While looking for answers to Barb's questions about yoga and meditation, I found that much of the mystical and pagan prayer and meditation practices have made their way into modern Christian culture. How can we honor God using practices he has never sanctioned. The scriptures are clear on how we are to approach God's throne, with added light from the writings of Ellen White. Here is a brief comparison of Hindu meditation, so-called Christian meditation, and true Christian meditation. I wish I could do this in columns, but since that isn't possible, I will try to make it work another way. I'm sorry the posts are a little long.

Hindu meditation:
What it is:

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Traditionally meditation was (and still is) used for spiritual growth...i.e. becoming more conscious; unfolding our inner Light, Love, & Wisdom; becoming more aware of the guiding Presence in our lives; accelerating our journey home to our True Self... our Spirit.

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Use of mantras:

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Mantras are words of power, used as objects of meditation. Mantra is from the sanskrit root "man"- to think, and "tra"- to liberate; thus, to liberate from thought. The sound of a mantra has a vibration designed to produce a specific effect. By attuning to this vibration when we meditate on a particular mantra, that effect is produced in our lives. Although mantra is an Indian word, these words of power have been used in the mystical practices of almost all cultures.

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Breathing:

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Typical objects employed include a candle flame or a flower. Some people use pictures, such as a mandala - a highly colored symmetric painting - or a picture of a spiritual teacher in a high meditative state. Mantras are sounds which have a flowing, meditative quality and may be repeated out loud or inwardly. The breath is also a common focal point. Finally, guided visualization is also considered by some to be a form of meditation. A guided visualization can help to bring one into a meditative state; also, visualization may be used once a meditative state has been reached to produce various results.

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Position:

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Find a quiet, comfortable place to meditate. You can sit in a comfortable chair, on the bed, on the floor... anywhere that's comfortable.

When you sit to meditate, sit comfortably, with your spine reasonably straight. This allows the spiritual energy to flow freely up the spine, which is an important aspect of meditation... If, for physical reasons, you can't sit up, lay flat on your back.

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Use of beads:

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JAPA YOGA chanting on beads (often silently)

ROSARIES : Rosary beads may be used in the meditation process to count repetitions.

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Christian meditation (so-called)
What it is:

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The focus of meditation is Christocentric. This means that it is centered on the prayer of Christ which is continuously poured forth in the Holy Sprit in the depth of each human being. Deeper than all ideas of God is God himself. Deeper than imagination is the reality of God. Thus, in this way of 'pure prayer' we leave all thoughts, words and images behind in order to "set our minds on the kingdom of God before all else." In this way we leave our egotistical self behind to die and rise to our true self in Christ.

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Use of mantras:

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Meditators therefore undertake an inner journey of silence, stillness and simplicity. They embrace poverty of spirit, a radical letting-go, as the primary beatitude of the Kingdom. The way taught by the early desert monks such as John Cassian is to go beyond all distractions of thoughts, words and images. One takes a single sacred word or phrase (a 'mantra') and simply and faithfully repeats it during the period of meditation. John Main recommended the ancient Christian prayer 'maranatha.' In Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, it means "Come Lord Jesus" and should be repeated silently, interiorly, as four equally stressed syllables. Whatever thought, image or feeling comes, simply and faithfully return to the mantra. Two periods of meditation of about 20 to 30 minutes are advisable, at the beginning and end of each day. A quiet time and place, an upright posture, fidelity and perseverance are all that is required.

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Breathing:

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Meditating is actually easier than you might imagine. Most of us have dabbled in meditation by participating in conscious relaxation. Maybe during an exercise class or to manage pain at the dentist or anxiety before a test. We start by paying attention to our breathing. The practical effort to focus completely on our breathing takes our minds away from the "mind clutter" that constantly tries to invade our mind and eliminate feelings that will lead to a time of calm. With repeated effort the goal of clearing your mind – to think of nothing, does occur and the process of meditation takes on its own energy. The result is peace, serenity, calmness, eventually opening yourself to new insights.

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Position:

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Sit comfortably. A quiet place is preferred, but not required.

By "sitting comfortably" is meant relatively comfortably; not so comfortably that we encourage sleep, but sitting comfortably enough to avoid thinking about the discomfort of our bodies during this time of prayer.

Whatever sitting position we choose, we keep the back straight.

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Use of beads:

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Saying the rosary is a form of meditation. In days past penance was not "say 5 hail Mary's," but "say 500 hail Mary's." The interminable repetition of the prayer was mantra-like and penance served not as a punishment, but as a meditation.

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Even so come, Lord Jesus
Linda

True Christian meditation and Prayer
What it is:

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Keeping his eyes fixed on Christ, he is to move steadily forward in the path marked out, discarding all ideas that are not in harmony with His teaching. The truth of God is to be the subject for his contemplation and meditation. He is to regard the Bible as the voice of God speaking directly to him. Thus he will find the wisdom which is divine. {AA 474.2}

Why is it that our youth, and even those of maturer years, are so easily led into temptation and sin? It is because the word of God is not studied and meditated upon as it should be. If it were appreciated, there would be an inward rectitude, a strength of spirit, that would resist the temptations of Satan to do evil. A firm, decided will-power is not brought into the life and character because the sacred instruction of God is not made the study, and the subject of meditation. There is not the effort put forth that there should be to associate the mind with pure, holy thoughts and to divert it from what is impure and untrue. There is not the choosing of the better part, the sitting at the feet of Jesus, as did Mary, to learn the most sacred lessons of the divine Teacher, that they may be laid up in the heart, and practiced in the daily life. Meditation upon holy things will elevate and refine the mind, and will develop Christian ladies and gentlemen.

Prayer is the breath of the soul. It is the secret of spiritual power. No other means of grace can be substituted, and the health of the soul be preserved. Prayer brings the heart into immediate contact with the Well-spring of life, and strengthens the sinew and muscle of the religious experience. Neglect the exercise of prayer, or engage in prayer spasmodically, now and then, as seems convenient, and you lose your hold on God. The spiritual faculties lose their vitality, the religious experience lacks health and vigor. {GW 254.4}

Prayer is the expression of the desires of a soul hungering and thirsting for righteousness. {HP 75.5}

Secret prayer is the strength of the Christian. He cannot live and flourish in the Lord without constant watchfulness and earnest prayer. . . . {HP 218.3}

Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend.

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Use of mantras and rosary beads:

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Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

The heathen looked upon their prayers as having in themselves merit to atone for sin. Hence the longer the prayer the greater the merit. If they could become holy by their own efforts they would have something in themselves in which to rejoice, some ground for boasting. This idea of prayer is an outworking of the principle of self-expiation which lies at the foundation of all systems of false religion. The Pharisees had adopted this pagan idea of prayer, and it is by no means extinct in our day, even among those who profess to be Christians. The repetition of set, customary phrases, when the heart feels no need of God, is of the same character as the "vain repetitions" of the heathen. {MB 86.1}

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Breathing (notice there is nothing about focusing on our breathing during prayer):

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When with earnestness and intensity we breathe a prayer in the name of Christ, there is in that very intensity a pledge from God that He is about to answer our prayer "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." Eph. 3:20. {COL 147.3}
"For we are made a spectacle unto the world, to angels, and to men." God requires us to rise above the world, and breathe the atmosphere of Heaven. Then can you give to Jesus the unreserved devotion of your heart, and the entire obedience of your life. It is not enough for you to pray with your families, and devote a little time to religious exercises in meeting. Is this all that God claims? He requires the whole heart--the undivided affections. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." {RH, March 29, 1870 par. 11}

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Position:

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Luke 22:41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Both in public and in private worship, it is our privilege to bow on our knees before the Lord when we offer our petitions to Him. Jesus, our example, "kneeled down, and prayed." [Luke 22:41.] Of His disciples it is recorded that they, too, "kneeled down, and prayed." [Acts 9:40; 20:36, 21:5.] Paul declared, "I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." [Eph. 3:14.] In confessing before God the sins of Israel, Ezra knelt. [See Ezra 9:5.] Daniel "kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God." [Dan. 6:10.] {GW 178.2}

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Even so come, Lord Jesus
Linda

What of those that, for physical reasons, are unable to kneel?

Is there anything in scripture or SOP that deals with this?

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What is popular is not always right.
What is right is not always popular.
Gerry B.

Gerry, there is information in the SOP about circumstances when we cannot kneel. I don't have it before me at the moment, but I'll find it. Remember, God understands each individual case.

There is so much on this subject and I began with general aspects of meditation and prayer. We can fill in the details as we discuss this topic.

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Even so come, Lord Jesus
Linda

Are there any recorded instances in which the person bowed instead of kneeling?

I ask this as we don't always kneel when we pray in church, etc.

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In His Love, Mercy & Grace

Daryl Fawcett :)