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What is Meditation?

by | Jan 14, 2021 | Questions, Other

The standard dictionary definition of meditation is “continued or extended thought; reflection; contemplation.”1 However, when most people today talk about “meditation,” they typically have something more specific in mind. They are normally referring to a particular set of practices involving posture, breathing, etc., which are often associated with Buddhism or the “mindfulness” movement. So, in this more precise sense, what exactly is meditation?

Meditation from a “Buddhist” or “mindfulness” perspective

Strictly speaking, classical Buddhism utilizes a variety of practices which can rightly be called “meditation”. All of these are said to promote “mindfulness”. However, when western, English-speakers think of “meditation,” they usually have a narrow subset of these practices in mind. Those will thus be our focus.

The typical concept of “meditation” here in the West derives from the Buddhist concept of “Ānāpānasati” or “mindfulness of breathing”. The idea is to sit still, usually in a designated position with eyes closed to minimize other stimuli. One then focuses on his or her own rhythmic breathing. You set aside all current thoughts or cares, attending only to the air coming in and out of the lungs. Another popular variation is adapted from the Chinese practice of Tai Chi. It involves performing a slow series of movements while, again, focusing on regular breathing.

The goal is to attain a state where one is simply aware of the moment without any regard for past or future. It is a state of consciousness where one simply accepts what currently is without deciding what is good or bad or preferring what is pleasurable over what is painful. This state of being is “meditation.” As one popular meditation site puts it:

“Through this discipline a moment will come when the breath will seem to have disappeared. Through this discipline a moment will come when the body seems to have disappeared and thoughts have also disappeared. What will remain when everything has disappeared? That which remains is meditation. When everything has disappeared, that which is left behind is called meditation.”2

And again:

“If you light a lamp and remove all the objects surrounding it, the lamp will still go on giving light. In the same way, if you remove all objects from your consciousness, all thoughts, all imagination, what will happen? – only consciousness will remain. That pure state of consciousness is meditation. You don’t meditate on somebody. Meditation is a state where only consciousness remains.”3

Thus, this “meditation” is not consciously or willfully reflecting on some higher truth or concept in order to better understand it. The goal of this sort of meditation is not to meditate on anything at all. Whatever passes through one’s mind during this state, one is not to think of it as good or bad. It is simply to be allowed and experienced without judgment and without continuing down any one train of thought. As the Mayo Medical Clinic defines it:

“In mindfulness meditation, you broaden your conscious awareness. You focus on what you experience during meditation, such as the flow of your breath. You can observe your thoughts and emotions, but let them pass without judgment.”4

Many people in the West have adapted these meditative practices toward modern, western notions of individual wellbeing that are quite foreign to their original purpose in Buddhism (or in other religions with similar practices, like Hinduism or Jainism). The historic Buddhist seeks to end the cycle of rebirth and the perpetuation of suffering by letting go of all attachments and the alleged delusion of individual existence. The modern American uses some of these same basic practices of “meditation” with goals of physical and emotional well-being that attach great value to the very idea of “self” that the classical Buddhist is trying to abandon! Thus, the goal of “meditation” and the meaning of “mindfulness” differ greatly between classical, historic Buddhists and typical western practitioners for whom such meditation can only superficially be called Buddhist or Eastern at all.

A Biblical perspective on judging our own thoughts

A Christian worldview encourages rest for the body and respite for the mind, especially in this age of constant bustle and mental fatigue. The idea of pursuing a state wherein we let our thoughts run free without any judgment of what is good or bad, however, is not a Christian solution. Scripture commands us to “take every thought captive,” (2 Corinthians 10:5) and instructs us to:

“Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth,” (Colossians 3:2).

And:

 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things,” (Philippians 4:8).

Biblically, we must always make a careful distinction between thoughts that are good and those that are not, and we are to set our minds on the former while rejecting the latter. The popular concept of meditation forbids us to make this distinction.

A Biblical concept of meditation

The Bible does instruct us to engage in meditation, but it is meditation of a very different sort. It is not a relinquishing of self and suspension of judgment in some indistinct notion of “consciousness.” Quite the contrary, biblical meditation is the willful exertion of the mind in a particular direction, which means taking time to think carefully and exclusively on the right things (especially God’s word) so as to understand and act on such things. It is actively and specifically choosing certain thoughts over against others and reflecting deeply on such thoughts in view of greater edification and preparation for future obedience. For example, in the context of extolling the virtue and great value of God’s laws and precepts, Psalm 19 says:

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer,” (Psalm 19:14).

Similarly, the lengthy Psalm 119 says many things like:

“How I love Your Law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine. I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than those who are old, Because I have complied with Your precepts,” (Psalm 119:97-100).

Such meditation clearly means setting one’s mind specifically on the commands of Scripture and dwelling on them carefully to understand them better. It is quite different from the meditation of the mindfulness movement. Joshua’s instructions similarly say:

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success,” (Joshua 1:8).

Such biblical meditation as this is equated with wisdom and understanding:

“Hear this, all peoples; Listen, all inhabitants of the world, Both low and high, Rich and poor together. My mouth will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart will be understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle on the harp,” (Psalm 49:1-4).

And the Christian is to keep his mind prepared and ready for Godly action:

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ,” (1 Peter 1:13).

Conclusion

Scripture calls us to meditate in the sense of setting aside focused time for carefully reasoned reflection on the word of God. But “meditation” practices that involve detached states of consciousness devoid of moral judgment or discernment over our own thoughts are thoroughly unbiblical and the Christian should avoid them.

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