What is meditation?

[Jan McGuffin]

In reading, I regularly come upon references to meditation but do not have a really good understanding. Is there an Orthodox meditation? If so, I would appreciate any information or sources of information.
From what I have read, there are a couple of words that mean meditation and that these words have various meanings and that the meditation seems to focus on specific things (passages, God's law, etc.). One place said that "Christian meditation, very simply, is the ability to hear God's voice and obey his word." That it is communing with God: attachment rather than detachment.

[Dimitris]

Hallo!

Since there unfortunatelly was no answer to the former posting I want to stick a question and thereby hope to get this topic revived.

I today spoke with a non-Christian friend about meditation as he practices it. I hope I am able to describe it as he meant it: He said that since God is everywhere in the universe He is also in us. Therefore, if we want to find God we have to find ourselves. With meditation he tries to completely "switch out" every thought, to think absolutely nothing. Thus he is able to find himself and thus is able to find God.

I tried to find similarities to Christianity and prayers, but finally was not able to. I can agree that God through the Eucharist is in me and I am in Him, but I think my friend means this rather in a pantheistic point of view. Also I think that Christian prayer is not about switching off all thoughts but communicate with God. So it's rather a state where your thoughts are quite active.

What do you think about this? Does the term "meditation" exist in Orthodoxy and what does it mean?

In Christ,
Dimitris

[Herman Blaydoe]

Perhaps better minds than mine will weigh in here, but as I understand it, "meditation" as your friend defines it is generally discouraged in the Orthodox Church. We do try to listen to the small quiet voice, but we recognize that there are other voices out there that would mislead us if we allow it. There is certainly an aspect of quietness and "tuning out" in the psalmist's command to "...be still, and know that I AM GOD." But I would suspect that Orthodoxy talks more about focussing in rather than switching off. Discernment plays a part. If we drop all of our defenses, who knows what will sneak into our consciousness and how do we know where it comes from? The "open mind" that accepts everything eventually believes nothing. Rather than "switching off", Orthodoxy talks about "nepsis" or spiritual watchfulness. Hopefully those who know better will chime in now!

Your servant,
Herman

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[Kris]

He said that since God is everywhere in the universe He is also in us. Therefore, if we want to find God we have to find ourselves.

I think in the context of Christianity, we do not find God in ourselves, but rather we find ourselves in Christ; hence the Christocentric nature of every practice in the Church.

[Nina]

I would like to add something from the book "Monastic Wisdom - The letters of Elder Joseph the Hesychast", which I am reading at the moment (so if there is something else I might come across concerning this topic, I will post it).

"Meditation (μελέτη):

The term "meditation," as used by the Holy Fathers, indicates a thoughtful reflection or pondering upon a certain aspect of the faith, e.g. the Incarnation, God's mercy, the Crucifixion, the Transfiguration, one's sinfulness, etc. This is quite different from what is known as "Eastern meditation," which is the use of various psychosomatic techniques intended to bring about self-identification with a "supreme being" (or so-called "deity"), an "impersonal reality," or even nothingness. On the other hand, for an Orthodox Christian, meditation brings about humility, gratitude, and love, and is a preparation for prayer, which is a personal experience of the one, true, living God." p.403

[Andrew]

There is practice of the Jesus Prayer, but that is nothing like non-Christian Eastern forms of meditation...

All of Orthodox life is about Communion with God. We detach from our own ideas, our own passions, and such, and repent (metanoia, turning of mind) to God. So, instead of calm relaxation, Orthodox "meditation" is one of tearful repentance, sober spiritual joy, and Transfiguration in true communion with Our Lord. All of prayer is supposed to be towards Communion with God, but the Fathers teach that the most simple, direct manner of (ceaseless) communication with God is in the Jesus Prayer, with special attention to the Divine Name: Lord Jesus Christ, Have Mercy on Me; or, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have Mercy on Me the Sinner; or other forms.

I guess meditating upon Scripture, the words of the Fathers, the lives of the Saints, and Creation are meant to lead us into Communion in Prayer.

[Owen Jones]

Scripture commands us to meditate on God's word, i.e. Scripture, and also on God's works (Creation). Which is why in the early Church, and really a practice that endured to the 20th century in both clergy and lay training, long passages of Scripture were memorized. This memorization allowed a person to call upon passages of Scripture during the day as a meditation. So that life becomes a meditation. (The dictionary definition, if I remember correctly, is "to chew over" as in the manner in which a cow chews its cud). So it involves repitition of the same words and thoughts over and over again so that they can become internalized, second nature, without having to think about it -- like breathing. In Christianity there is a strong cognitive and noetic component, because we believe that words not only have meaning but have a scramental, holy aspect. The content and meaning of the words do not exist apart from their interiorization. There is a confluence between "words" and the "Word." Like anything, this can go to extremes, to the point where one monastic sect on Athos taught that practicing the Jesus Prayer was on a par with the eucharist and therefore could be a substitute for the eucharist. They were half right....

The idea of meditation that is adopted by people today looking for some kind of trendy spirituality is really a cheap imitation. It probably is not totally bad or evil, because at least people are seeking something, but more often than not leads to a sense of spiritual self-fulfillment and spiritual hubris, a focus on technique to the virtual exclusion of anything substantive. However, I do know people personally who are better off for it. So one takes the good with the bad.

[Dimitris]

Hallo!

Since yesterday, the second Sunday of Great Lent, we celebrated St. Gregory Palamas, who was a great defender of Hesychasm, I have to bring this topic up again.

There is practice of the Jesus Prayer, but that is nothing like non-Christian Eastern forms of meditation...
What is exactly the difference between Hesychasm and the Jesus Prayer on the one hand and non-christian Eastern meditation on the other hand?

[Herman Blaydoe]

Hallo!

Since yesterday, the second Sunday of Great Lent, we celebrated St. Gregory Palamas, who was a great defender of Hesychasm, I have to bring this topic up again.

What is exactly the difference between Hesychasm and the Jesus Prayer on the one hand and non-christian Eastern meditation on the other hand?

In a word, (or is that in THE WORD?): Jesus.

"Meditation" is leaving the doors open and letting anyone wander in. Hesychasm is putting a watch at the door, realizing that not everything that wanders in is a good thing.

[John Gfoeller]

I am a sinner and the first among sinners, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt.

Meditation (in general) is simply the practice of relaxing the mind while staying alert. It is usually accomplished by concentration on one thing.

Christian meditation concentrates on Christ. He is not an idea; He is a Person; and we respond to Him because He has called to us in love, because God is good and He loves mankind. The Jesus prayer is an example of this.

The difference between Christian meditation and non-Christian meditation is Jesus Christ. That is all, but that is everything.

Ultimately, then, all of life can become a living prayer and meditation on God, in Christ, through the Holy Spirit, by our response to His grace.

-- John

[Albion]

Christian meditation concentrates on Christ. He is not an idea; He is a Person; and we respond to Him because He has called to us in love, because God is good and He loves mankind. The Jesus prayer is an example of this.

The difference between Christian meditation and non-Christian meditation is Jesus Christ. That is all, but that is everything.

Ultimately, then, all of life can become a living prayer and meditation on God, in Christ, through the Holy Spirit, by our response to His grace.

-- John

I am interested to know whether anyone on this list is familiar with the work of the late 20th century English Benedictine monk John Main. His technique was to combine the positive aspects of Eastern meditation -- stillness and relaxation -- with concentration on Christ, through use of a mantra. His recommended one was "Maranatha," but "Lord Jesus, have mercy" and similar ones can also be employed.

[Rick H.]

Dear Albion,

Interesting that you would bring this up, after reading Herman and John's posts my mind went to the contemporary Catholic Mystics and centering prayer as well. I think others like Keating suggest that you pick a word that is meaningful to you, but at the same time a word that is not easily defined.

In Christ,
Rick

[Effie Ganatsios]

My understanding of Orthodox medititation is time spent meditating on Christ and on his words and experiences.

In the beginning I also could not understand this very well because, in the past, meditation for me meant controlling my breathing and attempting to think of nothing.

I have found that Orthodox meditation leads to a deeper love and understanding of Christ.

Effie

[Peter S.]

Contemplating Jesus Christ and the Trinity is christian meditation. Isn't it?

[Herman Blaydoe]

Contemplating Jesus Christ and the Trinity is christian meditation. Isn't it?

if you assume that contemplation = meditation. I'm not sure that is necessarily the case.

Herman the contemplative Pooh who often mediates but does not meditate
(I like to contemplate about words...)

[Peter S.]

if you assume that contemplation = meditation. I'm not sure that is necessarily the case.

Herman the contemplative Pooh who often mediates but does not meditate
(I like to contemplate about words...)

I m not sure either. But I think meditation is a neutral word. The context is usually hinduism in the year 2009.

So it seem to me. :)

Peter

[John Gfoeller]

My understanding of Orthodox meditation is time spent meditating on Christ and on his words and experiences.

In the beginning I also could not understand this very well because, in the past, meditation for me meant controlling my breathing and attempting to think of nothing.

I have found that Orthodox meditation leads to a deeper love and understanding of Christ.

Effie


Yes.

That is especially true for me, because I was never very good at concentrating just on the techniques of meditation (such as breathing and blanking out).

The task for me was not to "try" to meditate, because I would get caught up in the techniques of meditation.

Instead, the task for me was to allow meditation to naturally result from reflection or contemplation.

But for that to occur, I needed an object of focus for my concentration; otherwise, my mind would wander in discursive reflection.

For me, Christ is the focus that worked and still works. What He is --true man (without sin), true God, infinity and love-- this is enough and more than enough to engage my conscious mind. And thereby, the rest of my mind is able to relax while remaining alert --meditation-- while in His presence: because He is a Person, not merely an idea. And because He Is and thus He is everywhere, I find that all of life can become a living prayer and meditation on Him. But that is only when I co-operate with Divine Grace. And, as a sinner, I sometimes don't . . . But by His grace, I increasing repent and I increasingly co-operate with Him. And there is the miracle of my ongoing conversion.

the sinner,

-- John

[Effie Ganatsios]

In my daily morning prayers I always include the following prayer :

Prayer of Saint Basil the Great to the Most Holy Trinity :

As I rise from sleep, I thank Thee, O Holy Trinity........................................... .................................................. .............. And now enlighten my mind's eye that I may meditate on Thy words, and understand Thy commandments, and do Thy will, and hymn Thee in heartfelt confession.........................


Effie