Meditation

[FaithT]

Forgive me if I’ve asked this before. My OCD is better but it’s still there. I’m just really high strung most of the time. I know meditating can be wrong, but what about relaxation exercises and emptying the mind of thoughts, you know, quieting the mind? Is that ok?

 

[Michie]

The Church encourages meditation as long as it is done prayerfully.

 

[FaithT]

The Church encourages meditation as long as it is done prayerfully.

How do I do that, exactly besides praying the rosary? Totally emptying the mind is wrong?

 

[Michie]

How do I do that, exactly besides praying the rosary? Totally emptying the mind is wrong?

I think the whole idea of emptying the mind is an impossible task without being put under anesthesia or some such drug. The body needs the brain to operate to function. Emptying the mind is more along the lines of detachment of things that cause stress. An ability to let go and relax. When the Church speaks of prayerful meditation it basically means handing things over to the Lord and ridding yourself of unhealthy attachments which impede us mentally, physically, and spiritually. It does not mean to cease to think or be aware as we prayerfully meditate and commune with God. But overall, I think emptying the mind is a really bad term to use that causes a lot of misunderstanding of the practice of healthy meditation in the Christian sense. It sounds more like a Buddhist practice imo.

 

[FaithT]

I think the whole idea of emptying the mind is an impossible task without being put under anesthesia or some such drug. The body needs the brain to operate to function. Emptying the mind is more along the lines of detachment of things that cause stress. An ability to let go and relax. When the Church speaks of prayerful meditation it basically means handing things over to the Lord and ridding yourself of unhealthy attachments which impede us mentally, physically, and spiritually. It does not mean to cease to think or be aware as we prayerfully meditate and commune with God. But overall, I think emptying the mind is a really bad term to use that causes a lot of misunderstanding of the practice of healthy meditation in the Christian sense. It sounds more like a Buddhist practice imo.

Ok. So I hand things over to the Lord….then how do I rid myself of unhealthy attachments? By handing it over to God? Sort of like Let Go, Let God? What prayers do I prayerfully meditate on other than the rosary? I do pray the rosary but is there more that I can do?

 

[Michie]

Ok. So I hand things over to the Lord….then how do I rid myself of unhealthy attachments? By handing it over to God? Sort of like Let Go, Let God? What prayers do I prayerfully meditate on other than the rosary? I do pray the rosary but is there more that I can do?

I don’t know of any specific prayers that could help you in that area other than the Our Father. I’m sure there are others out there but I have never explored it personally. It might be a good question to ask your priest as they are often in the midst of ridding themselves of earthly attachments.

 

[FaithT]

I don’t know of any specific prayers that could help you in that area other than the Our Father. I’m sure there are others out there but I have never explored it personally. It might be a good question to ask your priest as they are often in the midst of ridding themselves of earthly attachments.

Ok thanks

 

[FaithT]

I sent an email to my priest who’s also the pastor of my church.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Forgive me if I’ve asked this before. My OCD is better but it’s still there. I’m just really high strung most of the time. I know meditating can be wrong, but what about relaxation exercises and emptying the mind of thoughts, you know, quieting the mind? Is that ok?

Skip the Buddhist or Hindu meditation. But do pay attention to what your body tells you so you can have some control of your physiological responses to emotions. I have worked hard to be aware of my Vagus nerve state and then how to calm down. Some things are as easy as deliberately relaxing your shoulders. Another thing is saying “argh” like a pirate. Both of these work very quickly and can drop blood pressure. No particular meditation involved. Just tuning in to what is happening with your body (hard to do) and then making a move to get control mostly by relaxing into it. No need for an ‘empty’ mind but most of us are so revved up we don’t know what our bodies up to.

Christian meditation has a content. Eastern meditation generally is devoid of content. Fix your eyes on Jesus.

 

[RamiC]

Intended with respect, because I am not Catholic, but -

St. Ignatius Loyola was - Praying with Scripture - Lectio Divina & Gospel Contemplation - IgnatianSpirituality.com

St. Teresa of Avila, - "Church teachings, and Christian meditation using the teachings of St. Teresa of Avila." Strengthen Your Body, Mind, and Soul • Pietra Fitness

Also these guys here, who are not exclusively Catholic, but are based in real life at a Benedictine Monastery - WCCM | The World Community for Christian Meditation

I had this issue a couple of years ago, and for me a combination of the WCCM (on the third link above) and a form of Protestant Christian "yoga" solved it. I found the Pietra thing (second link above) while I was looking for something for me.

There is scientific support that meditation is healthy for the brain, can help to manage some mental health problems, and certainly for PTSD it is important to include the entire body in a healing process. I do not know OCD so well (don't have that one), but logically if you need to calm your brain and create new neural pathways, meditation will help the same as with PTSD.

 

[Learning always]

A Catholic monk advised me that "emptying the mind" belongs to Buddhists, and their meditations involve mantra. We should avoid.

Christian meditation should involve meaningful thoughts, he advised.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

A Catholic monk advised me that "emptying the mind" belongs to Buddhists, and their meditations involve mantra. We should avoid.

Christian meditation should involve meaningful thoughts, he advised.

Emptying the mind has to do with letting go of erroneous thoughts which come into your mind, but not shutting down your
awareness of God's presence. You cannot stop these thoughts as they come into your mind like boats floating past
you if you could picture a view above a river. However, don't dwell on them and just let them go. This is emptying the
mind as taught by Catholic mystics.

Meditation and detachment are very much part of Catholic teaching, especially St John of the Cross and St Terese of Avila.

Quiet Prayer or Interior Prayer as St Terese explains it, has been with the Church for centuries.

Here's what the 1917 Catholic Catechism says;

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Prayer of Quiet

A degree of contemplation in which the soul experiences an extraordinary peace and rest

www.newadvent.org

Using a single sacred word can help keep you focused on God's presence within.

​

 

[RileyG]

How do I do that, exactly besides praying the rosary? Totally emptying the mind is wrong?

Do you have a spiritual director? Some like centering prayer AKA contemplative prayer is where you empty your mind and focus on a single word. I've known some Benedictine priests and sisters who regularly practice it.

 

[RileyG]

Ok. So I hand things over to the Lord….then how do I rid myself of unhealthy attachments? By handing it over to God? Sort of like Let Go, Let God? What prayers do I prayerfully meditate on other than the rosary? I do pray the rosary but is there more that I can do?

I really love the serenity prayer. I pray it multiple times daily.

 

[RileyG]

A Catholic monk advised me that "emptying the mind" belongs to Buddhists, and their meditations involve mantra. We should avoid.

Christian meditation should involve meaningful thoughts, he advised.

Indeed. We are meant to be full of the Holy Spirit, not emptying ourselves.

 

[FaithT]

I sent an email to my priest who’s also the pastor of my church.

So far I haven’t heard back from him.

 

[FaithT]

Do you have a spiritual director? Some like centering prayer AKA contemplative prayer is where you empty your mind and focus on a single word. I've known some Benedictine priests and sisters who regularly practice it.

I used to but not anymore.

 

[FaithT]

Do you have a spiritual director? Some like centering prayer AKA contemplative prayer is where you empty your mind and focus on a single word. I've known some Benedictine priests and sisters who regularly practice it.

So, emptying my mind and just focusing on the name Jesus, saying “Jesus” over and over is ok?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

So, emptying my mind and just focusing on the name Jesus, saying “Jesus” over and over is ok?

The name Jesus repeated is to keep you focused on the presence of God within. Whenever
you become aware that your thoughts have taken you away from your focus of intention, just
gently return to the name Jesus. It acts like a compass pointing you back to Him.

My sacred prayer word is "Lord Jesus." Whenever I become aware that I've drifted away with
an erroneous thought, I merely return to the prayer word, "Lord Jesus."

Resting in God's presence is the purpose of meditation. Let God be God and let His will
be done in your life.

 

[FaithT]

I heard from my pastor who told me to look up Centering Prayer and said there are a number of Catholic authors who’ve written about it. He suggested an author Basil Pennington, a Trappist Monk who wrote about centering prayer which father said involves emptying the mind of all thoughts while praying. Some authors use a mantra such as ”Jesus” as a keyword to bring your thoughts from wandering. So it must be ok.