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I couldn't make up my mind as to whether to post this thread in Religion or Health since meditation is a religious practice that affects ones health, and not always for the better. So for those that wish to read the thread and add to it it is in the Religion section of City-Data. And so to prevent cross posting it would be best probably to post in that forum.
The only way I can see it being bad, is if you meditated all day long and completely avoided attending to the other parts of your life. IMO, meditation has nothing to do with religion. To me it is simply a common sense health practice.
I consider it this way; prayer is talking to God and meditation is listening to God.
If I don't tie meditation into God, then I'm doing it wrong. There are those out there who are using prayer and meditation constantly. They lead a life that may look to be deprived to the "outside" world. The saintly life probably won't land you on the Forbes List.
Who lead a more productive life, Mother Teresa or Bill Gates?
Most of my mentors encourage you to be careful with meditation and practice it. If you are not spiritual but benefit from it physiologically, who can argue with it?
McGowdog wrote:
I consider it this way; prayer is talking to God and meditation is listening to God.
I agree with your assessment, and I would add that relating to God via prayer or meditation requires no religious component. It works best for me without the hindrance of religious intervention.
But one walking the spiritual path might be encouraged to be quick to see where religious people are right and make use of what they offer. Religion adds purpose and direction to millions, if not billions.
When people use religion for Power and Control, then you get what we've seen over the last 5 or 6 thousand years.
The only claim that I can make about spirituality is that there is a God and it's not me!
The only claim that I can make about spirituality is that there is a God and it's not me!
No argument from me!
In my mind however, I make a distinction between religion and spirituality. Do you also make that distinction? I might add that I often practice meditation without a spiritual element, while other times it has a definite spiritual flavor. ALL of my meditations are completely free of an religious overtones and undertones whatsoever. I always keep religion out of the equation completely and absolutely. Not that there is anything wrong with doing so. It's simply a personal preference. Meditation is one of my favorite ways of relaxing and mitigating the stress in my life.
I try to have an open mind with religion. That's hard to do.
I try to have a vertical relationship with my Creator and a horizontal relation with the human race.
I've heard it said that religion is driven by the fear of going to Hell and saving one's soul while spirituality is about having been to Hell and saving one's AGHGGHGHGH$$!
I'm curious about religion and am confused on which brand to follow. When I get with this religion, those guys over there tell me it's the wrong one and I'm going to Hell. Then this religion over here damns that one to Hell. I'm just so confused about it all and to me, spirituality sets that argument aside and says to look at Morality like this; Does it work?
We that live in North America have religious freedom and I am basically responsible for where I am today. I think we humans are blessed with an awesome opportunity and with a conscience. Attitude and perspective go a long way. If I'm doing the right thing and sacrificing my wants for my needs, I live pretty happily. It's that simple.
There have been some awesome things that I've seen in meditation and if you don't use it, I'm not interested in your opinion of something you know nothing about through your personal experience. If you've done it and have some experience with it, I'd like to rap with you about it.
I gave you guys a link to where it is being discussed because we are not suppose to cross post. I will close the link so people can go there instead. Still it was nice having everyone's opinion. That thread on City Data in the Religion forum is really interesting.
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