google Mindfulness in Plain English -- it is an interesting, funny book designed as a how-to manual on doing what is called Insight Meditation -- that is, Vipassna Meditation, which comes from the Buddhism practiced in South Asia, orignating in what used to be called Burma.
Originally posted by ThinkOfOne If meditation is "listening to God", isn't this the only essential part of the process?
What's is the point of "talking to God" other than the "ask/answer" process being a method of meditating?
Frame of reference: Most of my religion/spirituality, or what stuck, is a combination of Catholicism and 12-Step Program, with some modern stuff (including Joyce Rupp and Edward M. Hays) and Thich Nhat Hanh. I do not have personal experience with other forms of religious expression. Half the time I stink at what I do know.
That said: http://tinyurl.com/5wadyf explains the 5 forms of prayer as I was taught them, to show that it's not all about ask/answer.
For meditation, one spiritual director said to use a mantra word (I still remember mine, although I didn't find this process very practical for me) and repeat it as you breathe in and out. This is supposed to clear your mind and thus enable you to better listen to God. I guess. It didn't work for me.
Originally posted by pawnhandler Frame of reference: Most of my religion/spirituality, or what stuck, is a combination of Catholicism and 12-Step Program, with some modern stuff (including Joyce Rupp and Edward M. Hays) and Thich Nhat Hanh. I do not have personal experience with other forms of religious expression. Half the time I stink at what I do know.
That said: http://tinyur ...[text shortened]... lear your mind and thus enable you to better listen to God. I guess. It didn't work for me.
"That said: http://tinyurl.com/5wadyf explains the 5 forms of prayer as I was taught them, to show that it's not all about ask/answer.
I guess with "ask/answer" I was assuming that the motivation was truth. From what I can tell, the 5 forms of prayer are largely for the "God of Gimme" and not the "God of Truth".
Prayer involves training the self to be submissive and humble. It gives you something to mentally talk to, something with a very strong personality and with strong demands. Even if there is no God it seems to require a different sort of mindset. You're not quieting the mind; you're visualizing another person and then mentally interacting with that person.
I don't know that it matters that one believe that there is an active agent.
I don't know that it matters that one believe that there is an active agent. ---ToO----------
Me thinks it definitely mattered to Jesus. His Father was defintely an active agent to him. His whole teaching is about following the will of his Father and to that end someone/ something that has a "will" is an active agent.
"I do not act on my own , but only what I see my Father doing"
Why do you continue to treat Jesus like some pick and mix rack who is just there for you to squeeze out of him what fits your philosophy/belief? When will you allow yourself to appreciate all of what he taught and stop wedging him in to your world view like an ill fitting jigsaw piece. You are a user of Jesus. You take bits of him here and there but don't see any obligation to take him as he really is.
Prayer vs. meditation
11 Jul '08 22:401 edit
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