Christian Meditation with God and Differences of East and West

Posted on May 25, 2012October 14, 2022 by Dominick Flarey

Meditative Union

For most people, meditation is a serious element of their spiritual life. With diet fads, Eastern Yoga retreats, Holistic revolutions and better health prompting many people to utilize meditation in their life, it is of no wonder why to many that meditation is not just another healthy life style instead of a theological and spiritual union with God.

While religious experience is the primary motive in these Eastern meditative methods, one can see that the idea of Christianity and other monotheistic creeds greatly differs in theology. The purpose of Monotheistic meditation is to become closer to God in a creator and creation relationship. With this different end goal, one may ask does it matter which road one takes to reach these states?Yes, meditation can spring forth physical wellness that stems from spiritual renewal, but this is only a side effect not the primary purpose for religious minded people. People use meditation to become closer to God. Meditation allows the soul to escape the noise of the conscious and external world and find the silence and solitude of God’s spirit. In meditiation a deeper union is granted to people who yet still trapped within a temporal reality can taste a small portion of the eschatological reality. In some ways, for those who are spiritually gifted and alive, meditation can take one to the brink of the beatific vision.

Christian Meditation Opposes Eastern Meditation

While union with God is always the key of meditation, Christian meditation greatly differs from Eastern meditation. Eastern meditation seeks the divine, but its theological basis of the divine greatly differs from Western theism. The idea of God as a being is completely different in Eastern thought. In fact, Hinduism teaches that Brahma, the principle name for the divine, is in many ways like a blazing fire that releases sparks, called Atman. Atamn is divine spark of all souls in the temporal reality. It is the purpose of meditation to help reconnect and to be reabsorbed into this divine essence. Another example is Buddhism. Buddhism teaches that the purpose of meditation is to help one reach a state of Nirvana where one can escape suffering and existence itself.Christian meditation looks towards prayer, scripture and Christ to help creation become closer to creator
The reality is from a Monotheistic perspective, some Eastern meditative techniques may be spiritually harmful in the way they open one’s mind and spirit to outside sources. Monotheistic meditation does not seek to escape the body but hopes to elevate the entire nature of man in union with God. The body too must share in the beatific vision, while in the East, the body is a prison and only a temporary home of the soul.

With these sharp theological differences, one can see that meditation brings one closer to God, but for different reasons based on different perceptions of divine reality and human existence. Hence it is important for someone entering into meditation, especially those of Western theology, to clearly understand their end goal and to properly correlate approved meditative practices that coincide with the theology of monotheism.
Those, however, who seek other ends that do not correlate with monotheistic theology and its ends, may find Eastern goals to be more what they find to be true and seek these practices more enthuastically.
If you are interested in meditation education, please review the program. Please also keep in mind, if you are trained in a more Christian or monothesitic background to review our Christian programs as well.

Mark Moran, MA, GC-C, SCC-C

A Meditation Guide for Mental Clarity

Posted on May 22, 2012October 14, 2022 by Dominick Flarey

Beautiful woman in a bikini meditating at the beach — A woman find time for daily meditation.

Many see meditation has strange, weird or foreign. Others see meditating as a spiritual or religious practice. For those that know how to meditate, they know its true meaning. When you meditate you are simply becoming aware of what you are doing and who you are. This could mean focusing on an aspect of yourself or focusing on nothing at all and enjoying the silence. When we use meditation to become aware of ourselves, we often learn. We learn about what matters and how to deal with what does not. Through daily meditation we can embrace love and reject stress. We can prioritize our day to make space for what really matters. Daily meditating can bring a peace to our lives that many are silently crying out for. How can you achieve this freedom you ask? An excellent article details how:

A Meditation Guide for Mental Clarity

The article, “GPS to a Quiet Mind: 6 Meditative Steps to Freedom”, by Ed and Deb Shapiro states

“Meditation is simple and transformative, yet it is highly misunderstood. Some people think it is about controlling our mind or stopping our thinking, while others see it as both weird and wacky or boring and meaningless.”

For the full article please go here.

Meditation does not have to take all day either. Use these 6 steps to find your center and make meditating a daily practice in your life.
If you want to learn more about meditation then you should check out our page.

Benefits of Meditation From A Theological Perspective

Posted on May 18, 2012October 14, 2022 by Dominick Flarey

Theological Meditative Benefits

Many of us are aware of the physical benefits of meditation. However, those are side benefits and not the primary reason why one should utilize meditation in one’s prayer life. Meditation’s ultimate purpose is to unite one with God.
Whether one approaches meditation from an Eastern or Western theological point of view, the ultimate purpose is spiritual renewal and connection with God. The benefits of this are beyond

measure because they are spiritual in nature.
Whether one refers to such union as increase of grace or spiritual awakening, one cannot deny the inner peace, focus, clarity, and understanding one achieves when meditation is properly applied to one’s prayer life. The inner workings of God, his grace, and his serenity are applied to the soul and re-energizes the it.
This spiritual feeding of the soul, allows one to grow spiritually and to better communicate and share the love of God with the world. Ultimately this is the purpose of meditation. To find God and to share God with the world. Meditation is not a selfish individual endeavor as many think, but is an action that purifies oneself so oneself can help purify the world.
If you are interested in Meditation Certification, please review the program.

Mark Moran, MA, GC-C, SCC-C

Learn to Meditate with Congressman Ryan

Posted on May 17, 2012October 14, 2022 by Dominick Flarey

Learn to Meditate

Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Oh) insists that meditation is the answer! An expert in mindfulness meditation, the Congressman has written a new book that has just recently been released by Hay House publishers. The book is a real eye-opener for those who have little knowledge and experience in the practice of mindfulness. The Congressman’s quest is to introduce mindfulness into our schools, our work places, etc., thus creating a more mindful and peaceful nation. This article is highly recommended, as well as the accompanying video.

The article, “Meditating with Tim Ryan”, by Patrick Gavin states

“Rep. Tim Ryan may have once been a typical politician, but no longer: The Ohio Democrat has traded in the hurried mentality that dominates Capitol Hill for a more Zen-like approach.
Literally.”

Can Meditating Help Mothers?

Posted on May 16, 2012October 14, 2022 by Dominick Flarey

A lady meditating in a garden. — Motherhood is stressful. Meditating can help reduce that stress.

Meditating is an excellent way to keep focused and prevent burnout. It is no wonder why more and more mothers are turning to it. Meditation helps working moms or stay at home moms reduce their stress and keep a higher level of focus. Mothers can meditate by themselves or get together with friends and meditate as a group. Group meditation can be an excellent for beginners to learn how to meditate. For more please review this article:

Can Meditating Help Mothers?

The article, “Meditating Moms: A Silent Revolution”, by Jeanne Ball states

“Intuition, patience, wisdom, love — all the divine qualities associated with motherhood often depend on how rested we are, how aligned we are with our own inner voice and deepest source of nourishment.”

For the full article please go here.

Once you learn to make time for daily meditation, meditating will be easy to fit into any schedule. If you want to learn more about meditation then you should look at our website.

Working Meditation into Your Life.

Posted on May 15, 2012October 13, 2022 by Dominick Flarey

A woman working in daily meditation during her job

Wondering how you can make time for meditation in your daily life? You are not alone. Many people every day go without the benefits of meditation because they are “too busy”. Meditating does not take long and daily meditation can help reduce stress and help with relaxation. How to meditate you ask? Simply just do it when you have a free moment. You could be waiting for the mail, at the doctor’s office, when you first wake up, or before you go to bed. It is easy to fit mediation into your daily life.

Working Meditation into Your Life.

The article, “Five ways to incorporate meditation into your life”, by Robert Piper states

“Meditation is an incredible tool that has been used for thousands of years in eastern spiritual traditions of India, Tibet, and China. Most recently, it has been used in western medicine to work with pain, stress, and even by American Troops suffering from PTSD.”

For the full list please go here.

Now that you know how to work meditation into your daily life, it is up to you to actually do it.
If you are interested in learning how to meditate or meditation in general please visit our webpage.

St. Ignatius and Meditative Prayer

Posted on May 3, 2012October 13, 2022 by Dominick Flarey

St. Ignatius and Methods of Praying

St. Ignatius had a detailed methodology on meditative prayer in his Spiritual Exercises. Within his methodology one can find the primary elements of prayer which include adoration, contrition, petition and thanksgiving. However, more emphasis is given on adoration, contrition and thanksgiving than petition. Petition correlates with the will of the Father and the not the individual will.

Contemplation is found in the second method. When one is praying a particular prayer whether it is the Our Father or Hail Mary, one is to remember to reflect on the meaning of each word during a one hour session. If one dwells on one word longer and it takes up the whole hour, then one should continue the next day on the next word. One is to not rush the images and meanings that come to one from the Holy Spirit during this deep contemplation.
Finally, St. Ignatius while promoting freedom of thought nevertheless finds value in ritual prayer. While praying ritualistic and written prayers, St. Ignatius emphasizes that one should employ the rhythmic functions of the body during prayer. As one recites a word, he or she should reflect between breathes on the meaning of the word. In this way, the prayer is said within a reasonable time but with deep reflection in a meditative state.
Christian Counseling and Spiritual Counseling should emphasize these methods of prayer. Whether the pray encompasses one or all four of the purposes of prayer, each prayer can reach higher states of union with God by the methods suggested by St. Ignatius. Through these relaxed contemplative states, one can reap a higher spiritual yield while in communication with God.

By Mark Moran, MA, GC-C, SCC-C

Ignatian Meditation

Posted on May 3, 2012October 13, 2022 by Dominick Flarey

Ignatian Meditation

St. Ignatius Loyola presented a disciplined version of meditation that while disciplined also gave freedom to the soul to explore numerous images of contemplation about Christ and sin. As founder of the Jesuits, he incorporated a military type religious movement that not only characterized his order but also his meditation techniques. This disciplined form of meditation is key in helping the soul overcome the weakness of one’s fallen nature and creating a soul better equipped to reform and avoid sin. Christian Counselors as well as merely spiritual counselors can all find value in the writings of St. Ignatius and his spiritual exercises in regards to meditation.

One of the primary themes found in meditation by St. Ignatius is his great emphasis on sin and repentance. Many of the contemplations deal directly with the soul’s sins and how horrible sin is to the life of the soul. Hence many reflections revolve around the passion of Christ, Hell, and how sin has corrupted the human race. It is St. Ignatius’ goal to inspire within the soul a complete aversion of sin via perfect contrition that burns for the love of Christ.
This Christocentric form of meditation is obviously best suited for Christian Counseling but the rich spiritual nature of the meditations and exercises can also be applied to general spiritual counseling because it focuses on discernment and vocational choices as well. While Christocentric, the primary goal is help the soul escape sin and rid itself of earthly attachments. This is the key for most meditative processes.

By Mark Moran, MA, GC-C, SCC-C

How to Meditate your stress away

Posted on May 2, 2012October 13, 2022 by Dominick Flarey

Young woman meditating in a park — You should always try to find time to meditate

If you meditate every day, you can focus on positive stress reduction and relaxation. Daily meditation can also give you mental clarity and bring you peace. Meditating helps to turn the panic into peace, the chaos into clarity. However most people do not have time to learn to meditate. Good news is, it is not difficult and anyone can start. There are enough resources online to make anyone an expect. An article with excellent tips to get you started meditating today is:

How to Meditate your stress away

The article, “How to Meditate Your Way From Panic to Peace”, by Priscilla Warner states

“I learned how to meditate and process disturbing memories and emotions. I healed in ways I never could have imagined. I’m a monk in a minivan now, driving through the suburbs of New York with a peacefulness and clarity I could never have imagined I could access.”

For the full list please go here.

You will find once you have started learning to meditate, it will get easy to do and more relaxing. As I’ve said before, all it takes is a few minutes a day! If you want to learn more about meditation, you should visit our website.

What is Mindfulness Meditation? – Find The Answer.

Posted on April 23, 2012October 13, 2022 by Dominick Flarey

Mindfulness Meditation

There are huge chances of coming across the term “mindfulness meditation” if a person is a regular follower of health magazines or health journals. People who are not acquainted with this term may ask, what is mindfulness meditation? To answer this question in a proper manner one has to first explain what meditation is and then explain what is mindfulness. The practice of meditation involves sitting in a quiet place and spending some time focusing on any particular thing. In mindfulness meditation a person has to focus or concentrate on the working of his mind. Mindfulness means to be completely aware of the events and thoughts that are taking place at the very present moment without being judgmental of one’s own self. The question of what is mindfulness meditation is generally followed by another query that is, what are the benefits of mindfulness meditation? Research conducted by various institutes and organizations show that mindfulness meditation helps to deal with stress, it improves the mood of a person, boosts the immune system and also helps to handle emotions in an appropriate manner. A person can reap better results if mindfulness meditation is practiced on a regular basis. This particular type of medication does not require a lot of time, 10 or 15 minutes is sufficient. For better results a person can practice this medication once in the morning and once before going to sleep.
Need for Meditation In the modern world where people live very busy lives the trend of multitasking is setting in. People are worried about what will happen in the future, they brood over the past but forget to live the present moment. Mindfulness meditation brings the realization that the present moment is the only reality. The past cannot be changed and the future cannot be predicted. For mindfulness meditation a person has to first find a comfortable place that is void of disturbances that can evoke negative emotions like anger, jealously hatred etc. Next the person can sit on the floor or on a chair with the neck, back and head in a straight position and then slowly close the eyes.

Meditation Technique The person should concentrate on the present and put aside other thoughts of the future or even of the past. After this the person should slowly focus on his breathing process. He will be able to sense the things going on around him like the flow of wind. He should also concentrate on the physical changes like the up and own movement of his chest etc. This process of focus or concentration can be broken by a feeling, thought or an image. When such thoughts, feelings or images come to the mind there is no need to get worried or to suppress them. It is important to simply note the going and coming of thoughts and emotions but not to get caught in it. The practitioner of mindfulness meditation should act like an impassive observer who is aware of all the things that are going on but not reacting to it. It is important to remain calm and composed. In mindfulness meditation one should not criticize or judge, one should simply observe. Mindfulness mediation is also non egoistic. This means while practicing this particular meditation one should get rid of concepts like “mine”, “me” etc. This particular type of meditation is a threefold process as the practitioner slowly gets aware of the surrounding, the human body and finally the thoughts as well as emotions that come to the mind. When the time for the meditation is over the practitioner should sit for a minute or so and become aware of where he is and then finally rise. Mindfulness meditation can improve every aspect of life whether a person is working, talking or spending a good time with loved ones. This type of meditation helps to get rid of the burdens of yesterday and tomorrow by concentrating on now or the present. The change that can be experienced by practicing this particular type of meditation is not short lived. Mindfulness meditation leaves a permanent mark on a person by changing his total outlook of life and how he reacts in different situations. Mindfulness meditation is a way to a better life and also a better way of living. If you are interested in taking meditation courses, please review the program.