Killing the passions

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How does one crush or control the passions without falling into a Buddhist type mentality? My passions cause me quite a bit of trouble at times, and it seems like if I could get rid of them or at least control them better I would be better off. The question is how do you do it? I think I read somewhere that Buddhists basically try to crush or kill their passions, but is that the right thing to do?
 
Prayer, followed by prayer, and to that add prayer.

I know that sounds flip and I don’t mean it to.

Controlling any vise boils down to self control and self examination.

You’ve already begun because you have examined yourself and determined that your passions are governing you at an unacceptable level.
The next step is to pray for Christ to come and dwell in you and to help you control yourself.
Throughout the day pray quick little prayers of thankgiving when you prevent your passions from ascending and prayers of contrition when you fail.
At the end of each day examine your conscience, thanking God for His goodness to you and asking forgiveness for the times you failed.

I have a little prayer that can be said quickly and repeatedly throughout the day:

Almighty Father,
Thank you for this glorious day,
For all the blessings you have bestowed on me,
and for the opportunity to serve you.

I don’t finish this with an Amen because I want it to be an open ended praise to Him.

It is a long and difficult road in curbing our passions, especially if they have held sway for some time, but it can be done.
Have faith my friend.

Peace on your Journey

James
 
Thank you for your advice, however, what I am wondering is because my passions are giving me so much trouble, would it be wrong to use buddhist mental exercises to crush or kill that passions if that is even possible. I will not violate my Catholic beliefs however, so I need to know if theses buddhist exercises are ok to practice or not. If they are against the teachings of the church I will not pursue that avenue any further.
 
Gospel said:
Thank you for your advice, however, what I am wondering is because my passions are giving me so much trouble, would it be wrong to use buddhist mental exercises to crush or kill that passions if that is even possible. I will not violate my Catholic beliefs however, so I need to know if theses buddhist exercises are ok to practice or not. If they are against the teachings of the church I will not pursue that avenue any further.
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Sounds like you’re looking at some forms of meditation called “Centering Prayer,” would that be correct?

If you are trying to totally empty your mind, that’s bad.

Danger of Centering Prayer

Closer Look at Centering Prayer

Quietism

If you are trying to focus solely on God, that’s good. Prayer needs to be directed, either through visualization or some other means.

I am hesitant to give any links on this, because many sites are unapproved or filled with misinformation. Perhaps someone else can direct you to more information about Catholic Carmelite contemplation found in the writings of Teresa of Avila – or even the practice of Benedictine Lectio Divina.

Personally, I would suggest that you pray using the Bible. Here’s what I do: find a saint with a similar struggle. Set aside quiet time to read about their life and situations and circumstances. Really try to understand that person’s culture. Then draw parallels and contrasts between their lives and yours. Ask the saint to guide you in overcoming the same problem. Come up with a way to put it in practice.

Or, find prayers that inspire true contrition in you when you are tempted: like the seven Penetential Psalms, for example. Hope this helps a little.
 
Gospel said:
Thank you for your advice, however, what I am wondering is because my passions are giving me so much trouble, would it be wrong to use buddhist mental exercises to crush or kill that passions if that is even possible. I will not violate my Catholic beliefs however, so I need to know if theses buddhist exercises are ok to practice or not. If they are against the teachings of the church I will not pursue that avenue any further.
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Not being versed in Buddist techniques I cannot advise in spcecifics. Hopefully Miserissima’s post gives you some good insight.

Ones choice of methods is very personnal and I would not choose to judge. I would suggest that you pray to Our Lord on this as well to discern if the Lord can use these techniques to aid you. Remember, there is nothing that you nad He together can’t tackle and beat together. Just be sure to keep your heart firmly fixed on the Lord.

Peace on your Journey,
James
 
Gospel said:
How does one crush or control the passions without falling into a Buddhist type mentality? My passions cause me quite a bit of trouble at times, and it seems like if I could get rid of them or at least control them better I would be better off. The question is how do you do it? I think I read somewhere that Buddhists basically try to crush or kill their passions, but is that the right thing to do?
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What exactly do you mean by, “Buddhist type mentality?”

Jim
 
Buddhist mentality is a real danger for Catholics and it has filtered through into the Church among many in such things as centering prayer and other eastern ideas. People will claim they as Christians can guard themselves from dangerous influence, yet just making statements such as that should make one wonder how clever eastern thought is in corrupting one away from Catholicism.

Catholicism and Buddhism: Compatible-NOT!
There is a feeling among many Catholics that to be truly Catholic in every action necessitates extensive time for research, and that you have to be an intellectual to practice spiritual meditation. Buddhism, I regret to say, is probably better “marketed” than the Catholic faith. But the Pope is right: for Buddhists, salvation is a privation of individual consciousness; for Catholics salvation is an eternally fulfilling relationship with a loving Creator. There is no comparison.

http://www.catholicculture.org/images/commentary/francesdesales.jpg
St. Francis de Sales.

Thus the Pope also comments that Catholic spirituality picks up where Buddhism leaves off. For both Buddhists and Catholics “detachment” is important, but for Catholics detachment is not an end in itself. St. Francis de Sales preached that man must desire to “possess his soul” rather than allow it to be possessed by worldly things. Catholics pursue this for the purpose of elevating their soul by offering it back to Christ. So detachment is a means to a rich and meaningful “higher awareness” (if you will) that reaches its culmination in seeing God face to face.
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There is nothing that can be found to better then good solid Catholic teaching can offer. As Catholics we do not need spirituality watered down with Buddhism, other far east philosophies or, spitual practices.

On of my favorite books which I found to be very helpful in the area you speaking of is Introduction to a Devout Life by St Franics de Sales. You can download for free here ccel.org/ccel/desales/devout_life.html
 
Bennie P

and of course Centering Prayer has nothing to do with Buddhism, but we’ve been down this debate before. 🙂

Jim
 
Gospel,

I have found frequent reception of the sacraments helps me in my struggles. I am lucky to have a church near where I work with a mass at noon. I have also started going to confession more frequently.
 
Gospel said:
How does one crush or control the passions without falling into a Buddhist type mentality? ?
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no need to resort to non-Christian spiritualities when there is a 2000 yr old tradition of Christian prayer, penance and spiritual discipline for exactly this purpose. Prayer, fasting and alms-giving (works of charity), all three, none is complete without the other. why would you use an approach that negates the person, the passions and the reason for them? Why not try the approach given by Christ himself? pretending passions do not exist is not realistic or sound, spiritually or psychologically. Learn from Christ and the lives of the saints: penance, prayer, fasting, and works of charity.
 
If one cannot “kill” the passions, or crush them into non-existance, is thee a way that they can be used for some good? Is there a way to take passions and using them for good/ if there is how do I do that?
 
Gospel said:
If one cannot “kill” the passions, or crush them into non-existance, is thee a way that they can be used for some good? Is there a way to take passions and using them for good/ if there is how do I do that?
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I hope this is not too simplistic an answer, but here goes: when little children are getting in trouble, a successful remedy is to re-direct them to another activity. In my own life, I have found that distracting myself in this way is helpful when temptations of any kind arise. Get up and move to another activity. This prevents dwelling on the temptation and/or your failure in the moment. You can short circuit the “passion” into activity. It is hard to give in to any temptation when you are walking the dog, mopping the kitchen floor etc. It needs to be a physical activity, not watching TV or reading. As you do the activity, pray whatever prayer you like over and over and bingo you are past it.

Hope this helps!
 
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