When we hear the word meditation we assume it means something that comes from the East, especially since believers in Buddhism and Hinduism practice it. Yet, did you know that it is now becoming a Western concept, especially in Christianity? More and more the Christian world, especially within the circles of Catholicism is discovering meditation and how it can benefit our lives.
In fact, Christians believe in their own form of meditation, also called prayer. Prayer is basically another version of a mantra that is sung or said as seen in Buddhism. To the Christian when one prays they are getting closer to God. They also read Biblical scriptures to think about and "meditate" on as one would a Buddhist Koan or a passage from the Hindu Gita.
SEBASTIAN
So what kinds of meditation or prayer do Christians believe in practicing?
First Christians believe that when one is praying or meditating they are getting guidance by the Holy Spirit, which is another way to say using our intuition. This usually happens when one is reading the Bible as St. Ignatius of Loyal did after he converted to the religion. This would be the equivalent to reading a passage from Eckhart Tolle or another author and getting a message that you needed at the time appear to you.
Next, Christians believe in the very act of the prayer itself or faith, especially if they are looking to better their lives or want something to occur for themselves or someone else. This can come in many forms, from structured prayers to prayers that are actually written in the Bible. By this belief, Christians feel they are creating an environment in which miracles can happen whether it is through action or through the Spirit itself.
Finally, there is also the form of prayer that happens daily and becomes a habit such as saying a morning or evening prayer or saying a daily rosary which many devoted Catholics do. This takes a lot of discipline, especially if one is going through a tough time in their lives and their faithfulness as well as their belief is being severely tested. By practicing daily, this helps not only to relieve stress but to change the way one thinks by making their mind, body, and spirit stable.
If you think that Christians didn't really believe in meditation or meditate at all, you are wrong. They actually do in their own little ways from reading the Bible, reciting prayers for themselves or loved ones, and just participating in Christian rituals themselves. It is something to think about the next time you step into a Christian church or happen to read the Bible and pray yourself.
The Christian Meditation SEBASTIAN
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