Article: Comparative Religion Meditation 101: What is meditation for Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews and Hindus?

In his book, Mans Eternal Quest, Paramahansa Yogananda said, Learn to shut out of your consciousness all sounds and other earthly distractions. As soon as your consciousness is right, God is there. He isnt hiding from you; you are hiding from him. Its true; were so caught up in ourselves that we put God on the back burner. Meditation helps us quiet our lives and our minds so that we can connect with God on a very intimate level. The word meditation is sometimes misunderstood and in some circles it is deemed as something sacrilegious. There is this misconception that meditation is just some kind of FarEast religious black magic. Oxford American Dictionaries definition may be the best because its quite generalized, allowing for the encompassment of many of the worlds religious practices. It says, the act of thinking deeply or focusing ones mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation. You may be surprised to find out that meditation is a practice that all of the major world religions have in common. Whether youre Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Hindu or Jewish, meditation is one of the teachings we share across theologies. Buddhist meditation: Unlike other religions, Buddhists dont necessarily meditate to get closer to God. There are two main kinds of Buddhist meditation: meditation for insight and meditation for relaxation. The two most popular of these are Anapana Sati, or mindfulness breathing and Metta Bhavana, or loving kindness meditation. The Buddhas created meditation techniques for overcoming specific obstacles such as depression and stress and others for finding peace, stillness and quieting of the mind. Mantra is an important part of Buddhist meditation. Christian meditation: Christian meditation is a way of being silent and contemplating scripture, God or prayer. According to Psalm 46:10, it is a way of knowing God. There is talk about meditation through the Bible. Joshua 1:8 says, This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. In Philippians 4:8 Paul teaches us how to meditate on things that are true, pure and positive. Psalm 119:99 says, I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. The Bible says we can find happiness through meditation in Psalm 1:2, which says, But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. Christian meditation is intended for deepening the meaning of verses in the Bible and for stimulating thought. In a sense, it is a type of deep contemplative prayer. The Bible teaches that one way of meditating is to meditate on the scripture of the Bible. As an example, please click here to download a meditation on Psalm 63. Islamic meditation: Salat, which is performed 5 times a day, is the most common form of meditation among Muslims. Several chapters of the Quran mention meditation, such as chapter 17 verses 79-80, which say, During the night, you shall meditate for extra credit, that your Lord may raise you to an honorable rank. And say, My Lord, admit me an honorable admittance, and let me depart an honorable departure, and grant me from You a powerful support. Christianity and Islam both teach that meditation is more effective at night. Sufi Muslims often meditate on one or more of the 99 names of Allah. In addition to salat, Sufis also meditate much like those of far eastern religions. This type of meditation is

called Muruqaba, which means to watch over ones soul. It is done to become closer to God, increase awareness and let go of the ego. In the book Awakening: A Sufi Experience, P.V.I. Khan says, The secret of Sufism is to shift from our personal viewpoint to the Divine. The lost knowledge of the Universe from which we are created still resides within our consciousness. We can retrieve it by deepening and expanding our consciousness through meditation, prayer, and glorification. The goal in meditation is to reconnect our personal self to the transpersonal dimensions of our being. Hindu meditation: "My meditation is simple. It does not require any complex practices. It is simple. It is singing. It is dancing. It is sitting silently" Osho Osho presents a perfect explanation of meditation in Hinduism. In Hinduism meditation can be anything from bringing consciousness to every action to relinquishing the mind of thoughts and simply being. According to Hinduism, through meditation one perceives the self within oneself. Meditation shuts out the ego so that the true self can be known. Mantra is one important element of Hindu meditation. Below is an informative video about Hindu meditation from author, Dr. Deepak Chopra. Jewish meditation: Meditation in Judaism comes in the form of contemplative thought and prayer. Meditation in Judaism is done to replenish the soul, just as food replenishes the body. It also stills the mind, clears it and relaxes it. Another beautiful benefit of Jewish meditation is to increase awareness of the needs of others. There are many techniques of Jewish meditation that include music, visualizations, mantras and prayer. Some Jews, especially Kabbalists, meditate on the 72 names of God.