Babylon is fallen, is fallen,...
Come out of her, my people,
Revelation 14:8/18:4
Come out of her, my people,
Revelation 14:8/18:4
There seems to be some Evangelicals stilling the "Monkey Mind" on the Streets of Babylon...
"Evangelical Christian Thoughts about “Mindfulness”.
I will now describe in a very general way what “Mindfulness” is—as a counseling technique designed to help clients/patients cope with stress and anxiety. To most non-Christian therapists its closest analog is Zen meditation. Some Zen masters have called it “stilling the ‘monkey mind’.” The idea is to empty the mind of analytical thoughts, perhaps all thoughts, and focusing the mind on being
present in the moment without judgment. It is, therefore, a meditative relaxation technique and has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety when practiced under the guidance and care of a trained therapist.
Now, also at great risk of being contradicted, I will attempt to describe in a very general way what “contemplative Christianity” is—as a spiritual practice designed to help Christians commune with God and overcome focus on self in prayer. Two of the leading advocates of contemplative Christianity are Basil Pennington and Thomas Keating. One could also reach back to mention Thomas Merton. Advocates of contemplative Christianity build on the mystical tradition of especially Catholic Christianity to teach a form of prayer that does not use words. I think that is key to contemplative Christianity—to pray without words. In such prayer one focuses on being receptive to God while avoiding “talking to” God.
Much contemporary “Mindfulness” theory includes—whether this is mentioned to clients/patients or not—some idea of “union with the All” or “union with the sacred,” etc., that comes together with dissolution of self." Patheos
