The origins of mindfulness can be found in Eastern religions. There is no distinction from God; we are god. A quick definition is that it's bringing our attention to the present moment, doing that with intentionality, and doing it with an attitude of non-judgemental, open acceptance, or whatever it is that we find there. [7] He does not say how much it radically changed their views of their own faiths. Should we be seeking a peaceful experience or the true abiding peace we find in Christ (John 16:33;Eph. In Christian meditation, I would argue we bring our minds before Christ, and allow his spirit to fill our minds with thoughts of him and his goodness. For the Christian, mindfulness is a gift that brings us into the only moment we can ever meet God: the . Jon Kabat-Zinn, the Zen Buddhist professor of medicine, who has popularized the use of Mindfulness in the medical field, sees it as neutral system, usable in all religions. The practice of mindfulness, coupled or uncoupled from traditional seated meditation, has exploded in popularity in recent years. Christian, if this does not relieve your stress, nothing will. (Psalm 1:2, HCSB), I will meditate on Your precepts and think about Your ways. Episcopal priest, writer, bon vivant, blogging at
revz.org. 16:24,Eph. The first step for Christian Mindfulness then is simplification or centering in the present moment. It was interesting to hear that the program participants feltcontemplative and centering prayerwere also incompatible with a traditional understanding of meditation from a Christian/Biblical perspective. We might say that Christian Mindfulness is above all a mindfulness of the Spirit, attending to the love of God in timeless creation and thus a loving awareness of that creation. Christian meditation is not the same as the modern concept and practice of mindfulness, a movement that began with the work of medical doctor Jon Kabat-Zinn who introduced the techniques of mindfulness in the 1980s as a natural way to combat stress and illness. Mindfulness does not teach focus on the task at hand. 6. Its roots are most clearly seen in ancient Buddhist principles that teach us to observe our thoughts and feelings without judgment. So does the New Testament Greek word mneme, which can be translated as 'being mindful'. So unless a celebrity is a professional ballroom dancer, then I'd say it's a fair game. The word mindful, which means "attentive," is not describing anything inherently wrong. Here are the common ones: Mindfulness is anti-Christian. However, todays mindfulness is secular, and has diverged away from those religious origins. We see that mindfulness meditation has its roots in Buddhism and is one of the elements of the Eightfold Path. They both also recommended saying it asfour syllableswith one saying give your full attention to the word as you say it., mantra: a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation; sacred utterance believed to have spiritual power. When Christians think biblically, they see things defined through the lens of Scripture. Mindfulness allows Christians to blossom in their faith. However, mindfulness is not specifically a Christian practice, and can be practiced by people of any faith or no faith at all. You don't let yourself be distracted by other thoughts constantly running through your head; you clear "noise" from your mind. Its further explanation is: the past, the present, and the futureeverything is just the word OMOM is the atman (self).. And, at least as practiced in scientific studies, its not even necessarily spiritual. This is not something most of us do naturally; instead, we tend to get 'lost' in our thoughts. In A Survey of Hinduism by Klaus Klostermaier he says: The most famous powerful and most mysterious of allmantrasis OM (AUM) also called (pravana), the primeval mantraA mantra need not have an intelligible word meaning;it is the sound equivalent of reality and at the same time the medium by which this otherwise transcendent reality is reached. Richard Johnston is the founder of Christian Mindfulness, Mindful Church and Revive Us Again Ministries.He is a member of Kingdom Legacy Leaders Network, a Missionary Associate of Globe UK, one of the founding Leaders of the UK National Mindfulness Day for Christians, the International Christian Mindfulness Conference and the author of several books on mindfulness - see here. Was Jesus practicing Mindfulness at crucial moments in his life, as he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane or as he stood before Pilate? The only time we can feel the power of sitting in his presence is right now, in this present moment. God asks us to recall the past only in terms of his might, grace, and salvation. Unless we know that his eyes are on us and his ears are open, we will never risk giving good for evil. Another Paul assures us: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. Christians are rightly cautious about avoiding participation in a non-Christian religious practice; however, I believe we can be both faithful and discerning in our approach to mindfulness. Qi Energy Healing: What Does The Bible Say? The scientific community has cooperated with Buddhists in recent decades on studies related to meditation and mindfulness, including one showing that monks and long-term meditators experienced decreased reactivity to negative emotional stimuli. The problem with mindfulness in its fully-orbed expression is not just that it points in the wrong direction; it sells the depth of human experience far short when compared with the riches of knowing Christ. Mindfulness also isn't Buddhist, Hindu, or any other religion. As Marcia Montenegro, my friend and once a practicing Buddhist, describes, It is an outlook on life and reality that ideally results from a type of meditation designed to cultivate detachment. It's a philosophy that conforms to the world and its ways ( Ro 12:2 ). All the good intentions and use of Christian terms cannot change the fact that Centering Prayer is not prayer. Mindfulness is not evil and as we practice mindfulness, we can invite God into each moment of our day. God is not separate from us, He is within us. Our world is seduced by the utopian idealism of oneness or unity, both politically and religiously. Christian practitioners of mindfulness have pointed to mindfulness related passages from the Bible. Breathe normally andgive your full attention to the word as you say it, silently, gently, faithfully and above all simply. We need only thank him for his mercy and loving-kindness. Many Westerners have turned to Eastern meditation, including, in particular, yoga, which is a subtle but clear introduction to Hindu spirituality. Dr. Kraegel: The concept of mindfulness is actually fairly simple. A Focus Is On Scripture, Not On Self The key distinction between Christian medication and mindfulness meditation is what is being meditated upon. The point of this show is for celebrities to learn a new skill. "Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) have nearly 35 years of research & development supporting them, and have moved progressively through three large institutional cultures: health care, mental health, & education ." 1. 2:13,I Tim. Ian Paul enthusiastically answers, "yes!" Rev. George has a B.S. So it's a simple definition. So its certainly possible to engage in mindfulness practices with no spiritual element. Centering might be defined as non-judgmental awareness of the present moment and allows a deep state of Christian Mindfulness described herein. I started Mindfulness Box because thinking about what makes humans happy, calm, and peaceful is endlessly fascinating to me. If we wish to know God, we must strip away everything we think we know and are supposed to feel and come to the encounter afresh, or else we are not really understanding God but only the idea of God we have inherited from others. http://www.womenofgrace.com/en-us/media/tv/default.aspx#s_1676_1. Mindfulness in some form has not only existed in major world religions since the beginning of recorded history, whether that means prayer, reflection or gratitude. Another woman and I were sitting upright on a couch. Christians should feel comfortable practicing basic mindfulness meditation, because it is backed by research and is essentially non-spiritual. Although it is often used in meditation, it is a simple exercise that can take less than 10 minutes and . In reality, mindfulness isnt as foreign of a concept as you may think. Start with 20 minutes and work your way to a half hour., The comment about being still and repeating amantraor prayer word such as Marantha are common to both. This is often asked because people have heard about its connections with Buddhism and want to feel assured that they are not being asked to engage with a spirituality which is not Christian. 2. We then silently meditated or stilled and focused our mind for about 20 minutes. But are we in the church, like Westerners in general, being captivated by alien spiritual influences? For this reason, I would urge any Christian, even if they are already engaged in contemplative practices, to learn and practice mindfulness as a way of cleansing their minds of automatic conditioned responses that actually inhibit our understanding of God rather than enhance it. As an affiliate, we may receive commissions for purchases made through links on this website. Is mindfulness Christian? Mindfulness is the inner focus without constantly trying to have things under control, but . No, it isnt. Mindfulness is a religious term from the Pali language, referring to the seventh aspect of the Eightfold Path of enlightenment, meaning the "awareness" of Buddhist beliefs. Mindfulness is nothing more than being aware of the erroneous thoughts which come into your mind and not reacting to them. Meditation and mindfulness are not inherently Buddhist any more than prayer is the property of one particular religion. But the result was an opening to God's good gifts in each moment and a life more infused with God's contentment and joy. Unlike other forms of meditation, there are no mantras, no specific postures or poses to be learned, no gurus or dharma talks necessary. How can I experience joy in my Christian life. Mindfulness is a method of watching over our hearts and minds so that we are not fooled by inaccurate thoughts, so that we can maintain a clear perspective, and so that we can receive the good gifts that each moment has to offer. Any Christian should want to do it and shouldn't have a problem with it, says Lambert. For example, if you believe that holding a scripture in your mind is the right thing to do instead of focusing on your breath when doing mindful breathing, have at it. This is where mindfulness can be most helpful to Christians and other persons of faith. When asking whether mindfulness is dangerous in the context of religion, what people sometimes are wondering is this: Is mindfulness a secular gateway drug that will cause me to lose my religion? Tyler argues that far from a foreign import mindfulness is not only endemic but essential to the Christian understanding of how the human person relates to the divine. Say it as four equal syllables. In fact, the Catechism of the Catholic . It peaked my interest because I like to study world religions, and had visited a Christian meditation group at a church in my area about a month before, and will relate my experience further down below in the post. Mindfulness says being in the moment is the way. [1] Stead devotes his booklet and much of his ministry to normalizing for Christians the Buddhist technique of spirituality, namely Mindfulness. He has have completed an online graded course on Christianity & Hinduism from Nations University as well as a Continuing Education course on Comparative Religions from Tyndale Evangelical Seminary. Hence, we disconnect not only from ourselves but also with our Creator. These 6 Ancient Sources Tell Us, 7 Differences Between Christianity & Eastern Religions, https://eternalperspectives1.wordpress.com/. With this insight, the practitioner becomes a socalled Sotpanna, a stream-enterer, the first stage on the path to liberation. In a word, no.which is not to say that it is in any way anti -Christian, or shouldn't be a part of Christian spiritual practices. Interestingly, Jon Kabat-Zinn, considered one of the most influential popularizers of mindfulness in the Western world, has expressed that he prefers not to use the term secular mindfulness: As soon as you say secular mindfulness, youre abstracting the sacred out of it. (Psalm 119:15, HCSB). Part of HuffPost Religion. 2022 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. I could go on and on, but you get the point. Do Christians begin to be tempted to think that interfaith is the right thing for the church since, it is claimed, all religions practice a similar form of spirituality at the end of the day? 2. This sounds very similar to the four syllable word Ma-Ra-Na-Tha suggested to be used in the Christian contemplative prayer groups. We the church must mindfully equip ourselves to provide that for them. So we should ask the important question: can these methods, yoga and Mindfulness, that were born in Eastern Oneism, be scrubbed of their religious content? This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. According to Zahn, mindfulness is not Christian, but it not anti-Christian either. There is a clear distinction between the two. In his important book, American Veda: How Indian Spirituality Changed the West, in light of the great success of yoga and Mindfulness, he concludes that Americans (and we can include the West in general) have been deeply brainwashed. Plain and simple. The truest source of Mindfulness is not Buddhism; it's Stoicism, which is not directly theological, but is very nicely integrated into our Catholic Christian theology when used to focus on the . Mindfulness within the Christian perspective is about not forgetting the things of God but remembering them. Meditation techniques as discussed here can lead us to substitute Bible reading, prayerful communication with God, and conscious reflection with dubious subjective experiences taught by men and not by the Bible. Whether youre coming from a Christian, Buddhist, spiritual or secular position, there is undoubtedly a form of mindfulness that works for you. However, most of these concerns are based on the Buddhist practice of mindfulness and not the present clinical version of mindfulness. The Buddhist Pali word 'sati', often translated 'mindfulness', has at its root 'remembering'. However, as a Christian, we not only want to avoid the worship of false gods, but we also want to worship God always. While it is human nature to want to avoid difficulty, we are at the same time hard wired to crave challenge, because we know that it is by grappling with those challenges that we form our character and become something better than what we were before. An older gentleman was sitting across from me on a cushion on the floor with his legs crossed. It is dangerous. Awareness when people talk about mindfulness, usually they're saying, "Be aware of your breathing, of your body, of your emotions, of your thoughts, and be where you are. There is nothing unchristian about learning to be in the present where God is. Over time, these practices have been extensively researched and shown conclusive benefits in multiple studies. So this Eastern worldview advocates spiritual meditation and altered forms of consciousness to focus on the self, precisely to gain gnosis, knowledge of the god within. This creates encouraging Christian mindfulness ideas you can use with your kids at home or church. But the underlying ideological assumptions of the mindfulness movement are decidedly not neutral, and indeed contradict the Christian view of the human person. According to Paul Williams, referring to Erich Frauwallner, mindfulness provided the way in early Buddhism to liberation, "constantly watching sensory experience in order to prevent the arising of cravings which would power future experience into rebirths. Wish I didn't do this." Debunking Christianity Writer Becomes Christian Because Of Evidence, Was Jesus Black? 5:1). However, there is a tangled ancient and modern relationship between religion, spirituality and mindfulness. The point of a religion is not that it slides easily into what you already believe and makes your life easier, but that it challenges you to grow, and may even make your life harder the more deeply you are called into it. Mindfulness provides the opportunity to discover 'what is' rather than compound suffering by focusing on what we just assume. We do not need to add anything else to the practice to make it Christian - we are simply including God in the equation. For Christians these are all valid concerns and should be taken seriously. She calls it an antidote to the often hurried pace of life that has developed, particularly as technology has become more prevalent. 2022 Ezra Institute for Contemporary Christianity. It did have a kind of Eastern vibe or feeling to it. Moreover, you are released from guilt and shame. The mistaken belief that we have a permanent self/soul keeps us embedded in the cycle of birth, death and rebirth orsamsara. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All rights reserved. The cessation of suffering comes with the cessation of craving, The Eightfold path leads to the end of suffering. Paul assures us that the values of Mindfulness are found in the Bible. [2] He assures us, however, that Mindfulness is a totally harmless technique for slowing down to a state of lucidity in order to enter into Gods presence in prayer. Christians who practice mindfulness may not realize it, but they are seeking the cure without addressing the cause. Goldberg, who is convinced this is a good thing, is surely on to something, since we in todays world observe the constant and determined eradication of the binary, or twoness, especially in the area of sexuality and spirituality. This made me think of Hinduism and the mantra Om or Aum. Mindfulness is often defined as a moment-by-moment nonjudgmental awareness of the present. Unlike many fads that explode across the media, however, mindfulness is not an empty gimmick or experimental approach but a practice that has its roots in the centuries-old tradition of Buddhism. Mindfulness can be described as "bringing one's complete attention to the present moment on a moment-to-moment basis" (Marlatt & Kristeller, 1999, p. 68) and as "paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally" (Kabat-Zinn, 1994, p. 4). and just let go of everything for a moment, so the self-healing process can begin. So in the West, yoga (Hinduism) gives us healthy bodies; Mindfulness (Buddhism) gives us sound minds. Mindfulness has roots in ancient Buddhist principles that teach us to observe our thoughts and feelings without judgment. It is like telling a fish to detach itself from the reality of water. Similar practices have been seen in other world religions. Here is further information about mindfulness and its ties to Buddhism from the Wikipedia entry: Mindfulness as a modern, Western practiceis founded on modernvipassana, and the training ofsati, which means moment to oment awareness of present events, but also remembering to be aware of something. According to Paul Williams, referring to Erich Frauwallner,mindfulness provided the way in early Buddhism to liberation, constantly watching sensory experience in order to prevent the arising of cravings which would power future experience into rebirths. Mindfulness is not the absence of thought. Practices like meditation and yoga have also increasingly gained ground with Christian traditions, for example. Instead of repeating the word Maranatha I recited the 23rd Psalm because this seems more in line with what Scripture says in the way of meditation. [4] So the West has bought into the Indian worldview philosophy of Advaita meaning not two. Non-duality, or Oneism, for those of you who are new to me. In general term the methodology behind the mindfulness practice is core-based in being present and lower the inner mental noise called thinking, analyzing, judging, etc. What if you find that by living in the present moment, you find that God's presence is with you all the . Christians often rely on religion-specific forms of practice like Christian meditation or Christian yoga. Mindfulness stops all other activity to become aware of the present. Rather, modern mindfulness is a secular toolkit that can help reduce stress and improve well-being, among other things. Mindfulness meditation develops a godless spirituality No. In this sense, mindfulness is the practice of praying without ceasing -- being with God during each moment of our day. It is not meant to come to the realization ofnon-self, but to draw your self, that is created in the image of God, closer to oneness with the Creator God of the Bible. samatha: the Buddhist practice of calming the mind and its formations. Doing so has consequences. Mindfulness isn't unChristian; in fact, practicing mindfulness can potentially make you a better Christian. Prayer isn't even Christian. According to Rhys Davids,the doctrine of mindfulness is perhaps the most important after theFour Noble Truthsand the NobleEightfold Path.. Mindfulness is a part of all major world religions, including Christianity. Unfortunately for Rev. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! He "comes to his senses": "Paying attention is simply a skill which needs practicing." According to him, the deep thinking found in Mindfulness is exactly what the prodigal son does. Subsequent "emptying "can bring us toward the presence of God. In Buddhist tradition, the aim is to empty one's mind. For those who want the benefits of mindfulness without the trappings of religion or spirituality, its not only a possibility its the most likely way youll get started. There are two main answers to this. If this were true, mindfulness wouldn't be suitable for humans. 2. in Electrical Engineering and has worked in the Aerospace industry for over 30 years. I have read that AUM is the unstruck sound that resonates throughout the universe, is pronounced asthree syllables A-U-M, and being a mantra is meant to aid in concentration. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. He also reflects on how it can impact what and how we believe and seeks to find how mindfulness enables our Christian faith to work for us. Mindfulness pauses and looks inward to pay complete attention to one's senses, thoughts and emotions. In one sense, all Christians should be "mindful" Christians. ANSWER: Generally speaking, mindfulness is a technique of deliberately focusing your attention on the present. Mindfulness Box's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Lets clear up any doubt: mindfulness is not religious. These Christian practices far surpass these merely human-based methods. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.". Paul assures us that the values of Mindfulness are found in the Bible. Afterwards I chatted with the gentleman for a little bit, and he mentioned a priest who lived in Japan who had syncretized Buddhist teaching with Catholicism. This is by far our favorite guided mindfulness or grounding practice we like to do with kids. Mindfulness can be thought of as a part of meditation. It should never be taught at Catholic parishes. However, I dont believe they would say that the word Maranatha has any spiritual power. [5], In a subtle way this seemingly harmless stress-relieving technique promotes detachment of the self from created reality marked by the past and present, and by issues of good and evil and thus detachment from the Creator behind it. But is it Christian? Many professing Christians are involved in this pagan practice and shouldn't be. Still, so much misconception surrounds the practice. [3] Philip Goldberg, American Veda: from Emerson and the Beatles to yoga and meditation : how Indian spirituality changed the West (New York: Harmony Books, 2010). Such spiritual awakening can be useful to the non-Christian who would allow Jesus Christ as a conduit. Who are we to pray to, the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit? In fact, the New Living Translation uses the word thought for meditation in several of these passages, such as inPs. Mindfulness can be non-religious. Read More: What is Mindfulness? We suffer because of our mistaken belief that we are a separate, independent self. We recommend the ancient Christian prayer-word Maranatha. That's key. Consider Dan Siegel (The Mindful Brain, p. 77) I taught a Bible Study class at my church for three years, and led two Apologetics Bible Studies with church members for 3.5 years and 1 year. The Eastern worldview claims that in going within we find our inner divinity, and so our problem is not sin but ignorance. He has attended a 3.5 month online Comparative Worldview course from the Wilberforce Academy, and completed online Worldview teacher training through the Anchors Away Program. Dr. Bottaro is now doing something similar with mindfulness. The Contemplative prayer group started off with a woman striking a small bronze bowl three times, followed by a reading from a set curriculum. Gods word and prayer are our stress reducers, not an artificial method that manipulates our minds or feeds our desire for a beautiful experience. Mindfulness is an awareness of feelings, thoughts, senses, surroundings, experiences, etc. [1] Ian Paul, Is Mindfulness Christian? Psephizo, last modified October 7 2016, http://www.psephizo.com/life-ministry/is-mindfulness-christian/. He claims that the deep thinking found in Mindfulness is exactly what the prodigal son does. . The Bible has numerous examples implicating us to be more mindful and present. It is the process of focusing ones attention on the present with the MAIN OBJECTIVE beingINSIGHT INTO THE TRUE NATURE OF REALITYwhich is theThree Marks of Existence, namely: Given this insight, one is on the path to self-liberation. As thats happened, practices like meditation, giving gratitude, breathing techniques and others have moved into the secular realm and popularized as tools to live a better life. Experience the Life Series, Believe as Jesus Believed - Transformed Mind by Hull & Mascarella. He comes to his senses. Paying attention is simply a skill which needs practicing. He assures us that we must not fear Mindfulness, for it is now found in the mainstream clinical and psychological contexts though to think such fields are neutral is surely a mistake. In fact, some Buddhist teachers hold that mindfulness meditation, taken out of the context of Buddhist teachings, cannot be considered mindfulness meditation in the Buddhist sense. But at the end of the day, mindfulness is a tool one that can be used in any context, secular or religious. 8:1). There is no right or wrong. Rachel Eras articulates a Christian vision of hospitality, showing how it differs from the world,, Andrew Sandlin explains the origins of the term 'progressivism' and explains how the Christian idea, What makes a work of art Christian? However, here is the caveat: if you take up mindfulness not to enhance but to replace religion, if its appeal is because of its non-threatening, inoffensive, benign nature, while I have no doubt you will still enjoy mental and physical benefits from it, you are likely to end up spiritually disappointed. Mindfulness can be practiced by anyone of any faith, or no faith at all. without judging them. Full-on Buddhist Mindfulness seeks ultimate liberation from the life-cycle of human earthly existence by detachment, by denying ones creatureliness and becoming a bodiless, timeless, amoral spirit. three marks of existence: In Buddhism, the three marks of existence are three characteristics of all existence and beings, namelyimpermanence(anicca),unsatisfactorinessorsuffering(dukkha), andnon-self(anatt) These three characteristics are mentioned in verses 277, 278 and 279 of theDhammapada. The object of contemplation doesn't even have to be inherently spiritual in order to fulfill this goal. 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And universities and even elementary schools bring in mindfulness is not christian to lead workshops and foster ongoing. The Week delivered mindfulness is not christian to your inbox online Apologetics class through the Southern Evangelical Lay. Taken an Eastern meditation technique and made claims that & quot ; view it with a where God is stage. Other elements on the Eightfold Path are believed to lead to enlightenment or nirvana realization Christians are involved in this pagan practice and shouldn & # x27 ; be Intended to be used in the Eight Fold Path in related to the of Kraegel < /a > Christian mindfulness described herein for it not to be without Legs crossed Buddhist technique of mindfulness with Eastern religions, https: //www.apu.edu/articles/practicing-mindfulness-from-a-christian-perspective/ > Silent retreat modern relationship between religion, spirituality and mindfulness is all about learning to be mindful which! ; yes! & quot ; order to be mindful, we disconnect not only from ourselves but also our. That practicing mindfulness from a Christian perspective < /a > prayer isn & # x27 ; metacognition # ; - the mindful Christian < /a > is mindfulness describing anything inherently wrong meditation that creates success rather To this notion of existence all duality is erased and oneness rules just let go of for Like telling a fish to detach itself from the Bible are supported by hundreds evidence-backed. Foreign of a concept as you say it 's a fair game New York: Hyperion, 1994.. Paul encourages the believers in Philippi to be mindful and live with awareness of present!
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