Meditation

lone-traveler · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:35 am Post subject: Meditation

Phl 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.

Meditation And Health
The link between meditation and health is now widely recognized even by the most conservative and mainstream of Western medical experts. The positive effects of meditation on physical and--to some extent--mental health are easily observable and quantifiable. Equally important, though less obvious, are its effects on spiritual health.

Physically, meditation has been shown to lower cholesterol, reduce the airway constriction of asthma, alleviate digestive problems, help manage chronic pain, speed healing and boost the auto-immune system. Many of these are symptoms exacerbated by stress and anxiety. Meditation is especially effective in relieving these mental and emotional maladies. Help for depression, anger management, addictions and compulsive behavior are also known benefits of meditation.

There are several types of meditation, however, and though they all seem to have health benefits, some are more lasting than others. Eastern meditation techniques seek to empty the mind of thoughts and emotions, which can only be a temporary means of feeling better. "Be Still and Know," a Christian meditation technique developed by Roy Masters, offers a more lasting benefit.

The aim of "Be Still and Know" is not to banish thoughts and emotions, but to understand them. Many will be revealed to be nothing more than conditioned responses instilled early in life. Once the roots of these feelings are revealed and dealt with, negative energy simply fades away. This not only has a physical and mental benefit, but a spiritual one as well, as our true identities and correct behavior is revealed to us. Explore the Foundation for Human Understanding website for more information, and reap all the benefits of meditation.
www.fhu.com

hugs
lone

Diane · Cobra Joined: 17 Sep 2004 Posts: 470

Hiya lone!!!

Interesting thread.

I can remember when the Lord first opened my mind and heart to His love and something would go wrong in my life. Ha! Talk about freak out. I'd drop to my knees in prayer and supplication. Gosh is was so good to know that He heard me. And through the years the stuff that went wrong got worse....but....the freaking out is gone. Gosh it is still so good to know that He hears me. He is so good. Very Happy

Well I said all that to say this. I discovered the Odes of Solomon about 20 years ago and this seemed to foster in me a contempletive and meditative view toward a lot of the "stuff" of life.

They're really beautiful to meditate on along with scripture.

Here's a link for those who may be interested in reading the Odes:

Link to Odes of Solomon

Thanks for all the neat stuff you're posting here. It's appreciated.

Love and hugs,

Di
_________________
God is love and love never fails.

The Beautiful Heresy – If believing that God is loving enough, powerful enough, and wise enough to save all of His creation makes me a heretic, sign me up.

atoz · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:49 am Post subject:

Hi Lt,

Thanx for that!

Just like this is translated:

1 Cor 1: 26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh,
not many mighty,
not many noble,
are called:

27But God hath chosen the foolish [people] of the world to confound the wise;
and God hath chosen the weak [people] of the world to confound the [people] who are mighty;

28And base [people] of the world,
and [people] who are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and [people] who are not[hing],
to bring to nought [people] that are:

I translate that Philippians 4:8 like this:

Finally, brethren,
whatsoever people are true [and untrue],
whatsoever [people are] honest [and dishonest],]
whatsoever [people are] just [and unjust], Mt 5:45 whatsoever [people are] pure [and impure], Titus 1:15
whatsoever [people are] lovely [and ugly],
whatsoever [people are] of good report [& bad report];
if there be any virtue [and vice],
and if there be any praise [and criticism],
think [in Love] on these [people].

Psalm 119:97
O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 119:99
I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

Hi Diane,

Thanx for those Odes of Solo, too!

with the Love that mediates between and meditates on everything and its opposite, nothing,
atoz
_________________
"The person who discovered The Law of Love
was a far greater scientist than any of our modern scientists."
MKGANDHI
“Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.”
Albert Einstein
“Love sought is good, but given unsought is better.”
William Shakespeare, 12th Night

Diane · Cobra Joined: 17 Sep 2004 Posts: 470

lone-traveler · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:41 am Post subject:

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

The following meditation is said to be the meditation taught by Gautama Buddha about 2500 years ago. The primary focus is your breathing. However, the primary goal is maintaining a calm, non-judging awareness, allowing thoughts and feelings to come and go without getting enmeshed in them. This calm, accepting, spacious awareness is your Core Self... your Essence.

Steps of Mindfulness Meditation

Sit comfortably, with your eyes closed and your spine reasonably straight.

Direct your attention to your breathing.

When thoughts, emotions, physical feelings or external sounds occur, simply accept them, giving them the space to come and go without judging or getting involved with them.

When you notice that your attention has drifted off and become engaged in thoughts or feelings, simply bring it back to your breathing and continue.

Remember... it's ok and natural for thoughts to arise, and for your attention to follow them. No matter how many times this happens, just keep bringing your attention back to your breathing.

Benefits of this meditation:

Maintaining your calm inner awareness, balance & clarity in the midst of any situation.
A gradual shift to a higher level of consciousness... centered in the peace, joy & freedom of your Spirit.
Increased insight & clarity... seeing things truly, as they are.
Stress reduction.
www.meditationcenter.com

Thankyou for the Odes of Solomon Diane. They are beautiful.
Whenever I'm checking out new things I look for "key words" like ..balance, clarity, peace, joy, freedom, without judging..and such.

And they bring to mind so many things that others have taught us about..

balance:

following Phillipians 4:8, comes this little nugget:

Phl 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Phl 4:10 ¶ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
Phl 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content.
Phl 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Phl 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Balance and clarity in the midst of any situation.

centered in the the peace, joy and freedom of your spirit:
another nugget from Ephesians:

Eph 3:14 ¶ For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph 3:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

a gradual shift to a higher level of consciousness:

Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Hi atoz,