Recently I have been enjoying a good book: Meditation For the Love of It by Sally Kempton. While teaching me much about meditation and evoking a personal thirst for the practice myself, I am also learning to compare and contrast the philosophies of Buddhism and Christianity. The philosophy, as presented in the yoga culture, sounds beautiful and is in many ways. I find myself adopting quotes from their gurus that speak truth and inspiration into life.
Like “Throw away all thoughts of imaginary things and stand firm in that which you know.” Kabir.
I like it. And used within my own personal context, it works.
But it is a slow fade before you realize you are smiling at quotes like: “The greatest gift God can give is His own experience. Every object, every creature, every man, woman, and child has a soul and it is the destiny of all to see as God sees, to know as God knows, to feel as God feels, to be as God is.” Meister Ekhart.
Be as God is? Yoga talks a lot about finding divinity in everything, including yourself. As if all that we need is already within us. I love learning more about my faith through the great minds of other cultures but discernment is a necessary skill that I encourage all Christians to use, especially if you are practicing outside of a Christian atmosphere.
What do you think of these two above quotes? Can you take something good from it? Can you leave something you feel is contrary to the Christian faith? How would you interpret them in the context of meditation?
