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Posted May 14, 2012 by Henry Robert Kimball in Meditations
To meditate is to reflect,think, or consider, ponder on someTHING.
Taking time to be still and 'let go' of all thought is valuable as an exercise in material awareness and practicing listening to material nature for ones own satisfaction. Simply it is calming the mind body for ones own benefit. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.
This practice is not meditation. It is what it is, but it is NOT meditation, for one single reason. The idea that one can become aware of nothingness isn't possible. To focus on NOTHING is not meditation. Meditation is the focus on SOMETHING.
Also there is a much more evident difference between those that actually practice this form of listening for nothing, and those that actually meditate.
I've witnessed it. The 'listeners' pull away from humanity and are very calm, and almost attractive people; until you come to realize their so called 'spiritual' activities serve only themselves. It makes sense; after all they are only interested in seeking nothing from a void they believe exist. It becomes obvious that it is the 'stillness' that they practice. They manage to only become calm, for themselves and what they want. You can't get something out of nothing. That's a fact, that cannot be argued.
What I find mostly is just people that read books on so-called meditation, but really don't even practice that. Maybe they tried it once or twice; so now they believe what they read about 'meditation'. Mostly they are intellectually self sufficient men or woman who could really care less about their neighbor, never mind the rest of humanity. These people need to have a chink discovered in the armor their ego has built through which the light of reason can shine.
All things that come from the Creator are USEFUL for us to help someone else. A person can become happy and content in living, as the direct result of serving God. None of a God fearing individuals intentions are ever to please himself; yet he seeks for no more than he has. THAT is the MIRACLE of doing God's Will. It baffles me when I consistently hear people ask and wonder what God's will is for them; as if it has something to do with the pleasing of their instincts; like a job, or a relationship, or moving to another city; when it is clear that history is filled with stories of God HELPING OTHERS. It is so simple and clear what God wants from us; and what God's will is.
I am surrounded by people that 'get it'. They know as well as I do that the problem we ALL share is SELFISHNESS. We ask God for direction and guidance in any situations that we are unsure of; and then we RELAX AND TAKE IT EASY ABOUT IT. At once we turn our attention to someone we can help. That could be any help. Like taking my neighbor's trash to the curb to going to the local shelter to actually ask someone how they are doing; and then actually listening WITHOUT thinking about what I want to say. THERE ARE ALWAYS opportunities to help someone else. God don't care where I live or where I work or who I marry. God gave me a brain to use. We need to make mistakes in order to grow and become even MORE useful to others. As a matter of fact; the most effective people I see helping other, are the people who really screwed the pooch in living before they turned to God. Listening for the void will not make you perfect. It is NOT the deal with God. God doesn't need saints; He wants WORKERS.
I can hear it now....BUT what about....??
They only way to a truly spiritual life is prayer and self sacrifice, by picking up our feet and working for others as if our lives depended on it; because it does. There are no answers or faith before it. DOING IT brings the answers. Faith without Works is dead.
Here's the acid test: If what you call meditation brings you inspiration and answers on how to be more useful and effective, PRIMARILY; then it is meditation. If what you call meditation DOESN'T do that,then it is mental masturbation, and nothing else.
Taking time to be still and 'let go' of all thought is valuable as an exercise in material awareness and practicing listening to material nature for ones own satisfaction. Simply it is calming the mind body for ones own benefit. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.
This practice is not meditation. It is what it is, but it is NOT meditation, for one single reason. The idea that one can become aware of nothingness isn't possible. To focus on NOTHING is not meditation. Meditation is the focus on SOMETHING.
Also there is a much more evident difference between those that actually practice this form of listening for nothing, and those that actually meditate.
I've witnessed it. The 'listeners' pull away from humanity and are very calm, and almost attractive people; until you come to realize their so called 'spiritual' activities serve only themselves. It makes sense; after all they are only interested in seeking nothing from a void they believe exist. It becomes obvious that it is the 'stillness' that they practice. They manage to only become calm, for themselves and what they want. You can't get something out of nothing. That's a fact, that cannot be argued.
What I find mostly is just people that read books on so-called meditation, but really don't even practice that. Maybe they tried it once or twice; so now they believe what they read about 'meditation'. Mostly they are intellectually self sufficient men or woman who could really care less about their neighbor, never mind the rest of humanity. These people need to have a chink discovered in the armor their ego has built through which the light of reason can shine.
All things that come from the Creator are USEFUL for us to help someone else. A person can become happy and content in living, as the direct result of serving God. None of a God fearing individuals intentions are ever to please himself; yet he seeks for no more than he has. THAT is the MIRACLE of doing God's Will. It baffles me when I consistently hear people ask and wonder what God's will is for them; as if it has something to do with the pleasing of their instincts; like a job, or a relationship, or moving to another city; when it is clear that history is filled with stories of God HELPING OTHERS. It is so simple and clear what God wants from us; and what God's will is.
I am surrounded by people that 'get it'. They know as well as I do that the problem we ALL share is SELFISHNESS. We ask God for direction and guidance in any situations that we are unsure of; and then we RELAX AND TAKE IT EASY ABOUT IT. At once we turn our attention to someone we can help. That could be any help. Like taking my neighbor's trash to the curb to going to the local shelter to actually ask someone how they are doing; and then actually listening WITHOUT thinking about what I want to say. THERE ARE ALWAYS opportunities to help someone else. God don't care where I live or where I work or who I marry. God gave me a brain to use. We need to make mistakes in order to grow and become even MORE useful to others. As a matter of fact; the most effective people I see helping other, are the people who really screwed the pooch in living before they turned to God. Listening for the void will not make you perfect. It is NOT the deal with God. God doesn't need saints; He wants WORKERS.
I can hear it now....BUT what about....??
They only way to a truly spiritual life is prayer and self sacrifice, by picking up our feet and working for others as if our lives depended on it; because it does. There are no answers or faith before it. DOING IT brings the answers. Faith without Works is dead.
Here's the acid test: If what you call meditation brings you inspiration and answers on how to be more useful and effective, PRIMARILY; then it is meditation. If what you call meditation DOESN'T do that,then it is mental masturbation, and nothing else.
English (US) 