Do you engage in silent meditation/prayer? [Spirituality & Religion]
Have you spent time when all you are doing is "internally listening" rather than "internally speaking"?
Has this been meaningful for you?
Has this been meaningful for you?
Oh yes I do, and get much inspiration and blessings from it. All of us meditate on something throughout the day; we just may or may not do it with intention. However, scripture specifically instructs Christians on the right way to meditate. When we are tempted to let our thoughts rule us, it instructs us to practice biblical meditation, by being deliberate with our thoughts and by directing them on the things of the Lord. What exactly does that involve?
The Bible puts a high value on meditation. (1 Timothy 4:15) The kind of meditation that it encourages, however, does not entail emptying the mind or repeating a certain word or phrase, sometimes called a mantra. Rather, Biblical meditation involves purposeful thinking on wholesome topics, such as God’s qualities, standards, and creations. Not the emptying of the mind, because idleness is the devil's workshop, and when you leave that door open, you're leaving yourself wide-open for Satan to come on in and influence your mind. Other meditations have nothing to do with the Lord. We can also meditate on God, instead of getting lost in pain, by setting our minds on the promises of God.
This is not to say meditation is not beneficial in other things, like preparation while training in sports or workouts. It's just separate as far as God's definition of how to meditate, and how His Word tells Christians to meditate, and otherwise, does not involve nor include Him. I'm not speaking of athletes praying. They certainly have that option. Only of meditation as the bible describes it.
The Bible puts a high value on meditation. (1 Timothy 4:15) The kind of meditation that it encourages, however, does not entail emptying the mind or repeating a certain word or phrase, sometimes called a mantra. Rather, Biblical meditation involves purposeful thinking on wholesome topics, such as God’s qualities, standards, and creations. Not the emptying of the mind, because idleness is the devil's workshop, and when you leave that door open, you're leaving yourself wide-open for Satan to come on in and influence your mind. Other meditations have nothing to do with the Lord. We can also meditate on God, instead of getting lost in pain, by setting our minds on the promises of God.
This is not to say meditation is not beneficial in other things, like preparation while training in sports or workouts. It's just separate as far as God's definition of how to meditate, and how His Word tells Christians to meditate, and otherwise, does not involve nor include Him. I'm not speaking of athletes praying. They certainly have that option. Only of meditation as the bible describes it.
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SW-User
@LadyGrace You provided verses off the topic of my DIRECT question of your claim that emptying the mind was some kind of invitation to the devil. A superstition and non biblical belief. You're the one who sounds unhinged with paranoia. If you can't engage in civil conversation with people, either keep your views to yourself or accept that people are going to expect you can justify yourself
@SW-User If you have a complaint, take it to God.
SW-User
@LadyGrace The one you FALSELY represent? Sure thing
SW-User
I have engaged in Buddhist meditation for 30+ years. I also engage in forms of Christian contemplation. Silence is a great gift and a great tool. A medicine. I also engage in forms of meditation and contemplation that are not silent and involve recitation. Out loud, or silently.
It’s been greatly meaningful for me. Generally I don’t talk about it, but I could say more.
It’s been greatly meaningful for me. Generally I don’t talk about it, but I could say more.
@SW-User
There's nothing wrong with using memes to make a point. And after all my questions I asked you, to be fair to you, and I even said I would be very willing to listen, you still did not answer one. Not one, could you prove that what you say is backed up in the Bible. Or by any other means. So I am finished with this conversation because it is not my desire to argue with you. I was only discussing. Further, with scripture to back up my beliefs, there were no assumptions, as you accused me of. I only wish you had backed your beliefs up. We'll simply have to agree to disagree.
Instead of asking me who I am, what I believe, and how I engage my spirituality (whatever that is, you have no idea)... you have caricatured it all with a meme.
There's nothing wrong with using memes to make a point. And after all my questions I asked you, to be fair to you, and I even said I would be very willing to listen, you still did not answer one. Not one, could you prove that what you say is backed up in the Bible. Or by any other means. So I am finished with this conversation because it is not my desire to argue with you. I was only discussing. Further, with scripture to back up my beliefs, there were no assumptions, as you accused me of. I only wish you had backed your beliefs up. We'll simply have to agree to disagree.
@SW-User
There are no two forms of meditation. God said to meditate and pray, only to Him, and told us exactly the way, not ways, to do it. Buddhism and Christianity are two very different cultures and beliefs. And it does matter, not only what we believe, but why, so we do not lead anyone astray. So we better know why we believe what we believe, because spiritual decisions determine where we spend eternity.
All I did was say I engaged in two different forms of meditation. Buddhist and a Christian.
I could really be of any faith background. Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, atheist.
I could really be of any faith background. Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, atheist.
There are no two forms of meditation. God said to meditate and pray, only to Him, and told us exactly the way, not ways, to do it. Buddhism and Christianity are two very different cultures and beliefs. And it does matter, not only what we believe, but why, so we do not lead anyone astray. So we better know why we believe what we believe, because spiritual decisions determine where we spend eternity.
SW-User
@LadyGrace You say: Rather, Biblical meditation involves purposeful thinking on wholesome topics, such as God’s qualities, standards, and creations.
I would agree. 100%.
Quieting the mind is to be able to do just that.
Most people, when they sit down, are thinking a million miles a minute. They are thinking about everything that comes into their head. They are distracted by everything. They have worries. They fantasize about the future. They are distracted about things in their visual field. This pretty thing, this thing needs to get cleaned. They are making lists in their heads.
And generally when people sit down and recognize this, they get frustrated. Dump on themselves. I can't focus on this piece of scripture! My mind is wandering from my prayers! I am repenting for my sins and I find my off on something else! They get frustrated that they can't calm down, focus. They get frustrated that they can't settle down. Even more so because they've been trying a long time. A mind like this will eventually hurt somebody's health. Depression, pain, indigestion, anxiety.
Every spiritual tradition that has had a contemplative component has had to face just this. They have had to face it because that's our neurobiology. And today we understand this well. And from the looks of it, contemplatives around the world did as well, as they have the same answers. Just set the mind on something, again and again, until it calms down. No. Don't EMPTY THE MIND OUT. There is no such thing. Just set the mind on a point. Bring it back.
Count your breaths to 10 and start over. Just breathe deeply. Feel the sensations of breathing, of walking. Focus on "Christ have mercy". Read a piece of scripture. Focus on every word. The sound of every word. Some people use God's love, mercy, directly. His love. People are different.
I would agree. 100%.
Quieting the mind is to be able to do just that.
Most people, when they sit down, are thinking a million miles a minute. They are thinking about everything that comes into their head. They are distracted by everything. They have worries. They fantasize about the future. They are distracted about things in their visual field. This pretty thing, this thing needs to get cleaned. They are making lists in their heads.
And generally when people sit down and recognize this, they get frustrated. Dump on themselves. I can't focus on this piece of scripture! My mind is wandering from my prayers! I am repenting for my sins and I find my off on something else! They get frustrated that they can't calm down, focus. They get frustrated that they can't settle down. Even more so because they've been trying a long time. A mind like this will eventually hurt somebody's health. Depression, pain, indigestion, anxiety.
Every spiritual tradition that has had a contemplative component has had to face just this. They have had to face it because that's our neurobiology. And today we understand this well. And from the looks of it, contemplatives around the world did as well, as they have the same answers. Just set the mind on something, again and again, until it calms down. No. Don't EMPTY THE MIND OUT. There is no such thing. Just set the mind on a point. Bring it back.
Count your breaths to 10 and start over. Just breathe deeply. Feel the sensations of breathing, of walking. Focus on "Christ have mercy". Read a piece of scripture. Focus on every word. The sound of every word. Some people use God's love, mercy, directly. His love. People are different.
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