Buddhist Meditation

[mike_mass]

Hi,

I took a stress reduction class last year and part of it was meditation that had somewhat of an eastern flair. Anyway, I have been under stress lately and recently hooked up with a Buddhist meditation group at a local Unitarian Church. We basically just sit there and breath for an hour or so and then there is a spiritual reading. That does not bother me too much and I really feel that the sitting and breathing has helped me with the stress.

The question I have regards bowing after the meditation. As a Christian, can this be construed as worshipping outside of the faith? I'm not sure what we are bowing to, but the people leading the meditation wear these little vestments...which gives the session somewhat of a formal feel.

Any opinions are welcome. Thanks Mike

[stone]

Hi Mike, I am not a christian but I know a little about buddhism I think.
There is no worship in buddhism, perhaps the bowing might be similar to the eastern practice of Namasté, which is a kind of greeting or salutation.

I am not an expert though, just someone with an interest in buddhist meditation and practice, I have just never seen worship mentioned in anything I have read on bhuddhism.

[cmc]

As a Christian, can this be construed as worshipping outside of the faith?

mike,
I'm sure there are some who would see it that way...but I think it's what is in your own heart and mind that counts. If I were to make a bow like that, I would most like be thinking of my God. It means what you intend it to imo.

[Barbara52]

I agree that some (the more fundamental sects) might find a conflict but the way I see it, the bowing is a form of showing respect to those there. And it is what is in your heart that God pays attention to I believe.

[best]

Karate can be a form of religious worship.
Book reading can be a form of religious worship.
Posting on SR can become a form of religious worship.

We can get caught up in anything and everything we do.
People can become so heavenly bound that they become no earthly good as well.
God said He requires mercy not sacrifices.

Two questions I would ask myself...
Is what I am wanting to do or doing replacing God or glorifying God?
Is what I am wanting to do or doing going to give others the wrong impression and thus cause them to think things are ok to do and bring them to sin?

Paul tells us that we are not bound by law. We can do anything we want that is following God's will. Paul also tells us that though we are free to do things... we must also be our brother's keeper (let our actions not become a stumbling block for them)

In my opinion...
Do as your heart tells you but as in any and all cases... anything said by others...test it against God's word.

As for the bowing... You would need ask them.
Whe we bow in Karate...it is a sign of respect towards another.
I would bow to my teacher out of respect and I would bow to another member out of the group in respect for them as well.

[cmc]

an after thought-
One aspect that separates Christian meditation from others is that most eastern religions focus on an 'emptying' of the mind and spirit and the Christian meditation/prayer does the opposite. The only emptying type of activity in the bible is confession of sin, removing sinful thoughts including resentments and of course the giving up of our will to seek His.
Personally, I would not repeat a spiritual prayer of another religion without carefully examining it for some sort of spiritual overtone that is deceptive (seems ok) or contrary to God's word. Instead I would pray for the Holy Spirit to guide me in my prayer and meditation time. I see no reason why I can't be doing that when someone next to me is praying a different prayer.
Another thing I forgot was to ask...how do you feel about this in your gut? That is usually a good indicator if it's right for you or not.