Meditation

Meditation

1.Introduction
1. "Meditate" originates from the Latin root "meditatum" which means to ponder
2. Secular as well as religious
3. Different religions provide a variety of meditative practices
4. Can be practised by anyone regardless of religion/cultural background
2.Hinduism
1. Began 5000 years ago 'River Indus'
2. Holy Book = Bhagavad Gita
3. Focus on the calming of the atman (soul)
4. 2 types of meditation = yoga & mindfulness meditation
5. Carl Jung "he who looks outside dreams, he who looks inside awakens"
3.Christianity
1. Lost for a period of time after the mystics, belonged to eastern religions
2. Allows the feeling of complete emptiness, understand Gods true nature
3. Father John Main, Roman Catholic priest and monk...mantra = sacred word
4.Teresa of Avila C16
1. Mystic, deeply religious
2. After becoming a Nun, fell severly ill (malaria)
3. Experienced divine visions and a sense of inner peace
4. Eventually, priests accepted her visions and became known in the community for her writings on love
5.Julian of Norwich C14/15
1. English anchoress
2. Claimed to have received 15 revelations in one day
3. Prolonged states of ecstacy and saw visions for 20 years
6.Buddhists
1. Involves the mind and body (avoid duality)
2. Aim = to become part of the universal consciousness, not a hypnotic state
3. Focus on their breathing and mindfulness when meditating
4. Different types of meditation within Buddhism = concentrative, generative, receptive, reflective
5. Dalai Lama

Resource summary

	Created by lj.willis about 10 years ago