Should Christians, or even better Adventists, meditate?

[Doug]

I hear a lot of people say we shouldn't but isn't that what Jesus did when he was alone? Is praying a form of meditation?

[BobRyan]

Meditation is good. Very good.

Meditation is what Isaac was doing in the field when Rebecca first met him according to the Bible and Patriarchs and Prophets.

Meditation is recommended often in the Bible and in the writing of Ellen White.

Meditating ON the things of God -- not meditation on a vacuum waiting for some mystic spirit to channel through you in a kind of automatic writing.

in Christ,

Bob

[Gerr]

ESV | Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

ESV | Ps 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

[Gary K]

I hear a lot of people say we shouldn't but isn't that what Jesus did when he was alone? Is praying a form of meditation?

Meditation as taught by the world? No. Prayer is not any form of that. Prayer is being in contact with God on a one-to-one basis.

[Woody]

Meditation is being in contact with God on a one to one basis.

[Gail]

I hear a lot of people say we shouldn't but isn't that what Jesus did when he was alone? Is praying a form of meditation?

There's a good subject for study for you, Doug! Grab a concordance and look up the word, "meditate" and see what the Bible says.

You will quickly discover that Biblical meditation and the New Age or Eastern heathen (I hate that word... I should say maybe non-Christian) differ. But it is a worthwhile study!

A Biblical study on this will also help you discern between what the Bible says and what some Christian mindsets are pushing currently as a Christian discipline. For every true Biblical concept Satan has an imitation.

[ClubV12]

"Meditation as taught by the world? No."

Well there it is in a nut shell! :)

[Gary K]

Meditation is being in contact with God on a one to one basis.

How is reaching out to the void being in contact with God? God isn't a void. He's a person. There are lots of beings capable of communicating with you, and only one of the is God. How do you know you're communicating with God, if all you're seeking is contact with "something or someone"?

There is a vast difference between meditating on what God has made known to us, and meditating on nothing, trying to reach some sort of nirvana through becoming empty of everthing.

Some times I really fear for you, Woody. You are in very dangerous waters and don't seem to realize it. You're a nice guy, but you're a long way from the truth of the Bible.

I've been there. I've studied Eastern religions and followed some of that in my 20's. There is nothing there to fill the void God placed in us. Yes, they are attractive. They "sound" good, but they do not spring forth from God. They lead you away from the God of the Bible.

[ClubV12]

"Meditation is being in contact with God on a one to one basis."

Depending on your definition of meditation, I don't have a problem the above statement.

[Tom Wetmore]

Meditation is being in contact with God on a one to one basis.

I think you may be on to something, Woody. A certain little old lady once wrote, "If they meditate and hold converse with God, as is their privilege, they will be enabled to obey the Word of God; they will eat of that living bread which cometh down from heaven." {1MR 278} (Emphasis added)

That lady frequently linked meditation and prayer. She said, "Pray much, talk less, meditate more."

I think that prayer is our speaking to God and meditation is that "be still and know" part where we close our mouth and listen for God's response.

[Dr. Shane]

From what I understand, the western form of meditation is *feeding* the mind. The eastern form of meditation is *emptying* the mind.

I am not convinced the eastern form is *evil* but think the benefits of it are more healthful than spiritual. I think eastern meditation helps with the reduction of stress and anxiety.

[Dr. Rich]

Thanks Shane. Is chanting the same thing over and over the same thing as meditating? If so, what about all of these songs that say the same words over and over? I call them "7-11 songs" Seven words sung over and over eleven times or more. Reminds me of prayer beads.

[fccool]

Quote:

I am not convinced the eastern form is *evil* but think the benefits of it are more healthful than spiritual. I think eastern meditation helps with the reduction of stress and anxiety.

Not quite. You are talking about commercialized version of Eastern Meditation. Eastern meditation is a bit beyond emptying of mind, but rather emptying of "self" in order to see the truth more clearly.

The idea is that "self" is constructed upon certain concepts on top of subconscious "true self". Once you get rid of the pre-conceptions of "self", you get the unadulterated truth that can only be experienced for oneself, and can't be taught.

Brings up a couple quotes from Matrix (which was based on Easter ideas)

"I can only show you the door, you are the one who have to walk through it"

"You can't be told about what Matrix is, you have to see it for yourself"

It's kind of the same idea when it comes to Eastern meditation. The Eastern are loosely based on the idea of "God consciousness" that creates the reality that we experience as material. The distinction between consciousness and physical matter, between mind and body (refer bodymind), is the result of an unenlightened perspective.

In Eastern thought/religion, distinction between self and the reality is a false dichotomy, because self is a construct in a world that is best compared to a dream/illusion of subconscious.

see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_%28illusion%29

[Dr. Shane]

I grew up and sobered up in Seattle, Washington where Eastern religions are practiced by many and Eastern meditation is very common within recovery circles. My summery of it was very basic. Most westerners are not going to buy into the entire Eastern religion worldview however they can and do find benefits from practicing Eastern meditation as I summarized it.

[Tom Wetmore]

Thanks Shane. Is chanting the same thing over and over the same thing as meditating? If so, what about all of these songs that say the same words over and over? I call them "7-11 songs" Seven words sung over and over eleven times or more. Reminds me of prayer beads.

Oh, you mean like what goes on around the throne of God? That endless chanting of "Holy, Holy Holy"...

And speaking of those repetitious religious choruses, I think the worst one I ever learned to sing repeated the same word over 50 times and went on for 5 minutes... I had always understood Handel was supposed to have been some sort of great and amazing song writer and that was his absolute best chorus...

[Dr. Rich]

Thanks Tom! When I wrote the post above I was thinking about the same thing you wrote. Perhaps there something to chanting after all????

[Dr. Shane]

There is something to be said for repetition. I think the key word in Matthew 6:7 is the word "vain" which also translates "meaningless". Some of us that have particularly hard heads only learn through repetition.

[Overaged]

Meditation is good. Very good.

Meditation is what Isaac was doing in the field when Rebecca first met him according to the Bible and Patriarchs and Prophets.

Meditation is recommended often in the Bible and in the writing of Ellen White.