True Prayer and Meditation - 08/21/00 06:20 AM
Hindu meditation:
What it is:
quote:
Traditionally meditation was (and still is) used for spiritual growth...i.e. becoming more conscious; unfolding our inner Light, Love, & Wisdom; becoming more aware of the guiding Presence in our lives; accelerating our journey home to our True Self... our Spirit.
Use of mantras:
quote:
Mantras are words of power, used as objects of meditation. Mantra is from the sanskrit root "man"- to think, and "tra"- to liberate; thus, to liberate from thought. The sound of a mantra has a vibration designed to produce a specific effect. By attuning to this vibration when we meditate on a particular mantra, that effect is produced in our lives. Although mantra is an Indian word, these words of power have been used in the mystical practices of almost all cultures.
Breathing:
quote:
Typical objects employed include a candle flame or a flower. Some people use pictures, such as a mandala - a highly colored symmetric painting - or a picture of a spiritual teacher in a high meditative state. Mantras are sounds which have a flowing, meditative quality and may be repeated out loud or inwardly. The breath is also a common focal point. Finally, guided visualization is also considered by some to be a form of meditation. A guided visualization can help to bring one into a meditative state; also, visualization may be used once a meditative state has been reached to produce various results.
Position:
quote:
Find a quiet, comfortable place to meditate. You can sit in a comfortable chair, on the bed, on the floor... anywhere that's comfortable.When you sit to meditate, sit comfortably, with your spine reasonably straight. This allows the spiritual energy to flow freely up the spine, which is an important aspect of meditation... If, for physical reasons, you can't sit up, lay flat on your back.
Use of beads:
quote:
JAPA YOGA chanting on beads (often silently)ROSARIES : Rosary beads may be used in the meditation process to count repetitions.
Christian meditation (so-called)
What it is:
quote:
The focus of meditation is Christocentric. This means that it is centered on the prayer of Christ which is continuously poured forth in the Holy Sprit in the depth of each human being. Deeper than all ideas of God is God himself. Deeper than imagination is the reality of God. Thus, in this way of 'pure prayer' we leave all thoughts, words and images behind in order to "set our minds on the kingdom of God before all else." In this way we leave our egotistical self behind to die and rise to our true self in Christ.
Use of mantras:
quote:
Meditators therefore undertake an inner journey of silence, stillness and simplicity. They embrace poverty of spirit, a radical letting-go, as the primary beatitude of the Kingdom. The way taught by the early desert monks such as John Cassian is to go beyond all distractions of thoughts, words and images. One takes a single sacred word or phrase (a 'mantra') and simply and faithfully repeats it during the period of meditation. John Main recommended the ancient Christian prayer 'maranatha.' In Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, it means "Come Lord Jesus" and should be repeated silently, interiorly, as four equally stressed syllables. Whatever thought, image or feeling comes, simply and faithfully return to the mantra. Two periods of meditation of about 20 to 30 minutes are advisable, at the beginning and end of each day. A quiet time and place, an upright posture, fidelity and perseverance are all that is required.
Breathing:
quote:
Meditating is actually easier than you might imagine. Most of us have dabbled in meditation by participating in conscious relaxation. Maybe during an exercise class or to manage pain at the dentist or anxiety before a test. We start by paying attention to our breathing. The practical effort to focus completely on our breathing takes our minds away from the "mind clutter" that constantly tries to invade our mind and eliminate feelings that will lead to a time of calm. With repeated effort the goal of clearing your mind – to think of nothing, does occur and the process of meditation takes on its own energy. The result is peace, serenity, calmness, eventually opening yourself to new insights.
Position:
quote:
Sit comfortably. A quiet place is preferred, but not required.By "sitting comfortably" is meant relatively comfortably; not so comfortably that we encourage sleep, but sitting comfortably enough to avoid thinking about the discomfort of our bodies during this time of prayer.
Whatever sitting position we choose, we keep the back straight.
Use of beads:
quote:
Saying the rosary is a form of meditation. In days past penance was not "say 5 hail Mary's," but "say 500 hail Mary's." The interminable repetition of the prayer was mantra-like and penance served not as a punishment, but as a meditation.
------------------
________________________
Even so come, Lord Jesus
Linda