A method of meditation adopted by the inmates at the Society of Saint-Sulpice in Paris, France, based on the teaching of the French mystic Jean-Jacques Olier (1608-57). Olier was suddenly struck blind and when he regained his sight in a seemingly miraculous fashion he was impelled toward a more spiritual view of life. He founded the seminary of Saint-Solpice and developed his method of meditation which consists of three seemingly simple acts; communion (Jesus in the heart); cooperation (Jesus in the hands); adoration (Jesus before the eyes). The soul draws near to Jesus, opens itself to Him and submits its active will to Him. These three Sulpician meditative acts have obvious parallels with the Indian systems of Jñāna, Karma, and Bhakti Yoga respectively, which seem to be combined in the Bhagavad-Gītā (as they are by the Sulpicians) into a single yogic discipline, usually called rājā yoga, although with either Krishna (Sk. Krsna) or some other deity, rather than Jesus, as their focus.

P.S.H.

© Copyright by the Theosophical Publishing House, Manila