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.

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.