WillSpirit!

As often happens, a reader’s comment prompted me to discuss an important topic that I should have thought of on my own. Invoking Buddhist meditation as a path toward freedom from anguish risks giving the impression that I am suggesting a particular spiritual path. In fact, I view Buddhist meditation pragmatically, as a way to learn about myself and my relationship with the world. For spiritual philosophy, I draw from many other sources. My thanks to Wendy Love, who pens an inspiring blog entitled Depression Getaway, for reminding me to emphasize that Buddhist meditation can be blended with many other spiritual traditions.

Wendy asked: “Can you tell me is there is a specific kind of meditation that fits in with Christian theology?”

Here’s my response:

Wendy–

There is a rich meditative tradition within Christianity. For my part, after some profound spiritual experiences ten years ago, I twice completed 8-day versions of the exercises of St. Ignatius. They really deepened my spiritual awareness, and set the stage for my current work in Buddhist meditation. I often hear Thomas Merton mentioned as an important commentator on Christian meditation, though I have not yet read much of his work.

In my view, Buddhism on the one hand consists of a set of meditative practices that help one better live within a human mind and body, and on the other it develops a metaphysical picture of reality that centers on the concepts of karma and repeated lifetimes. The meditative part can be comfortably practiced by people of any spiritual faith, since it makes no statement about the nature of the universe or the existence of God. In western meditation centers, Buddhist metaphysics are often ignored or at least downplayed. Many people work to blend Buddhist with Christian wisdom.

Personally, I define myself as a Quaker, not a Buddhist. Quakerism came from a protestant lineage, and still centers on a particular understanding of Christ (as the Light within each person). I see no conflict between my Quaker philosophy and my Buddhist practice.

The specific advantage of Buddhist meditation in the context of accepting hardship is that it helps one see the inner workings of the mind. With that understanding, it is possible to begin to influence the flow of thought and feeling so that grief is honored but needless suffering is avoided. Christian meditations are more about deepening one’s feelings of connection with divine energies. Both approaches help with gracefully embracing sorrow, but they do so by different means. After many years of meditating with an eye toward deepening my connection with the divine currents flowing through creation, I am now concentrating on learning to work with my mind so that I get the most out of this experience of human life. I find the two methods complementary.
–Will