Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site burdvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!bellcore!ulysses!burl!clyde!cbosgd!ukma!psuvm.bitnet!psuvax1!burdvax!devonst From: devonst@burdvax.UUCP (Tom Albrecht) Newsgroups: net.religion.christian Subject: Re: Christians and Meditation Message-ID: <2404@burdvax.UUCP> Date: Tue, 18-Mar-86 12:09:07 EST Article-I.D.: burdvax.2404 Posted: Tue Mar 18 12:09:07 1986 Date-Received: Sat, 22-Mar-86 06:25:08 EST References: <560@tekcrl.UUCP> <34@cal-asd.fluke.UUCP> Reply-To: devonst@burdvax.UUCP (Tom Albrecht) Distribution: na Organization: Burroughs Corp. - SDG/Devon Lines: 30 In article mangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP (Charley Wingate) writes: >Meditation (and similar "spiritual exercises") have a long history in the >church. Two classic medieval treatises are _The Mind's Road to God_ by >Bonaventura and _The Imitation of Christ_ by Thomas a Kempis. There are >others besides these. I've found Bonaventura to be very helpful, but he is >hard to find in comparison to Thomas, who is ubiquitous. > >In Eastern practice there are a number of meditations. The use of the Kyrie >and of the prayer > > "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, A sinner." > >as repetitive chants is well-known (the first is typically part of liturgy). >One distinct difference from Far Eastern practice, however, is that the >content of the phrases is very important. One is supposed to pay attention >to it, even if only peripherally. An important part of its purpose is to >orient oneself into the proper state of mind, directed fully towards prayer; >thus, one must put intent into the phrases. I've used the second (which is >commonly referred to as the "Jesus Prayer") and it seems to be helpful; I >also use liturgical texts to make myself receptive to prayer. > >C. Wingate Charley, You seem to have confused the issue of meditation and prayer. The Bible seems to indicate that we are to meditate on God's Word. I would take that to mean a total immersion in God's revealed truth. Prayer is communication with God. Jesus admonished His disciples not to practice meaningless repetitions with regard to prayer (Matt. 6:7,8).