Christian Meditation

The Difference between Christian Meditation and Eastern Meditation

Section 1

Comparing Christian meditation with other forms of meditation?

There are many types, forms, and styles of meditation in use today. As a Christian it is important to determine the right type, style, and format that would be acceptable to God when using today. It is particularly important to know the major differences and correct approach. The major way that Christian meditation is similar to other formats of meditation in use is in its preparation or deliberation regarding the individual time that is set aside to contemplate, deliberate and or think about God.

Usually when a person thinks about meditating, they do so to free oneself from the stress and confusion of life. These benefits are also available to anyone utilizing Christian meditation; however, there is an additional benefit of understanding a word, phrase, or meaning about religion, and gaining a closer relationship with God. Another benefit of faith may be to understand the circumstances of a trying time in their life such as: the death of a loved one, job loss, temptations, relationship issues, divorce, or a myriad of other frustrating issues of life.

There are many differences of meditation when it comes to Christianity, however, the two major ones are:

• Meditation of the traditional nature, focuses on the self, primarily the higher self, but Christian meditation focuses on God, who is above the self. Individuals usually meditate on obtaining enlightenment or understanding about the  meaning of God’s Word, or increasing their relationship, and understanding with God
• Meditation in traditional forms, is where individuals seeks to evacuate one’s self; clearing their minds of all thoughts; in Christian meditation the believer seeks to be filled with knowledge and or understanding of God. Some Christian mediators’ believe that by voiding oneself of all thought opens oneself to being filled with other non- religious entities.

Throughout the exercise of meditation, non-Christians attempt to clear one’s active mind of all thoughts; focusing the brain intently on one thing, until an unoccupied miniscule amount of thoughts is allowed or present in the conscious mind. To accomplish this task, most often  tools or ‘guided’ devices are utilized.  This is talked about elsewhere in the  blog as in the term “Guided Meditation”. Music, incense, visualization and or a ‘mantra’ can also be utilized.

A ‘mantra’ as previously described, can be a word or a series of syllables that one repeats continually, over and over, until the mind is completely void. This ‘mantra’ either used alone or in conjunction with the other “guided medication” devices is supposed to help the individual achieve the ultimate in relaxation and cessation of stress. This helps one attain tranquility; in the midst of a chaotic state of mind, by just repeating or calling to mind the ‘mantra’, which when done repeatedly through subconscious replication, the desired effect is attained.

Christian meditation, is where the faithful seeker fills one’s thoughts with the truthfulness of God. Christian mediators’  attain this feat by concentrating their ‘mantra’ such as a ‘Word of God’, be it a single word, a phrase , a concept, a psalm, a scripture, and or a generalized concept about God. In Joshua 1:8 it says, “Thou shall meditate therein ‘the law’ day and night”, in Psalm 1:2 states, “His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night”. Instead of  voiding and or clearing one’s mind, the Christian instead fills his mind with dreams , aspirations, hope, encouragement, and enlightenment about the promises of the Word of God.

Also Christians may  or on good things that God has done for him. Or he may merely just reflect on the astonishment and amazement of God, and in doing so the believer is attains tranquility, peace and oneness with God. Which is what non-Christians aspire to accomplish plus with the added feature of connecting with the Eternal.

The major difference is when one seeks to void one’s mind of everything, other entities can enter. There are different sub strata’s of the subconscious that one may not be aware of, and also when focusing on Mantras that are composed of various Yoga syllables one is actually evoking alternate pantheism. More to follow on what other forms of meditation actually is doing that Christians or those of other religions are not aware they are doing.

You can learn more about the original meditation here.