Mindfulness Meditation - Buddhist Meditation and Christian Prayer have Something in Common - a great article by Douglas Todds

I enjoyed reading an article in The Vancouver Sun by Douglas Todd entitled Prayer Vs. Meditation? -They're more alike than we realize.

A very informative and interesting article. Here's a brief quote.

It can be revealing to discover the similarities of Buddhist mindfulness and Christian prayer. The noted Buddhist magazine, The Shambhala Sun, is just one of thousands of sources on mindfulness.

In a how-to article, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche tells those who want to learn mindfulness to first get into a comfortable position and then note when thoughts arise.

Just monitor your thoughts and feelings without getting stuck on them, teaches Sakyong Mipham. “Say to yourself: ‘That may be a really important issue in my life, but right now is not the time to think about it. Now I’m practicing meditation.’”

By labelling one’s “wild” thoughts and feelings, Sakyong Mipham says, mindfulness practitioners begin to recognize the mind’s discursiveness. “We notice that we have been lost in thought, we mentally label it . without judgment.” . . . . .

Even though Clark-King is not arguing that Buddhist mindfulness and Christian prayer are exactly the same, it is fascinating to note how similar her language is to that of Sakyong Mipham when she describes at least two forms of Christian contemplation. . . . . .

I also teach people to observe thought, and to notice how discursive the mind is and to notice how we tend to get lost in thought. Where we differ is that I see that by standing back and becoming objective to thought instead of lost in thought, I am closer to God. I also realize that we have an inner light in which our soul observes thought. And this inner light is from God.

When we are no longer immersed in thought and imagination, we can realize what the light has been trying to tell us wordlessly.

Here's another brief quote from the excellent article by Douglas Todd:

Buddhist meditators, who tend to think of themselves as “spiritual but not religious,” claim what they do is not “religious.” That’s part of the appeal of mindfulness. Such meditators complain that Christian (as well as Jewish and Muslim) prayer over-emphasizes pleading with, confessing to or praising a God.


I have no problem with what these Buddhist meditators are saying. They wish to be able to observe thought, to observe what is going on without feeling pressure to have to do something.

Christians sometimes tend to put the cart before the horse. And Christians are not alone in this--I could mention at least 2 other big relgions that do the same thing, even worse.

The young or novice Christian first has to confess something, decide something, give himself or herself to something, affirm something--we are under a pressure to agree to something just because someone else says so BEFORE WE SEE FOR OURSELVES IF IT IS TRUE.

I believe that the proper order is to first get out of emotions and excessive thought, and then in the clear light of reason to see what is true or right for oneself.

Of course, I believe that when a person does become objective (instead of lost in thinking), if she or he really wants to know the truth, then s/he will gradually come to see what is true when it comes to God, reality and so on.

That is why I never force any belief on anyone. I help people calm down and get centered. I help them get out of emotions, worries and doubts. And then if they want to, they will see what is true.

This proper form of meditation only works for those who want to know the truth, and are willing to admit it when the truth shows them in a bad light. Most people are interested in knowing themselves as God, or they want face saving, comfort, and peace apart from God.

When their efforts to see themselves in a good light fail and they can't face what they have become, then they look for emptiness or some ego less state of mindlessness. In essence, this is a form of denial and a op out. It is even worse than drugs and alcohol beccuase it looks so innocent and holy.

There are thousands of meditations but only one form that really and truly is ultimately helpful, because it leads to God.

If you start some meditation and it makes you feel one with the universe or gives you bliss and is accepting of you just the way you are -- know that you have been deceived again.

True meditation begins with a yearning for truth and the first things we will see are negative things about ourselves--like we hated our mom or resented our dad. It includes a component of what the Christians call repentance.

Most people are not interested in repentance. They want to save face. Some will study meditation and become all immersed in debating the different kinds of meditation, or trying to incorporate this and that type. The true meditation is very simple.