Is meditation wrong for a Christian?

[Chris V++]

I've recently entertaining taking up meditation again. (The practice of sitting still, clearing the mind and focusing on breathing.) Ive been watching this youtube neuroscientist explain the brain function and health benefits. Before I became a Christian I dabbled in it with discernable results in the form of two brief animated visions (or dreams if you prefer) . I wasn't delusional, They just showed up like dreams behind my closed eyelids and were very brief but vivid and memorable. One was a lotus flower opening up and the other was a tiny meditating figure floating in my stomach area. I told my Buddhist friend at the time who showed me illustrations of those exact images in one of his books. I guess they are common, at least common enough to be recorded in a book.
So this neuroscientist ive been watching on youtube explains those visions. Apparently by focused breathing, oxygen can be channeled to stimulate the pineal gland in the brain which then produces DMT or the so called 'spirit molecule' which causes visions/dreams or hallucinations or whatever you want to call them. He says its chemically similar to LSD but is produced in the body naturally So presuming this is true, is this ok for a Christian to practice meditation? Also, the Bible is full of visions and dreams of the prophets so who is to say how God gave them those visions. Can meditation be a form of prayer to the Christian?

 

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

Have you not read the scripture about how God tells us to meditate upon the Word?

 

[.Mikha'el.]

Have you not read the scripture about how God tells us to meditate upon the Word?

This. I really don't get why this is even being asked.

 

[Chris V++]

Have you not read the scripture about how God tells us to meditate upon the Word?

Sure, i'm familiar with that. The meditation I described is about becoming still, clearing the mind and sucking in a lot of oxygen with super deep breaths, in through the nose then out through the mouth while trying not to think.

 

[Chris V++]

This. I really don't get why this is even being asked.

You dont know why im asking if secular meditation as a practice is ok? or you dont know why he asked if i'm familiar with that scripture?

 

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

Sure, i'm familiar with that. The meditation I described is about becoming still, clearing the mind and sucking in a lot of oxygen with super deep breaths, in through the nose then out through the mouth while trying not to think.

What's the point of that? Trying not to think? Come on, man. That's not meditation. It's stupid

 

[.Mikha'el.]

What's the point of that? Trying not to think? Come on, man. That's not meditation. It's stupid

The harder one tries not to do something...

 

[Chris V++]

What's the point of that? Trying not to think? Come on, man. That's not meditation. It's stupid

It apparently over time can change the structure of the brain and other health benefits. They point to brain scans as evidence. One neuroscientist claims to have conducted over 6k scans. It seems likely its more related to the oxygen than the not thinking, but what would i know?

 

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

Hey, I just want to clarify..I was calling the act of that stupid; not the OP. Anyway, whether that's true or bogus I don't know. But I do know this. The Bible has this to say about the subject.

Proverbs 3:1-8 - "My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.

3
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.

5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]

7
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
8
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones."

 

[ReesePiece23]

I meditate daily. Because if I don't, my mind will become chaotic - and not only that, but the fine details (the ones I need to remember) will be strewn all over the place like a messy office desk. It's absolutely essential for me to meditate - PLUS, in my meditative state, inspiration for prayers will automatically surface: so I'll send them up there and then. Thereby hitting two birds with one stone..

What YOU need to do, is move away from the DMT philosophy. Meditation for the sake of releasing DMT can be a gateway to you actually smoking it. If you do, there's ABSOLUTELY no knowing where it'll take you. It's not LSD - you won't just trip and feel enlightened, on DMT you will lose your sense of self and forget you're even human. If you're not ready for that experience it could ruin you - and I AM serious.

Your goal is simple: to free the mind. To do that, sit under a tree, absorb the moment and breathe. That's it. Admittedly, I DO listen to Raga, but only because the sitar produces a gorgeous sound that helps me slip away.

 

[Jeshu]

i think you got it given brother, only meditating on the Word is life giving. To get visions and hallucinations through your type of meditation doesn't mean that you enter the spiritual world, but rather that you oversupply and/or under supply the brain to function properly. Which brings the strange results.

To meditate on God's word does clear the mind, much wrong dwelling there is shut up and thrown out by the word, to be burned with unquenchable fire, however this clearing of the mind is to fill our minds to the brim with Godly thoughts and ideas.

Psalms 139:17-18
"How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you."

 

[Chris V++]

Look, i wasnt asking if it's ok for a Christian to make an offering to gold statue of Buddah, or to chant an OM mantra or pray toward Mecca. I'm was more interested in just sitting quietly and breathing. Asked and answered.

 

[Chris V++]

I meditate daily. Because if I don't, my mind will become chaotic - and not only that, but the fine details (the ones I need to remember) will be strewn all over the place like a messy office desk. It's absolutely essential for me to meditate - PLUS, in my meditative state, inspiration for prayers will automatically surface: so I'll send them up there and then. Thereby hitting two birds with one stone..

What YOU need to do, is move away from the DMT philosophy. Meditation for the sake of releasing DMT can be a gateway to you actually smoking it. If you do, there's ABSOLUTELY no knowing where it'll take you. It's not LSD - you won't just trip and feel enlightened, on DMT you will lose your sense of self and forget you're even human. If you're not ready for that experience it could ruin you - and I AM serious.

Your goal is simple: to free the mind. To do that, sit under a tree, absorb the moment and breathe. That's it. Admittedly, I DO listen to Raga, but only because the sitar produces a gorgeous sound that helps me slip away.

Thanks. I didn't intend to come off as trying to look for a quick high from meditation. I just mentioned that because that was the explanation the neuroscientist gave for visions as if to say they are not supernatural.

 

[Richard Mulcahy]

Thanks. I didn't intend to come off as trying to look for a quick high from meditation. I just mentioned that because that was the explanation the neuroscientist gave for visions as if to say they are not supernatural.

How to Meditate on the Word of God (with Pictures) - wikiHow

 

[ReesePiece23]

Thanks. I didn't intend to come off as trying to look for a quick high from meditation. I just mentioned that because that was the explanation the neuroscientist gave for visions as if to say they are not supernatural.

Just slid it in there as a disclaimer

 

[pdudgeon]

Sure, i'm familiar with that. The meditation I described is about becoming still, clearing the mind and sucking in a lot of oxygen with super deep breaths, in through the nose then out through the mouth while trying not to think.

The one single problem with this for Christians is that they have (presumably) agreed that they acknowledge God as the Supreme Being and THE Creator of the Universe. So to want to "get in touch" with other spirit beings is to purposefully drop all your defenses, and open yourself up to satan and his army of spiritual beings (aka demons).

As Christians we have been given spiritual armor for our protection from satan. (remember that)

Without that armor, we leave ourselves wide open for demon possession, and everything that goes with it.
So essentially it would make as much sense for a Christian to take part in guided meditation as it would for a fire fighter to run straight into a burning building without any of his protective gear on to "experience what fire is like".

 

[Dansiph]

I've recently entertaining taking up meditation again. (The practice of sitting still, clearing the mind and focusing on breathing.) Ive been watching this youtube neuroscientist explain the brain function and health benefits. Before I became a Christian I dabbled in it with discernable results in the form of two brief animated visions (or dreams if you prefer) . I wasn't delusional, They just showed up like dreams behind my closed eyelids and were very brief but vivid and memorable. One was a lotus flower opening up and the other was a tiny meditating figure floating in my stomach area. I told my Buddhist friend at the time who showed me illustrations of those exact images in one of his books. I guess they are common, at least common enough to be recorded in a book.
So this neuroscientist ive been watching on youtube explains those visions. Apparently by focused breathing, oxygen can be channeled to stimulate the pineal gland in the brain which then produces DMT or the so called 'spirit molecule' which causes visions/dreams or hallucinations or whatever you want to call them. He says its chemically similar to LSD but is produced in the body naturally So presuming this is true, is this ok for a Christian to practice meditation? Also, the Bible is full of visions and dreams of the prophets so who is to say how God gave them those visions. Can meditation be a form of prayer to the Christian?

My personal opinion is that it's not wrong. As long as there's no elements from other religions or some wrong spiritual goal. I mean it's just a fact that breathing a certain way can calm you down. Reducing cluttered thoughts and breathing a certain way are methods to control stress. Just because they're also used by beliefs like Buddhism doesn't mean they're inherently bad.

You could also be a more effective Christian if you're calmer, more focused and less stressed. I wouldn't exclude God entirely though on purpose. Give him thanks and praise.

Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God

 

[ReesePiece23]

The one single problem with this for Christians is that they have (presumably) agreed that they acknowledge God as the Supreme Being and THE Creator of the Universe. So to want to "get in touch" with other spirit beings is to purposefully drop all your defenses, and open yourself up to satan and his army of spiritual beings (aka demons).

There is something in this - whenever you 'expand' an object, any hole within said object will widen considerably. I never get complacent about that - even when I've been in a state of meditation for twelve hours or more (however those meditations prescribe more to the article posted by Richard above. And they tend to happen around Easter time.)

Daily meditations are a completely neutral exercise - just like sleeping or mindlessly watching television. There's no real goal to be had, it's just to help organise the mind a bit. To be honest, it's no different to simply relaxing in the bath. It's the same concept.

Praying against counterfeit spirits is a routine practise of mine. I can't stand seeing the misuse of prayer or mediation in pop culture. It's those people that give it a bad name.

 

[Chris V++]

The one single problem with this for Christians is that they have (presumably) agreed that they acknowledge God as the Supreme Being and THE Creator of the Universe. So to want to "get in touch" with other spirit beings is to purposefully drop all your defenses, and open yourself up to satan and his army of spiritual beings (aka demons).

As Christians we have been given spiritual armor for our protection from satan. (remember that)

Without that armor, we leave ourselves wide open for demon possession, and everything that goes with it.
So essentially it would make as much sense for a Christian to take part in guided meditation as it would for a fire fighter to run straight into a burning building without any of his protective gear on to "experience what fire is like".

I see what you are saying, but I m not sure that deliberately trying not to think and to still your mind will open you up to demonic possession. I'm not considering participating in guided meditations that manipulate thru suggestion. I wondered why the neuroscientist claims not thinking is beneficial while meditating. I m just speculating but maybe the benefit of not thinking is slowing the firing of neurons so that the brain reorganize itself ( Neuroplasticity.) facilitated by the oxygen intake. Sort of like a reboot of an OS. But I dont really know why they say the not thinking is essential.

 

[RaymondG]

Be still and know that I am God. God came, in a still small voice, to one who listened for it. Who, by taking thought, can add one cubic to his stature?

If you are looking for people to say that it is wrong to sit for a while, breathe deep, or stop talking to yourself for a couple minutes.....you will find them.

For he who seeks, find.