianworldview,usingthescientificmethodtoinvestigatedistinctlyChristiantheoriesandinterventions(Roberts&Watson,2010)�Withthisapproach,contemplativeChristianitycanbeusedasastartingpoint,drawingfromtheBible(i.e.,divinerevelation)andtherichcontemplativeheritage(e.g.,theSayingsoftheDesertFathers)inordertodesign,administer,andtestChristianapproachestotreatment
PrioritizingEpistemologies• I’vebeenemboldenedasaChristian inmyreadingofthemindfulnessliterature,inthatauthorsandresearchersareincreasinglydrawingfromBuddhistwritingsastheydesignnewinterventions(Grabovac,Lau,&Willett,2011)
• Ifthisisso,whycan’tChristianpsychologistsbuildandtesttheorybasedonthecontemplativeliterature,whichoffersanastute,well-developedpsychospiritualunderstandingofthehumancondition?
• Whystartwiththemindfulnessliterature,somehow“Christianizing”Buddhistmeditation?
ContemplativePrayerforChristianswithChronicWorry:AnEight-WeekProgram• Myinspirationforthisthree-partstudy(andsubsequentworkbook)camefrommyreadingofTrustfulSurrendertoDivineProvidence
ContemplativePrayerforChristianswithChronicWorry:AnEight-WeekProgram• InthisJesuitwritingfromover300yearsago,theauthormadethepointthatpeaceandhappinessarepossibleifChristianscanlearntosurrendertoGod’sprotectivecare,trustinginhisinfinitepower,goodness,andwisdom
• Theauthorarguesthat,reminiscentofaparentwhotrustsasurgeontoremoveatumorfromhisorherchild’sbody,ChristianscanlearntotrustthatGodisactiveandpresentfrommomenttomoment,eveninthemidstofsuffering
• ThisspecificunderstandingisconsistentwiththeJesuitcontemplativetraditioningeneral,whichteachesChristiansto“findGodinallthings”
ContemplativePrayerforChristianswithChronicWorry:AnEight-WeekProgram• Amongbothacollege(N =209)andcommunity(N =99)sample,Ifoundsupportforanoverallmodelfit,withuncertaintymediating(partiallyandfully,respectively)therelationshipbetweensurrenderandworry
• Therefore,Idesignedaneight-weekmanual—drawingfromthecontemplativeliterature—tohelpChristianswithchronicworrytolerateuncertaintybylearningtosurrendertoGod’sprovidenceviadailycontemplativepractice
ContemplativePrayerforChristianswithChronicWorry:AnEight-WeekProgram• Week1:Explainthemodelfortheprogram
• Week2:Introductiontocontemplativeprayer
• Week3:TheJesuittraditionandthe“PrayeroftheSenses”
• Week4:TheJesusPrayer
• Week5:CenteringPrayer
• Week6:ContinuewithCenteringPrayer
• Week7:TheWelcomingPrayer
• Week8:Abriefversionofcontemplativeprayer
ContemplativePrayerforChristianswithChronicWorry:AnEight-WeekProgram• Resultsrevealedlargeeffectspre- topost-treatmentforintoleranceofuncertainty,worry,depression,anxiety,andstress,aswellasmediumeffectsforpositiveviewsofGod’sprovidenceandsurrenderasaformofreligiouscoping(N =13)
• Inthedebriefingsession,manyoftheparticipantsreportedthatsurrenderingtoGod’sprovidencethroughdailycontemplativeprayerchangedtheirlife,helpingthemtoletgooftheirpursuitofworry
OtherRecentStudies—TheJesusPrayer• Irecentlyconductedarandomizedcontrolledtrialonatwo-weekonlinecontemplativeprayerprogramforChristiancollegestudentswithself-describeddailystress(Knabb&Vazquez,2016)
• ParticipantswererandomlyassignedtoaJesusPrayergroup(n =44),whichinvolvedrecitingtheJesusPrayerfor10minutesperday(basedonanaudiorecording),orawait-listgroup(n =42)
• Resultsrevealedwithinandbetweengroupdifferencesafteratwo-weekperiodoftime
• Onascalemeasuringperceivedstress,amedium(almostlarge)pre- toposttreatmenteffectfortheJesusPrayergroupemerged,withnosignificantdifferenceamongthewait-listgroup
OtherRecentStudies—TheCloudofUnknowing• Inamorerecentstudy,IattemptedtooperationalizetheCloudofUnknowing,exploring“humbledetachment”asavariablethatmediatestherelationshipbetweensurrenderingtoGod’sprovidenceandrepetitivenegativethinkingamongChristiancollegestudents(Knabb,Vazquez,Wang,&Bates,2017)
• “Humbledetachment”� “A detached,flexible,humbleabilityto(a)letgoofthetendencytoclutchorpushawayapreoccupationwithinnerexperiencesandtheself,and(b)pivotfromapreoccupationwiththeselfandinnerexperiencestoamoretranscendentawarenessofGod’sactive,lovingpresence”
• HumbledetachmentmediatedtherelationshipbetweensurrenderingtoGod’sprovidenceandrepetitivenegativethinking(ruminationandworry)amongcollegestudents
• WearecurrentlydevelopingamanualizedpreventativeprogramforChristianswithrepetitivenegativethinking,usingtheteachingsoftheCloudofUnknowing
FutureDirections• Scaledevelopment• Randomizedtrials• Preventativeprograms• Somepossibleconceptstofurtherdevelop�Nepsis,hesychia,detachment,“desertpsychology”(Laird,2006),andcompunction
• Overall,weneedadditionalresearcherstooperationalizethecontemplativeliteratureasaChristian-sensitivealternativetoBuddhistmindfulnessmeditation� Coreaimsaredifferent—unionwithGodversusno-self
ContactInformation• Foradditionalquestions(orforthePowerPointslides),[email protected]
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ReferencesKnabb,J.,&Frederick,T.(2017).ContemplativeprayerforChristianswithchronicworry:Aneight-weekprogram.NewYork:Routledge.
Knabb,J.,&Vazquez,V.(2016).Arandomizedcontrolledtrialofatwo-weekInternet-basedcontemplativeprayerprogramforChristianswithdailystress.Manuscriptsubmittedforpublication.
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Knabb,J.,Frederick,T.,&Cumming,G.(2017).SurrenderingtoGod’sprovidence:Athree-partstudyonprovidence-focusedtherapyforrecurrentworry(PFT-RW).PsychologyofReligionandSpirituality,9,180-196.
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