Coffee & Writing

The whole problem Christians have with Eastern meditation is the emptying of the mind.

The is what AI has to say about Eastern meditation, “Eastern meditation often involves “emptying the mind” by focusing on breath, mantras, or sensations to quiet mental chatter and achieve inner calm or enlightenment.”

This is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “2708 Meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire. This mobilization of faculties is necessary in order to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the conversion of our heart, and strengthen our will to follow Christ. Christian prayer tries above all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, as in lectio divina or the rosary. This form of prayerful reflection is of great value, but Christian prayer should go further: to the knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus, to union with him.”

The difference is that Eastern meditation empties the mind and Christian meditation does not. Why does this matter? Mainly because of spiritual vulnerability, where people believe the devil can get inside.

However, no one can really pinpoint where the idea came from.

What if in that space of emptying the mind, that empty bit is not letting the devil in, but God?

Let’s just say, you are on one side of a busy highway and God and the devil are on the other side.

God cannot get to you because there is a crowded highway of thought, even if it’s prayer or scripture, you can’t have that one on one time with Him. However, the devil can turn into a snake and weave through the cars to get to you.

If you empty your mind, the road becomes clear and God can cross the highway to get to you. While you are in your nothingness you will feel His presence and your meditation will be that much stronger.

What is important is that you find a meditation that works for you. If you are not part of a religion that meditates, but likes meditation, it doesn’t mean you’re going to convert.

Christians have to remember that Jesus said the greatest commandement after loving God was to love thy neighbot as thyself–one of the greatest teachings of compassion their could be,

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31)

Namaste.