Catholic practicing Buddhist meditation?

[bben15]

Hello. I am someone who enjoys meditation. I meditate on the rosary every day. But sometimes, I find it healthy to make an examination of conscience, so I may come to mind my sins. Would it be OK to practice a Buddhist meditation to help me examine my conscience? I’ve heard that there are Catholic priests and nuns that practice Buddhist meditation, though I don’t know if that is true or not. A Buddhist meditation is simple and can help me examine my inner self.

Sometimes, I practice a Byzantine Catholic form of meditation, which is meditating on the Jesus Prayer for a while.

I am extremely loyal to Holy Mother Church, and I believe in all Her teachings. I don’t believe in the Four Noble Truths or the Eightfold Path or any other Buddhist teachings. But, I believe that we should fully understand our sins and examine how they could have or did affect others.

Thank you and God bless you for answering my question.

 

[Deus_tecum]

You can practice quiet prayer which goes back 100s (maybe 1000+) of years in Catholic monasteries, and it is NOT Buddhist meditation but bears some resemblances. You use a sacred word to remind yourself of your intent toward God, and you use some awareness of your breath, but you do not continuously chant a “mantra”. You can find a good overview of it here. kyrie.com/inner/contemplative/index.htm

 

[InLight247]

I can never understand why a Catholic with so much treasures of the Church would want to use any Buddhist technique? And how would Buddhist technique help a Catholic to exam his conscience?

 

[Viola_Incognita]

The above link is to a site which discusses a banned topic here on CAF.

A good source of Catholic information on meditation is the New Age blog at Women of Grace. The blog is written by secular Carmelite, Sue Brinkmann.

In the list on the right, under “New Age” you will see “Prayer/Meditation.” Or you can click on “Blog Index by Subject” and scan for the topics which interest you.

May Christ’s peace be with you.

 

[bben15]

The above link is to a site which discusses a banned topic here on CAF.

A good source of Catholic information on meditation is the New Age blog at Women of Grace. The blog is written by secular Carmelite, Sue Brinkmann.

In the list on the right, under “New Age” you will see “Prayer/Meditation.” Or you can click on “Blog Index by Subject” and scan for the topics which interest you.

May Christ’s peace be with you.

Thank you.

 

[Pablopedro]

I’m very curious as to what exactly is “Buddhist” about the meditation. If you are simply talking about quieting and emptying your mind that is a very Catholic tradition as well.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

You can practice quiet prayer which goes back 100s (maybe 1000+) of years in Catholic monasteries, and it is NOT Buddhist meditation but bears some resemblances. You use a sacred word to remind yourself of your intent toward God, and you use some awareness of your breath, but you do not continuously chant a “mantra”. You can find a good overview of it here. kyrie.com/inner/contemplative/index.htm

Correct.

Meditation is a rich tradition in the Catholic Church, going back to the Desert Fathers of the 4th century, like Abba Isaac and St John Cassian.

The link you provided, gives the origins of the Catholic tradition.

Jim

 

[UntimelyBourn]

In my opinion the problem with Christians practicing Buddhist forms of meditation is that they both aim at radically different goals. From what I understand Buddhist meditation is more similar to what Catholics and other Christians would call contemplation than it is to meditation. Meditation in the Christian West tends to focus on filling the mind with the things of God (His Word, His creation, Our Lady, the lives of the saints, etc.), whereas Buddhist meditation seeks to empty the mind of all thoughts.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

A good source of Catholic information on meditation is the New Age blog at Women of Grace. The blog is written by secular Carmelite, Sue Brinkmann.

I.

Except that Sue Brinkmann article is false.

If you follow the link Deus tecum provided, you’ll see why.

Jim

 

[JimR-OCDS]

UntimelyBourn

In my opinion the problem with Christians practicing Buddhist forms of meditation is that they both aim at radically different goals.

Correct, and this is what was explained in the Letter to Catholic Bishops on Aspects of Christian Meditation.

1. The majority of the great religions which have sought union with God in prayer have also pointed out ways to achieve it. Just as "the Catholic Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions,"18 neither should these ways be rejected out of hand simply because they are not Christian. On the contrary, one can take from them what is useful so long as the Christian conception of prayer, its logic and requirements are never obscured

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19891015_meditazione-cristiana_en.html

This means that any meditation which is not Christ centered, is not in line with Christian spiritual practice.

From what I understand Buddhist meditation is more similar to what Catholics and other Christians would call contemplation than it is to meditation. Meditation in the Christian West tends to focus on filling the mind with the things of God (His Word, His creation, Our Lady, the lives of the saints, etc.), whereas Buddhist meditation seeks to empty the mind of all thoughts.

Both are quiet prayer, but the intention is far different.

Prayer of Quiet

The Prayer of Quiet is regarded by all writers on mystical theology as one of the degrees of contemplation. It has to be distinguished therefore from meditation and from affective prayer. It holds an intermediary place between the latter and the prayer of union.newadvent.org/cathen/12608b.htm

Jim

 

[Viola_Incognita]

Except that Sue Brinkmann article is false.

If you follow the link Deus tecum provided, you’ll see why.

Jim

Which Sue Brinkmann article? She has written so many.

The link Deus Tecum provided is to a site which promotes a banned topic. And the site also has many articles. To which are you referring?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Which Sue Brinkmann article? She has written so many.

The link Deus Tecum provided is to a site which promotes a banned topic. And the site also has many articles. To which are you referring?

Which is why he provided the link, so people can go there, rather than just the sites which have articles with misinformation, like Women of Grace’s Sue Brinkmann’s criticism of John Michael Talbot.

Jim

 

[Viola_Incognita]

The Prayer of Quiet is regarded by all writers on mystical theology as one of the degrees of contemplation. It has to be distinguished therefore from meditation and from affective prayer. It holds an intermediary place between the latter and the prayer of union.newadvent.org/cathen/12608b.htm

 

[JimR-OCDS]

JimR-OCDS;10890974:

To continue with the quote from New Advent (emphasis mine):

"In this prayer God gives to the soul

an intellectual knowledge of His presence, and makes it feel that it is really in communication with Him …] This mystic gift cannot be acquired, because it is supernatural. It is God Himself who makes His presence felt in the inmost soul."

Quiet prayer, according to New Advent, is a “degree of contemplation,” and something God does. It is not something that we do or that we seek.

May Christ’s peace be with you.

There is acquired contemplation and infused contemplation.

Acquired Contemplation is what we do by being open to God dwelling within, and allowing His grace to transform us.

Quiet Prayer, begins the process of acquired contemplation, while being open to infused contemplation which is a gift from God.

Either way, if you don’t begin, the relationship will not take place.

Jim

 

[nuntym]

+JMJ+

Which is why he provided the link, so people can go there, rather than just the sites which have articles with misinformation, like Women of Grace’s Sue Brinkmann’s criticism of John Michael Talbot.

Jim

Which again, as I said in another thread, does not say anything about promoting meditation and a good life first before practicing this form of “acquired contempation,” if it is at all. Unless you can show the link in it that says otherwise.

Or are you going to hide again behind the CAF ban on this topic when challenged, while you hypocritically promote this banned topic in other threads?

 

[fred_conty]

The Transcendental Meditation technique is based on the ancient Vedic tradition of enlightenment in India. This knowledge has been handed down by Vedic masters from generation to generation for thousands of years.

The Transcendental Meditation technique allows your mind to settle inward beyond thought to experience the source of thought — pure awareness, also known as transcendental consciousness. This is the most silent and peaceful level of consciousness — your innermost Self.

I’m only a simple catholic, but it seems to me if something is coming from a very questionable source, then isn’t it better to stick with what the saints have taught us?

And it dose’nt say anything about Jesus, or that he should be to us as St. Paul said about becoming more of Christ and less of self. This type of meditation may give some peace but so does sleep and other activities. It just seems to me it is leaving out the most essential piece,Jesus, which should be our focus, at least in some way.

Just thinking.​

“Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart, naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.” (hymn)

 

[bben15]

I recently read that by emptying the mind (which is the point of Buddhist meditation), demons can attack you. You will have no protection from evil.

Thank you all for your help.

Maybe I’ll try out the Prayer of Quiet. The Byzantine meditation is helpful, maybe I’ll stick with that too.

 

[Viola_Incognita]

Or are you going to hide again behind the CAF ban on this topic when challenged, while you hypocritically promote this banned topic in other threads?

I second this. Changing the name to “prayer of quiet” is so dishonest. If something is supposed to be from God, then why play these word games?

…] I’m only a simple catholic, but it seems to me if something [such as Transcendental Meditation/Prayer of Quiet] is coming from a very questionable source, then isn’t it better to stick with what the saints have taught us?

And it dose’nt say anything about Jesus, or that he should be to us as St. Paul said about becoming more of Christ and less of self. This type of meditation may give some peace but so does sleep and other activities. It just seems to me it is leaving out the most essential piece,Jesus, which should be our focus, at least in some way.
…]

May the true peace of Christ be with us all! Amen.

 

[DBT]

Some counsels from St. Teresa on prayer from The Way of Perfection chapters 28 and 29. What she calls the prayer of recollection … others call the prayer of simplicity … others call acquired contemplation. Others …

Note that it is something we can do … and she encourages it’s practice often.
Way of Perfection Chapters 28 and 29:

Explains the nature of the prayer of recollection:

1-Doing this is one of the ways of greatly slowing down the mind and recollecting the soul

2-Consider what St. Augustine says, that he sought Him in many places but found Him ultimately within himself.

3-All one need do is go into solitude and look at Him within oneself.

4-This prayer is called “recollection” because the soul collects its faculties together and enters within itself to be with its God. And its divine Master comes more quickly to teach it and give it the prayer of quiet than He would through any other method it might use.

5-Those who by such a method can enclose themselves within the little heaven of our soul, where the Maker of heaven and earth is present, and grow accustomed to refusing to be where the exterior senses in their distraction have gone or look in that direction should believe they are following an excellent path and that they will not fail to drink water from the fount.

6-If the recollection is true, it is felt very clearly: for it produces some effect in the soul … whoever has experience of it will understand.

7-There is a withdrawing of the senses …

8-The eyes close …

9- So, anyone who walks by this path keeps his eyes closed almost as often as he prays.

10-The soul should get used to this recollection. If we make the effort, practice this recollection for some days, and get used to it, the gain will be clearly seen

11-The faculties are drawn inward …

12-And when the soul does no more than give a sign it wishes to be recollected, the senses obey and it becomes recollected.

13-Until after many of these entries the Lord wills that they rest entirely in perfect contemplation

14-The whole point is that we should give ourselves to Him with complete determination, and we should empty the soul in such a way that He can store things there or take them away as though it were His own property.

15-Turn your eyes inward and look within yourself, as has been said. You will find your Master for He will not fail you.

16-I say “desires” (this way of prayer) because you must understand that this recollection is NOT something supernatural, but that it is something we can desire and achieve ourselves with the help of God.

17-I want to explain: that in order to **acquire the habit ** of easily recollecting our minds and understanding what we are saying, and with whom we are speaking, it is necessary that the exterior senses be recollected …

18-We must, then, disengage ourselves from everything so as to approach God interiorly.

19-This is a manner of praying that the soul gets so quickly used to that it doesn’t go astray.

20-May the Lord teach this recollection to those of you who don’t know about it, for I confess that I never knew what it was to pray with satisfaction until the Lord taught me this method.

21-If you can practice this recollection often during the day; if not, so do so at least a few times.

22-Once this recollection is given by the Lord, you will not exchange it for any treasure.

23-I know, if you try, that within a year, or perhaps half a year, you will acquire it, by the favor of God.

24-If then the Lord should desire to raise you to higher things He will discover in you the readiness.

Sorry for my copious underlining. For those with eyes to see.

Dave

 

[JimR-OCDS]

. Changing the name to “prayer of quiet” is so dishonest. If something is supposed to be from God, then why play these word games?

.

Prayer of Quiet is what it is and what I’m posting about.

Jim