A QUESTION OF MEDITATION

This is the third installment of responses to your questions. My hope is to have this be a piece of larger, ongoing conversations, and not to be the last word. Many responses are designed to do just this. My hope is to respond in a way that opens the questions wider, rather than narrow them.QuestionI have taken up meditation in the form of mindfulness based stress reduction.  I have been doing a program where we use Sanskrit mantras. I like the mantras in that they really do help me stay focused during meditation. Is it wrong to say mantras in Sanskrit? Is it wrong to meditate?ResponseThere has been so much written on meditation that I don’t believe I will add much to what’s already out there. With this in mind, below I have shared some resources and thoughts from others regarding meditation.In reply to the question “Is it wrong to meditate?” No. It’s been a part of the Christian tradition for centuries, and is once again gaining popularity, which is a wonderful thing. Meditation is simply opening up so that we can hear the voice of God. It is a filling, not an emptying.Richard Foster wrote in Celebration of Discipline the goal of Eastern Meditation is “to empty the mind” - to think about nothing. Christian mediation seeks to fill his or her mind with God. Tony Jones, in his book The Sacred Way, quotes Hans Urs von Balthasar who said, “Christian meditation can be nothing but loving, reflective, obedient contemplation of him who is God’s self-expression. He is the very explanation of God and his teaching to us.” Jones concludes that “the focus of all Christian meditation must be Jesus Christ.”This is an important distinction. In one sense, we do empty ourselves. We empty ourselves of our wanton lusts and undesirable thoughts. However, we do not stop there. We listen for the voice of God. We place our mind and hearts squarely in and with him, so that we can be filled with his words, his presence and his Spirit. Foster says mediation is ““the ability to hear God’s voice and obey his word.”It is one way we learn not only who God is, but who we are. Thomas à Kempis said meditation is the practice of creating a “familiar friendship with Jesus”. At one level, meditation is a mental discipline, but we cannot stop there. It is also a core spiritual discipline. It allows us to move beyond the noise, busyness and chaos that too often cloud our thoughts. In meditation we are able to give our mind, heart, body and soul to God alone.One way to do this is to do what the Psalmist spoke of: meditate on the word of God. Take a portion of Scripture and dwell on it. For example, Psalm 86:11 says,“Teach me your way, LordThat I may rely on your faithfulness.” (NIV)One can breathe in deeply while contemplating the words, “Teach me your way, Lord.” Then exhale fully while contemplating the words, “That I may rely on your faithfulness.”Let’s not forget these are the very words of God. As such, they are words that give us life. What language we say them in is neither here or there. However, if I have a choice between meditating on words from Scripture or an inspiring phrase or thought – I would choose Scripture every time as my mantra.Resources for learning more:The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas MertonCelebration of Discipline by Richard FosterThe Sacred Way by Tony JonesRenovaré