Scriptural references to meditation
Psalms 104:34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD. Psalms 77:12 I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Psalms 119:15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Other Religions
So I had the opportunity to attend a Buddhist temple yesterday, and I gotta say the experience was absolutely amazing. I've spent a good chunk of my life learning about my own religion as well as the religions of others, but I have never had the opportunity to experience a religion by engaging in practice with those to whom it is sacred. At the temple we were introduced to some meditation techniques used by Buddhists. It was surprisingly difficult to quiet my mind for the minimal 25 minutes the monk encouraged us to meditate. The monk asked us how we could possibly think we have control over our bodies or our minds when we are not even able to tell our mind to be quiet for more than 5 minutes. This process led me to contemplate the ways certain Buddhist practices could be used to heighten my spiritual development. Many Christians object to meditation, but I suspect it is due to misconceptions about the way it is practiced or what the desired outcome of it is. Meditation in Buddhism is about detoxifiying the mind. The practice is used to gain control over your body and your mind, and by doing this reach a state of enlightenment. In Christianity I believe meditation can be used much in the same way. The scriptures tell us the importance of meditating on the 'ways' of the Lord. In the scriptures it is through meditation that the Psalmist finds themself able to center on the precepts of God. Buddhism is able to teach its adherents control over their mind and bodies in a way that most Christians would find themseves lacking. Buddhism also seems to strive for a balance in all that they do. When I visited the temple there were statues of spirits that represented opposing paths of life. The spirit of war stood across from the spirit representing music and joy. The idea of balance is something I believe mainstream Christianity would do well to learn from. A balanced Christian would understand that the tensions between our beliefs and those from a different religious worldview can lead to a greater understanding of one another, and in the long run do much more to further Christian values than religious fundamentalism. I am absolutely not saying that Christianity and Buddhism are compatible. One of the essential ideas of Buddhism is that there is no God. Therefore one of the basic concepts of Christianity is denied. Buddhism's essential belief is that we are able to save ourselves through an understanding of certain truths. This is directly incompatible with the Christian worldview that teaches we are incapable of saving ourselves; it is through Jesus we find ultimate truth, and the forgiveness of sins. The danger in Christianity is to relegate ourselves only to the spiritual traditions we are most familiar with. By doing this we limit the ways in which we experience the presence of God. It is my sincere belief that the only limitations found in our experience of God are the limitations we place on ourselves.
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9 comments:
Dearest Gabe,
And so begins our online spiritual debates:
Please visit this site, another blog that cites an instance in which Buddhism and Christianity are very much compatible.
http://amidatrust.typepad.com/interlog/2005/08/buddhism_and_ch.html
As stated in it, much more eloquently than I can do in between homework assignments, it is not impossible to both practice Buddhism and be a Christian.
Using Buddhism as an orothopraxical lens, we are able to look deeper at our orthodoxical views of Christianity.
To quote Jesuit Priest, and Buddhist Zen Master, around whom the article is written:
"I don't think the two faiths can easily be put together on the intellectual level," he said. "They have different starting points and they differ in the questions they ask. There's no attempt at a quick synthesis. But it's not really about belief at all, it's about practice."
Taren, first I would like to thank you for taking the time to respond to my blog. Your comment is appreciated. I do have to disagree with you on one point though; the buddhist practice is by its very nature anti theistic. One of Buddhism's main beliefs is that we can save ourselves without the need of a savior. In Christianity this savior was Christ. If you do not need Christ you do not need God. This is just one reason I say that Buddhism is incompatible with Christianity. You can however, which may be what you are trying to say, follow certain precepts of the Buddha and maintain congruent Christian beliefs. Examples of congruent beliefs would be some of the moral precepts of Buddhism such as:
1. To abstain from harming any living being
2.To abstain from sexual misconduct
3. To abstain from anything that clouds or intoxicates the mind
(such as drugs and alcohol)
These are just a few of the moral precepts of Buddhism that are directly compatible with Christianity. However, this is not the basis of Christianity. The basis of Christianity is the belief in the divinity of Christ. This directly contradicts the basic beliefs of Buddhism. I think that you could be a Christian that relies heavily on Buddhist practices i.e. meditation, vegetarianism,pacifism, but to believe in a Divine being that has saved us from our sins would negate Buddhism's belief in our responsibility to save ourselves. To sum up my long winded response, Christians can practice aspects of Buddhism, but to be a "Buddhist" or a "Christian" is to profess a belief in the essential tenets of the religion. The practices may be similar, but the essential tenets of each religion are directly contradictory.
Wow. You sure have done your research on other religions. I am liking this. Your blog page is very informative and it mirrors much of our psych of religion class. I will continue to read what you have to write about...and offer anything insightful when it comes to mind. I appreciate you writing down your thoughts Gabe...
nice blog Gabe!
I enjoyed this piece on meditation. My first question was, what temple did you go to and where?
I'm taking a class on Ignatian Spirituality. St. Ignatius developed what is now called the Spiritual Exercises. Mainstream Christians are fearful of the words 'meditation'or 'spirituality'because it is reminiscent of eastern practices. However, to help others get a better idea of the Spiritual Exercises, I relay it as the Catholic version of "Purpose Driven Life".
The exercises are made up of meditations for every day that require you to reflect on different times of Jesus' life and imaginatively interact with him as if you were with him at that time.
Anyways, to echo what you've said -I think it is indeed of utmost importance to learn about other practices. Not only will it alleviate some of the unnecessary tension that stems from uncertainty and fear, it will, like you said, allow us to experience God in all things and not just in our own traditions.
Gabe what do you say to this verse?
(Deut 12:30) "guard yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire about their mighty ones, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their mighty ones? And let me do so too.’
Should we be inquiring about how do others serve their mighty ones?
Gabe,
I agree with your response to Taren about "practicing" Buddhism and "being a" Christian.
Maybe Taren means the meditative elements?
BTW - John Ostrander weighed in with Karen on Antioch. I'll share what he said with you later.
In response to Anonymous-
I don't think that that verse is applicable to what we are talking about.The Israelites were struggling with the formation of their society, and the way they would practice their beliefs. I am not suggesting that Christians worship any of the theistic beliefs of any religion they encounter, but the practices of many religions around the world are found in Christianity and Judaism as well. If there are nuggets of truth in a different religion, would it not be helpul to our spiritual walk to examine them? If Christ is the logos, and all truth is found in Him, are not the truths of other religions simply poinitng to Chirst? The Israelites were not in a time and place where they were to even associate with other religions. They are told to wipe out everything (women and children included). Are you suggesting Christians eliminate every religion the way the Israelites were instructed to do? I think that we have come to understand this scripture as necessary to the formation of Israel, but that it does not aply to inter-religious dialogue. Ultimately Buddhist's do not even have a 'mighty one.' They are more concentrated on practices that lead them closer to the truth (enlightenment). At the end of the original blog there are just a few examples of the multitude of scriptures that point to meditation as a useful, and in fact needed component to one's spirituality. I hope that this will be useful and relevant to your comment.
In response to Dan-
I think that Taren was essentially saying the same thing I was; certain Buddhist practices are compatible with Christianity. As the Jesuit priest in her article stated 'It is not about a belief it is about a practice.' When Buddhism is the belief, it becomes incompatible with Christianity. I think this is congruent with what Taren said, but I know she will correct me if I'm wrong.
Another thought on what "anonymous" was saying....
"AFTER they are destroyed"...
Obviously Buddhism is alive and well - just ask Richard Gere. Putting it in context with the OT tells us that the Israelites were wistfully wondering how their conquered enemies worshipped their "mighty ones" (this could mean mere mortals who were deified by their people). To use this verse as a warning not to examine the tenets of Buddhism is not understanding the context of what you are doing and what the Israelites were warned against doing. All that said, meditation is healthy and scriptural and even required of the Christian. "Anonymous" may be concerned that you might get attached to the ways of Buddhism.
In that light - Buddhism doesn't stand a chance when scrutinized closely as a faith practice and adherence.
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