What Buddhists believe
Meditation and mindfulness
Buddhist meditation trains attention to see impermanence and not-self. Christian meditation fills the mind with God's word. The difference is the object.
Mindfulness in the discourses
The Discourse on Mindfulness Meditation teaches observing the body, feelings, mind and principles, in order to purify beings and realise extinguishment. In Buddhism, meditation is not relaxation; it is the training that leads out of the cycle of rebirth.
“Mendicants, the four kinds of mindfulness meditation are the path to convergence. They are in order to purify sentient beings, to get past sorrow and crying, to make an end of pain and sadness, to discover the system, and to realize extinguishment.
Majjhima Nikaya 10:2.1, Mindfulness Meditation (tr. Bhikkhu Sujato) · context
What four? It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of the mind—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world.
Majjhima Nikaya 10:3.1-3.5, Mindfulness Meditation (tr. Bhikkhu Sujato) · context
Christian meditation
The Bible commends stillness and meditation too, but its meditation is full, not empty: it fills the mind with God's word, his works and his character, and it turns into prayer, speaking to a God who listens.
1Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in Yahweh’s law. On his law he meditates day and night.
Psalms 1:1-2 (WEB) · context
10“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted on the earth.”
Psalms 46:10 (WEB) · context
11I will remember Yah’s deeds; for I will remember your wonders of old. 12I will also meditate on all your work, and consider your doings.
Psalms 77:11-12 (WEB) · context
8Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8 (WEB) · context
Can a Christian practise mindfulness?
Paying careful attention, calming the breath and noticing your thoughts are human skills, and secular programmes use them for stress. The question is what they serve. A Christian brings every thought captive to Christ and casts every anxiety on God, who cares.
5throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
2 Corinthians 10:5 (WEB) · context
7casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (WEB) · context
Sources
- Earliest source Majjhima Nikaya 10 (Satipatthana Sutta). Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0), SuttaCentral.