Christian contemplation and meditation
of Buddhism: Tan Peiquan
this article into three parts. The first part discusses the different approaches to Christian prayer and spiritual journey deep into. The second section describes the basic practice of Buddhist meditation, meditation start method and the different levels. The third section compares the Christian and Buddhist meditation observing similarities and differences between, and Christians make life a little soul-searching prayer.
a Christian contemplation
attaches great importance to Christian prayer, even pray for a person than the breath. What is prayer? For Christians, prayer is a bit cell with a man from the obvious and take the initiative to meet God.'s masterpiece in the history of Christianity, many are directly or describes the subject indirectly. In order to facilitate comparison with the Buddhist meditation do I selectively introduced in the following Christian tradition of spiritual theology, the so-called of the Cross, 1542-1591) and Ya Weila of Teresa (Teresa of Avila, 1515-1582) insights to outline the Christians from the br> 1, the dark path
spiritual theology in the Christian tradition, the so-called Road Egypt, Ru Jianan to describe the history of spiritual movements of believers. Origen that the Christian spirit through the three sections of road to drive, and a period of more than a light. first road is out of Egypt through the Red Sea; metaphor of a Christian repentance experience, including how to leave the evil, turn over a new vow to follow the Lord. second paragraph of the road is hungry Israelites wandering in the desert day, the experience of the Lord in a timely manner to support the cold water and food; this parable Christians in the world stranger by the day can still be spiritual, to pray to get God's comfort and encouragement. the third paragraph of the road is to enter the promised land of Canaan, the Lord will always be people; this can be done one day living the Christian metaphor stranger day into the Lord promised paradise, always with the Lord. described above is a dark and gradually into the light from the spiritual approach.
Origen less than one hundred years after the death of Christianity And one of history there was another spiritual prayer to the giant impact theory and practice of the godfather. Nisa expensive Geli (Gregory of Nyssa, approximately 355-395) as Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt with a story to describe believers praying the mentality. but he made a light gradually into the dark by the way. He explained that a bush fire in the first experience of Moses to the Lord's presence (Exodus 3:2-6), which is a promising start. but continue The process is not as sweet; Moses into a layer deeper than the layer of darkness. In general, Moses in the dark so accepted the Lord commanded. to his Lord, but the Lord said, he could not see the face of the Lord. Guige used to describe the experience of the followers of Moses prayer journey began with the experience of light sweet spirit gradually into the dark dry conditions. < br> Another described the experience in contrast to prayer is Lord's presence, from the goodness of creation and human noble love, righteousness, love the Lord associated with care in the eternal power and divine nature. who actively use the ability of rational thinking, from God's creation and the The Road truth, goodness and beauty.
Pseudo-Dionysius the sixth century, Western Asia (Pseudo-Dionysius) is the is yes, because God is beyond our association. We can of course help Lenovo to know God, but to the end must be fully recognized, people think God can not be limited. For example, we can describe God as king, to express God's sovereignty and prestige Wing; but we must also admit that God and not man the king could have imagined. This approach results is that people can only have negative knowledge of God; that is, God is not King, not pastors, not the father, etc. and so on. into the believers into the ) Cross the two ascetics John and Teresa pray for Christians there is some depth into the deep history of interpretation. In their view, the Christian prayer life in general is This Loyola (Ignatius Loyola ,1491-1556) The spiritual exercises (Spiritual Exercises) is to meditate on all the crime as a start. According to Teresa's prayer as metaphor, buckets to fetch water, to water the garden, have spent a lot of work, but spiritual garden is still dry .1)
spiritual as a Christian, praying on the growing progress, eliminates the need for deliberate use of memory, thinking and imagination to contemplate the Lord. this time, meditation is more more natural and lighter, at the same time, prayer is also slowly began to dream feel safe alone in the silent prayer, without any intention to meditate on scripture or Lenovo from the creation of God. This is the so-called Lord. Teresa that believers can enter this stage a lot; but the sweet and enthusiastic believer is not without weaknesses, they must be careful to note that they have become complacent and good for the master trend. Teresa regret to say, seriously careful self-examination of the prayer minority, many of the faithful and not go further because of complacency.
But if someone open-minded desire, will For a variety of meditation have been feeling a little disturbed mind, but to meet the word in the phrase up only token primary pour. Eastern Church of Jesus Prayer (Jesus Prayer) is the kind of simplicity) of an example. This stage is known as practice of Greek philosophy and dialogue. Fathers as Clement of Alexandria (Clement of Alexandria), Origen and Nisa's your Geli Dengjun Platonic ideas to attract new, but it skillfully integrated into the Christian belief systems in order that the idea of a Christian. So did the theoria purely philosophical word, in the Fathers from the pen into a love for transforming the knowledge gained experience, not merely the result of rational thinking people. The object of this knowledge is the Triune God, no longer can not be named, abstract or non-digital format of the truth, goodness and beauty. Moreover, the Fathers stressed that one can go beyond contemplation of God because God became incarnate in Christ, the gap between God and man repealed. In other words, people can contemplation. contemplatio Latin usage in general is a person dedicated to God and the intersection .5) but contemplatio word to be used to express a mystical man and God-like relationship, often described as an additional word first. Aquinas (Thomas Aquinas) to use God for the initiative. from a human point of view, this is God poured himself into the life of prayer, not of people depend on themselves, instinct may be to seek to achieve the. All in all, and the narrow two uses. From a broader perspective, the and sentiment. However, the narrow meaning of contemplation is a man of God, towards the intersection of mystical experience and history.
pray we continue to explore the progress of back stage. from the so, it is possible to enter the those who desire, anticipation can get, Lord's grace. mean, when observing those who continue to pray for the simple, to extend the hearts of God's desire, and slowly, reduce the need to use words to pray is very low, but like blissful silence, silence is God's presence. At this point, wait and see who realized that the Lord's presence, but can not put into words; image of the type of language can not express the perceived Lord Moreover, do not want to limit who use words to pour in mind of the Lord. Teresa even said that sometimes the reason and contemplation are thinking because the Lord completely paralyzed poured so as usual activities and can not think.
image, can not be conceptual prayer, the call only in the dark to believe God. This is a spiritual experience rather painful. Some people can not bear contemplation exercises darkness and spiritual unrest caused by dry and non- help to strongly do The fire ignited the inevitable result: will cause unease of mind, even painful, Christians do not resist, just accept and respond to God's love.
wait and see who does not avoid the dark when the uneasy feeling and continue to focus on the mind a little light that fire, and slowly , that the spark of love will spread into the raging fire, burning the inner life of contemplation by the whole. The results, observing each of those actions and decisions come from the source of love. God's love. just as the metaphor used by John Cross said: Flame of. Lease experience, although the people praying in a rational, thinking completely dark, but realized that the Lord in their own inside, with their mystical into one. Cross John and Teresa were to describe this experience of the unity of God God of marriage Lord. Perhaps we can run out of analogies to describe this appears to be a curse, in essence, a blessing prayer experience. enter can not the naked eye, is our reason, emotion, can not resist, so blind. In other words, this prayer experience of the meaning of too close, greatly limited the beyond human reason and can accommodate a range of emotions. enter knowledge or experience in their own level; he / she needs With a simple faith to believe that the Lord is the idea that all people can go beyond the image other than the Lord is an unknowable mystery.
Second, Buddhism meditation
Christianity and Buddhism are very different; Christians believe in heaven, eternal life; Buddhists believe that the causal III, six cycle. , the phenomenon of the universe of life, fate is a collection was born, and where no one almighty reign; edge of Health into the sky, doing the bulk edge. On the side of sin and salvation, faith, Christianity, sin and suffering is a source of ideas in Adam and Eve's fall, making the relationship between man and God break; salvation is the grace of God intervention, makes performance of self-enhancement, transformation. Buddhism is that pain causes and conditions from birth and death, karma is starting from the birth and death cause interdependence, and interdependence of karma and ignorance initiated by the original. birth and death resulting from causes and conditions which freed all the pain, then you need through the Enlightened by Conditions, and consciously with his sleep, consciousness is a cause of all birth and death are and recluse from the dust, never Duanfan Nao confused industry.
Although Christianity and Buddhism have obvious differences, but the Christian experience of contemplation and meditation of Buddhism compared with each other, you will find some rather close to each other's place. The following first introduces the meditation methods and different starting state, then the third part of the article Christian experience of contemplation and meditation of Buddhism similarities and differences between.
1, three basic practice: precepts, Hui < br> Basically, the rise of Buddhism is to awaken people awareness to people from all misery. past, the Buddha was like Jesus was asking his identity: Nigeria said: cause birth and death to consciousness, liberation from suffering, and up to the realm of Nirvana, then, we must practice the Noble Eightfold Path, to achieve a virtuous and the availability of such enlightenment on the people who are.
Buddha after death , and his followers interpreted his enlightenment facility, sorting out the three basic practice: Connaught is the basic doctrine of defensive, if not killing, not stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, etc.. , as emphasized by the Chinese practice of Zen Buddhism.
2, the start method
meditation in Buddhism, the a paraphrase of the , Monk), Four Noble Truths (suffering, and Taoism), or the five aggregates, etc. (color, subject, thought, and consciousness). (2) Starting from the awareness breathing, sitting cross-legged, pay attention to the rhythm of breathing. (3 ) from the view of the body from the start; pay attention to all parts of the body, from skin to the flesh and bone, but also contemplate the body gradually corrupt the process. (4) starting from the reflection behavior, pay attention to words and rest, public and private life. (5) from the start within the concept of emotion, whether happy or sad, attention to the ups and downs, come and go dormant. (6) personal note, your mind from the start, either positive or evil thoughts are like a cast in front of the mirror, clear reflection. (7) from the chant Secretary read the text to start, this is esoteric approach. (8) from the reference broken, given state
meditation meditation practicing method are numerous, comprehensive, there are eight fixed Sichan, also known as the realm of nine set by brother. The following set of nine brothers from Taiwan with reference to the interpretation of a famous Zen Mr. Nan and another of the scholars of the French experience .9)
the so-called Si Chan, is the first jh��na, Erchan, San Chan and Sichan. first jh��na, the heart of a territory, will be Health and joy: the so-called a territory of the heart, from the above-mentioned means a way to start a meditation practice repair, the initial reach a peaceful state of mind, spirit and minds of a unified, focused on the point, there is no discrimination of any bad thoughts confused, and gradually lead to a not unusual emotional joy. Erchan from the Health and joy: from the first jh��na to pursue further studies, the quiet state of mind, more solidified, joy realm and more determined, there is the feeling of distress from the physical and mental stress. San Chan, from the blessed with music: to this point, caused by the former territory of the psychological experience of joy, already familiar with the tranquil, as usual egregious habit of often being in a happy environment. Sichan, clean homes read: the process of meditation in front of the three still the role of a sense of presence felt to the extent of the Si Chan, rounded feel to achieve tremendous addition to the realm of silence.
addition to the above four outside the realm of Zen, and another four in meditation. (1) color boundless Department determined the case in the circumstances to get endless quiet; external physical image, sound, light, taste, color, not touched, the room is unlimited. (2) at fixed infinite space is obtained in the infinite emptiness quiet; no sense of space, infinite consciousness alone. (3) Office set boundless knowledge, experience in the spiritual realm has never been quiet; boundless space at the former from the infinite set obtained by the phenomenon of awareness is also one of Now no one feel a thing originally, leaving a void. (4) Non-scheduled to Africa and Africa would like to place is in the super-ordinary realm of sensation and perception, to be quiet. The so-called non-thought, that is not consciousness, thought situation; Feifei think, is not saying absolutely no inspiration and perception; Thus, non to Africa and Africa to the mean, is not in a sense, but not completely without being aware of the secret state.
As for the last extinguish a given realm arhat is beyond the normal realm of mere words can express. We may be able to use the analogy that the Arhat to do given the realm of boundless as the phase of the void is equal to one, is called Nirvana Perishable . Nirvana is the proper name of Buddhism, which is representative of the universe and living beings have the overall physical and mental life, in its million unit did not move at the beginning, the physical and psychological sense of physical and mental state of circumstances silence Yi Nianbu students like the original, it is be silent, beyond the metaphysical body segment. So the invisible Buddhist phase to describe it, no agitation, no realm of state, otherwise called the situation it is Perishable; but Nirvana quiescence in order to highlight the features, not If the death extinguished all empty, so Nirvana is said Yuan Ming pure sleep. nirvana of a non-phase-like phase, is in fact phase, so it is beyond ideology, not words, words, theory can make the best subtle ultimate salvation. to reach Nirvana is to realize the realm of fate off students, burst were compared, transcendental universe, the same root, all one really as attributed.
Third, contemplation and meditation
no doubt, Christian contemplation and Buddhist meditation has many differences, the difference is that the basic beliefs of each other are different. But the Christian doctrine of Buddhism Ruoyin Christian beliefs different from their spiritual manage deny the merits of the trial would blindly attack, on the contrary to the Christ into the crowd , the dialogue with different backgrounds, love to talk to the spirit of Him. In fact, Christianity and other religions, and cultural dialogue Huitong practice of precedents. As mentioned above, the early development of Christianity is the religion of the Greek Fathers On the model. When Christians can put aside prejudice and discrimination, to overcome the psychological terror when disturbed, you will find Christian and Buddhist contemplative meditation can lead to similarities and differences reflect a deeper faith. Here a few points, hoping to generate better ideas role that other scholars can further contribute to the experience, ideas and academic insights.
1, observing the meditation for those who can be said to be a liberation for the sake of humanity beyond the limitations and bias of self-practice; and the object of Christian prayer is God is a God who met the experience, the focus of the two are obviously different. However, the Christian experience observing the so-called being. At this time, the contemplation of those who did not close with the Lord sweet and the feeling of excitement, he / she felt the Lord was away and vague. For God's understanding, the contemplation of those who can only say: to know. Creator ;. (a 3:14)
met from the human point of view of God, we might wait and see in the dark, said the experience of an The relationship is projected from the human experience, as the description of the physiognomy of the Lord. We can take the risk to further said that the secret of the Christian experience of contemplation can not be a bad idea to use the Buddhist sex is zero, Kongjishise. the writings of John Cross perspective. John Cross, eager to know nothing; to get over all, eager to have nothing; to be had by a desire to be free. thought it was from a Buddha or a Buddhist master of the port it?
However, we certainly can not therefore infer that the meditation up to the silenced by ethereal realm is beyond the physiognomy of God with an encounter . On this reasoning, Christians should not jump off words, modesty is best experienced with a Buddhist meditation exchange views and learn.
2, observing the with body ; God marriage mystical experience, the viewer and full of love of God become one, wait and see who the to describe the experience of God outside of one of the updates, he also wait and see who the Lord specifically vivid life. by observing themselves experience, he / she loves, such as Fountain emergence of consciousness, he / she met loved by everyone around.
Merton (Thomas Merton) is a contemplation of the century monk known; his youth has entered the seminary, to live alone for the contemplative life. monastery life in the past two decades, reclusive. One day he was allowed outside to do a small job out of seminary, in the Street shopping malls saw milling around the head; all of a sudden, his heart there is a strong feeling or consciousness to emerge. He Remembrance, said: are they; though we are strangers, but it can not be separated. hh I do not belong I'm all alone, belongs to them, because I do not for themselves alone, but for them. When I was alone, they are not 'them' , but I 'own'. no stranger! strong emotion is a man of God through the love generated by the joint experience. When contemplation of God and love one person, self loved transformation, he / she will be like a natural love of God to love, like others, such as John said: experience. into the realm of Nirvana person to realize there with no break, the entity with shape-stabilized and self-confrontation with something else, and felt the same root and the universe, all things are one, all the same really as Nirvana wonderful heart. One has many years of meditation scholars still experience the heart of summer plans (Ruben Habito) describe the consciousness of meditation as memories, the same purpose.
Mahayana Buddhism in the so-called Buddha is the Buddha's own awareness of self and start, or that is the immanence of the Buddha became incarnate in those who come alive out of enlightenment. Christians should be very easy to understand this concept because this concept and Christianity, very similar. I believe that a true awareness of the Sakyamuni Buddha who exactly will be the mercy of heart, the pain relief mission to ferry people. Similarly, a real implementation of the love of God in the life of Christians, also a lifetime love as a man doing things in mind.
Finally, I think an interesting question, when a true unity with God through contemplation and into a real Nirvana, Buddha Buddhist consciousness in the way travel alone met, how they will treat each other? They uphold and maintain because of the religion of the respective dispute, or is open to mutual acceptance and appreciation of it?
3, contemplation and meditation are emphasized win their hearts and convergence The importance of quiet contemplation
Christian and Buddhist meditation has a different depth, or the division of realms. contemplation of the course is Under the initiative of the gift of God who are led into the contemplation of God's full presence, gradually deepening, until Nirvana quiescence, the realm of great awakening Yuanming clean. this point of view, contemplation and meditation on the state level by a common, is that both emphasize into the realm of deep contemplation to achieve is that when thinking of meditation gradually reduced from the Lord deliberately getting into the association will host in it. Likewise, the higher the feature is Jinglv Zen mind, so that awareness of the sea calm as a mirror to the truth of all things according to now.
we need to point out that the emphasis on contemplation and meditation static and do not mean to stop the body's various labor activities do the contemplation of alternative activities, as Shen Simo to itself can be a disturbing mind activity. Jing is a state of mind, the key is convergence of thinking in quiet mood. there are many Christians who have attended the retreat said that when the outside to stop the practice, they will still find that their mind is very active, constantly Matter awareness of God's presence, as Christians should be recognized that the Buddhist practice of meditation repair experience is very rich. In fact, no matter what kind of meditation to start law, they are all classified as Emptiness, self-reflection, awareness of all things first. meditation different Famennian are on the Christian hope to help more wait and see the Lord. For this approach, the Western Church divided. and we Chinese Christians, living in a certain extent, is still being affected by Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism culture, the social impact , think what this does?
4, contemplation and meditation practice of any religious test
practice traditional methods are likely to be misused or abused believers. precisely because the Christian and Buddhist contemplation The state of meditation and the process of both the division of learning that could repair the highest realm of the blind pursuit to better than others. The use of religion to satisfy their own desire to practice practice practice is a violation of the basic way spirit. Although Christianity's wait and see so-called
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