Mindfulness

[Carl Emerson]

Hi there,

Just interested in the mindfulnes movement.

Clinical psychologists are pushing this approach to finding peace.

Schools are adopting it.

Questions...

What are it's roots?

Should Christians adopt these practices.

Comments welcome.

 

[Neostarwcc]

I am both bipolar and paranoid schizophrenic. I've had many people try to treat me over the years and been sent to many psychiatrists and hospitals. One of the treatments they try on me is mindfulness, I have to say for somebody whose thoughts cannot be distracted mindfulness doesn't work whatsoever on me.

There's no way to treat me while I'm having a psychotic episode I have to wait out the episode which can last for up to a few years. I'm not saying mindfulness doesn't work for some people and especially those who are not Christian but the Bible says trust God with all your heart soul and mind. Ignoring the past and living in the "present" isn't trusting in a God that's taken care of you since before you were even born.

Just my opinion. I'd rather meditate on God and his word which helps a lot more than mindfulness ever will than pretend that my past never existed.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Hi there,

Just interested in the mindfulnes movement.

Clinical psychologists are pushing this approach to finding peace.

Schools are adopting it.

Questions...

What are it's roots?

Should Christians adopt these practices.

Comments welcome.

Never heard of " mindfulness " as a technique for self awareness. I am only familiar with being " mindful " of others feelings by being aware of your actions towards them.
Blessings

 

[bèlla]

Mindfulness is an eastern practice.

Mindfulness is the practice of purposely bringing one's attention in the present moment without evaluation, a skill one develops through meditation or other training. Mindfulness derives from sati, a significant element of Buddhist traditions, and is based on Zen, Vipassanā, and Tibetan meditation techniques.

Articles: What is Mindfulness? Mindfulness Exercises

How are Yoga (Hinduism) and Mindfulness (Buddhism) Connected?

Mindfulness and yoga go hand in hand seamlessly because both aim to achieve that higher order of awareness or connection between the body, mind, and spirit. Both, yoga and mindfulness guide you to quieten your mind and form a connection with a deeper understanding of yourself and your surroundings.

Meditation and Mindfulness (Buddhism is an outgrowth of Hinduism)

Meditation is a practice that helps you become an impartial observer of your own mind. Meditation as a practice is thought to have roots in Buddhism. In fact, it’s believed that The Buddha himself taught zen meditation. However, ancient

Vedic scripts also speak of meditation. These scripts are the foundation of yoga and Hinduism. The Vedas speak of mantra meditation as a form of transcendental meditation. Although meditation has spiritual origins, and some use it as a religious or spiritual practice, it does not have to have any religious connotation. You can meditate regardless of your religious beliefs.

5 Differences Between Mindfulness and Meditation

Mindfulness is a quality; meditation is a practice
Meditation is one of many roads to mindful living

 

[High Fidelity]

I will post more later when I have time, but it's fantastic and actually, like many things, something you can incorporate into your own faith for the better.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Mindfulness is an eastern practice.

Mindfulness is the practice of purposely bringing one's attention in the present moment without evaluation, a skill one develops through meditation or other training. Mindfulness derives from sati, a significant element of Buddhist traditions, and is based on Zen, Vipassanā, and Tibetan meditation techniques.

Articles: What is Mindfulness? Mindfulness Exercises

How are Yoga (Hinduism) and Mindfulness (Buddhism) Connected?

Mindfulness and yoga go hand in hand seamlessly because both aim to achieve that higher order of awareness or connection between the body, mind, and spirit. Both, yoga and mindfulness guide you to quieten your mind and form a connection with a deeper understanding of yourself and your surroundings.

Meditation and Mindfulness (Buddhism is an outgrowth of Hinduism)

Meditation is a practice that helps you become an impartial observer of your own mind. Meditation as a practice is thought to have roots in Buddhism. In fact, it’s believed that The Buddha himself taught zen meditation. However, ancient

Vedic scripts also speak of meditation. These scripts are the foundation of yoga and Hinduism. The Vedas speak of mantra meditation as a form of transcendental meditation. Although meditation has spiritual origins, and some use it as a religious or spiritual practice, it does not have to have any religious connotation. You can meditate regardless of your religious beliefs.

5 Differences Between Mindfulness and Meditation

Mindfulness is a quality; meditation is a practice
Meditation is one of many roads to mindful living

Well.... as an X Eastern religious follower, this is something I would steer away from in my life. IMHO.
Blessings

 

[terwill]

The church fathers had a practice they called "watchfulness" or "guarding the heart." The idea was to maintain awareness of thoughts so they could cut off sinful thoughts before they could gain power. Not exactly the same thing, but a practice of mindfulness might be a way of creating the awareness necessary to guarding the heart.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Mindfulness is self centred or worse - watchfulness is Jesus centred meditating in His living Word.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Mindfulness is merely keeping your mind focused on the present, and not dwelling
on the past or drifting to the future, where the ego reflects on how the false image
of oneself could or can be made to impress people.

St John of the Cross wrote about detachment to the appetites (the ego driven desires)
and being in the presence of God.

Mindfulness is being in the present, for this is where God is. Time is only of importance
to us mortals.

 

[Alive2]

It is an occult practice and opens doors to darkness.
Stay away

 

[JimR-OCDS]

It is an occult practice and opens doors to darkness.
Stay away

No it doesn't

If anything, allowing erroneous thoughts to constantly flood your
consciousness opens the door to the demonic.

Controlling your thoughts by being in the present, does the opposite.
God dwells in the present, not in some far-off imagination we create.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Mindfulness is merely keeping your mind focused on the present, and not dwelling
on the past or drifting to the future, where the ego reflects on how the false image
of oneself could or can be made to impress people.

St John of the Cross wrote about detachment to the appetites (the ego driven desires)
and being in the presence of God.

Mindfulness is being in the present, for this is where God is. Time is only of importance
to us mortals.

This sounds rather Buddhist.

It took me years to get free of such practice and learn about my real past and true identity from meditating on Scripture.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

This sounds rather Buddhist.

It took me years to get free of such practice and learn about my real past and true identity from meditating on Scripture.

All religions have similarities in them. This is because God revealed elements of
truth to those who were seeking truth, before Christ came. When Christ came,
he revealed God as a Father, and who is full of mercy and love. It took off for four
centuries. However, once the Church leaders got involved with the Empire of the ruling governments, they lost the tenets Christ had taught. Over the centuries, various reformers were sent by God to reform Christianity. People like St Francis of Assis, and others.

Interior prayer, or contemplative prayer as we call it today, goes back the the 4th Century Fathers of the Desert. Abba Isaac and St John Casian, then of course the Carmelites in the 12th century. Contemplative prayer got lost through the centuries until the 1500's. St Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross reformed the Carmelite order and founded the Discalced Carmelites. Their focus was union with Christ, and they saw that interior prayer was the way. However, from the Council of Trent on, contemplative prayer was pretty much kept in the monasteries and even when I was growing up in the Catholic Church before Vatican II, I had never heard of it.

Then, in the early 1970's, as many young Christians were going off to join Eastern Religions like Buddhism and Hinduism, Pope Paul VI, asked the leaders of the contemplative orders to being dialogue with the leaders of Eastern religions, to see what was drawing young people away from Christianity. The Trappists in Spencer MA invited some leaders of a nearby Buddhist meditation center to come to St Joseph's Abbey, and show them their method of prayer. As soon as the monks saw what was in Eastern meditation, they automatically knew that contemplative prayer was part of Christianity going back to the 4th Century. So, they thought of ways to teach young Catholics about contemplative prayer, in the Christian tradition. It originally was called "Quiet Prayer," but soon got the name, "Centering Prayer."

In all, it's Christ centered prayer. Just as mindfulness requires being centered on Christ. Spiritual growth requires that the person to be mindful of being in the presence of God at all times, and through contemplative prayer, to turn within where God dwells and be mindful of His presence. St Teresa of Avila called it "Mental Prayer."

 

[Carl Emerson]

All religions have similarities in them. This is because God revealed elements of
truth to those who were seeking truth, before Christ came. When Christ came,
he revealed God as a Father, and who is full of mercy and love. It took off for four
centuries. However, once the Church leaders got involved with the Empire of the ruling governments, they lost the tenets Christ had taught. Over the centuries, various reformers were sent by God to reform Christianity. People like St Francis of Assis, and others.

Interior prayer, or contemplative prayer as we call it today, goes back the the 4th Century Fathers of the Desert. Abba Isaac and St John Casian, then of course the Carmelites in the 12th century. Contemplative prayer got lost through the centuries until the 1500's. St Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross reformed the Carmelite order and founded the Discalced Carmelites. Their focus was union with Christ, and they saw that interior prayer was the way. However, from the Council of Trent on, contemplative prayer was pretty much kept in the monasteries and even when I was growing up in the Catholic Church before Vatican II, I had never heard of it.

Then, in the early 1970's, as many young Christians were going off to join Eastern Religions like Buddhism and Hinduism, Pope Paul VI, asked the leaders of the contemplative orders to being dialogue with the leaders of Eastern religions, to see what was drawing young people away from Christianity. The Trappists in Spencer MA invited some leaders of a nearby Buddhist meditation center to come to St Joseph's Abbey, and show them their method of prayer. As soon as the monks saw what was in Eastern meditation, they automatically knew that contemplative prayer was part of Christianity going back to the 4th Century. So, they thought of ways to teach young Catholics about contemplative prayer, in the Christian tradition. It originally was called "Quiet Prayer," but soon got the name, "Centering Prayer."

In all, it's Christ centered prayer. Just as mindfulness requires being centered on Christ. Spiritual growth requires that the person to be mindful of being in the presence of God at all times, and through contemplative prayer, to turn within where God dwells and be mindful of His presence. St Teresa of Avila called it "Mental Prayer."

So we trot down to the nearest ashram and sit with the monks who worship (according to Paul) demons in order to learn truths long lost.

That seems a far cry from chopping down ashera poles and renouncing the worship of foreign gods.

Ezra 9

10 “And now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have abandoned Your commandments, 11 which You have commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land which you are entering to possess is an unclean land with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from end to end, and with their impurity. 12 So now do not give your daughters to their sons nor take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or their prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’ 13 And after everything that has come upon us for our evil deeds and our great guilt, since You our God have spared us by inflicting less than our wrongdoing deserves, and have given us such an escaped remnant as this, 14 shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not be angry with us to the point of destruction, until there would be no remnant nor any who would escape? 15 Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day; behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this.”

 

[JimR-OCDS]

So we trot down to the nearest ashram and sit with the monks who worship (according to Paul) demons in order to learn truths long lost.

That seems a far cry from chopping down ashera poles and renouncing the worship of foreign gods.

Not sure what your problem is, but it has nothing to do with what I posted.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Not sure what your problem is, but it has nothing to do with what I posted.

Yes it does actually - I studied Phenomenology of Religion and was well into Eastern spiritual practices - the way back to Jesus was long and hard.

You said - "God revealed elements of truth to those who were seeking truth, before Christ came."

Paul said - "No, but I say that things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. (1 Cor 10)

So please mixing with the spirituality of Eastern religious practice is not supported biblically.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Yes it does actually - I studied Phenomenology of Religion and was well into Eastern spiritual practices - the way back to Jesus was long and hard.

You said - "God revealed elements of truth to those who were seeking truth, before Christ came."

Paul said - "No, but I say that things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. (1 Cor 10)

So please mixing with the spirituality of Eastern religious practice is not supported biblically.

Paul wasn't speaking about people who were born 500 years before Christ came, but those in his time.

The pagans of St Paul's time also were not seeking truth and were mislead
by leaders on their pagan governments.

However, God did not abandon everyone until Christ came. There were those
whom God brought elements of truth to, and when Christ came, the fullness of truth was revealed.

Using your way of thinking, God condemned humans and left them to sin and damnations until Jesus came.

I know a more merciful God than a tyrannical god looking to torture people for
eternity.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Paul wasn't speaking about people who were born 500 years before Christ came, but those in his time.

The pagans of St Paul's time also were not seeking truth and were mislead
by leaders on their pagan governments.

However, God did not abandon everyone until Christ came. There were those
whom God brought elements of truth to, and when Christ came, the fullness of truth was revealed.

Can you support this from scripture?

God ordered a complete eradication of spiritual objects and practices that Israel encountered on entering foreign lands.

 

[Leaf473]

Hey Carl,

I think this is similar to what we talked about on a different thread, about having faith to do this or that, and holding that faith before God. I can probably find the post, if you're not sure what I'm talking about.

One person hears a word and thinks False gods.

Another person hears the same word and thinks No big deal, could have some benefits.

We each hold our faith before God.

That's how it looks to me.
Peace, my man!

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Can you support this from scripture?

God ordered a complete eradication of spiritual objects and practices that Israel encountered on entering foreign lands.

God didn't eradicate false images and practices, they still exist today.
However, God didn't stop the creation of images in order to help the people.
God had a serpent on a pole created to protect the people from snake bites.
See Numbers 21:4-9. Did God violate his own commandment not to make false
images? No, understanding the correct context of the commandment is what's needed.

God gave men truths, and before Christianity existed, not just to Jews and then Christians alone. Those who sought truth were given pieces of it. The wisdom expressed in other religions is the same that is expressed in Christianity, because truth is truth, regardless of whom God revealed it to. Christianity, received the fullness of revealed truth through Jesus Christ, and that truth is what we must
bring to others. Truth, can only be taught through love and not arguments about who has it right and who has it wrong.