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How and why did we let Buddhism secular methods claim Mindfulness?
When I say "we" I mean Christianity.
Vigilance, wait for the Lord, Keep watch, our Christian lives have an inner dimension as well as outer active dimension. We begin with scripture, Lectio or even just gazing at the beauty of nature. Psalm 62:5-6 "My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken."
Perhaps Mindfulness is incompatible with Christian spirituality in that it calls for nonjudgmental acceptance of the thoughts and feelings that come and go. One just sits there observing until stillness comes.
Brain scientists tell us that the brain has 2 modes: Self referential and other referential. Self referential involves our default Mode Network with its ruminations and thoughts of past and future. Other referential is a more attentive to what is happening. Self referential can result in all our worry and sadness. Other referential brings relief. If our "Other" is the ineffable presence of God it can also be prayer.
But we seem skeptical and wary of anything that is associated with non-Christian tradition.
I think mindfulness is within the Judeo-Christian tradition but is alike a stepchild we feel free to ignore. But it seems to me that awareness of God's presence requires attentiveness without the distraction of our own ruminations.
I claim "Mindfulness" Christian requirement.
When I say "we" I mean Christianity.
Vigilance, wait for the Lord, Keep watch, our Christian lives have an inner dimension as well as outer active dimension. We begin with scripture, Lectio or even just gazing at the beauty of nature. Psalm 62:5-6 "My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken."
Perhaps Mindfulness is incompatible with Christian spirituality in that it calls for nonjudgmental acceptance of the thoughts and feelings that come and go. One just sits there observing until stillness comes.
Brain scientists tell us that the brain has 2 modes: Self referential and other referential. Self referential involves our default Mode Network with its ruminations and thoughts of past and future. Other referential is a more attentive to what is happening. Self referential can result in all our worry and sadness. Other referential brings relief. If our "Other" is the ineffable presence of God it can also be prayer.
But we seem skeptical and wary of anything that is associated with non-Christian tradition.
I think mindfulness is within the Judeo-Christian tradition but is alike a stepchild we feel free to ignore. But it seems to me that awareness of God's presence requires attentiveness without the distraction of our own ruminations.
I claim "Mindfulness" Christian requirement.