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<\/a><\/p>\n*Note: If you choose to comment, make sure your comment is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, addressed to me, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of pictures or links.*<\/p>\n
This is an addendum to my immediately preceding blog post about so-called \u201cwordless prayer\u201d (also \u201ccentering prayer\u201d and \u201ccontemplative prayer\u201d).<\/p>\n
Many of you who commented obviously do not understand what this practice is. It is not merely listening to God; it is emptying one\u2019s mind of all words and thoughts whether one\u2019s own or God\u2019s. It is similar in practice to Zen Buddhism\u2019s practice of meditation. It is similar to the practice now commonly called \u201cMindfulness\u201d which is a misnomer because it actually means stilling the mind entirely of thought and words.<\/p>\n
Sure, some have adopted the terms, especially \u201ccontemplative prayer,\u201d for \u201clectio divina\u201d which is listening to God in silence, usually after reading a passage from scripture. This is commonly done in Christian groups such as \u201ccovenant groups\u201d or \u201csmall groups\u201d associated with churches. It is usually preceded and\/or followed by prayer using words.<\/p>\n
\u201cWordless prayer,\u201d \u201ccentering prayer,\u201d however, is not that. It is focusing the mind on nothing but within an attitude of \u201copening to God.\u201d<\/p>\n
My point is that is not real prayer; it is preparation for real prayer. Real prayer is always, in the Bible, conversation with God. Sometimes that conversation is praise only, so \u201cconversation\u201d may be a bit misleading. Many of the Psalms are prayers. My objection is to the word \u201cwordless\u201d and the explanation of the practice of \u201ccentering prayer\u201d which is very much like the Zen practice of \u201czazen\u201d or \u201cshikantaza\u201d in which the mind has no object at all.<\/p>\n
Why? Why do I object so strenuously? Because what I have observed in many groups that practice \u201ccentering, wordless prayer\u201d is that it becomes a substitute for prayer with words. And it has no basis in scripture. It is a practice borrowed from non-Christian religious sources, like yoga.<\/p>\n
(And don\u2019t attempt to lecture me about yoga; I know much about yoga and true yoga is always an entry into some form of Hindu spirituality. I have been to several yoga-centered meditation centers and asked the directors about this. They have been honest with me and said that yoga as mere physical exercise is not true yoga but an opening to true yoga which is intrinsically tied into some form of Hindu meditation. I know this and will not be contradicted here, so don\u2019t attempt it.)<\/p>\n
I have no objection to a Christian practicing meditation so long as it is not called \u201cprayer\u201d and does not become a substitute for prayer. It can be, for some people, a stress and anxiety-relieving practice. Call it \u201cmindfulness.\u201d<\/p>\n
I have no objection to a Christian practicing yoga so long as it does not lead into any form of Hinduism. Any true teacher of yoga however, will admit that its purpose is to do just that.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
More about \u201cWordless Prayer\u201d *Note: If you choose to comment, make sure your comment is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, addressed to me, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of pictures or links.* This is an addendum to my immediately preceding blog post about so-called \u201cwordless prayer\u201d (also […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n