Here are some quotes from the article above:
"Practicing Mindfulness as moment-to-moment, nonjudgmental awareness supposedly prepares one for a breakthrough in perception, an awakening to reality, which is formlessness (sunyata, usually translated as "emptiness")."
"Because there is no permanent content to the present moment since it comes and goes, eventually a state of no-thinking is reached. The goal is to divorce the mind and thinking process from one's observation so that the meditator realizes that he is not his thoughts, eventually understanding that the "I" observing the thoughts (called the Witness) is not the conventional self, but rather the universal or Buddha self (terms vary). This Buddha self is the Buddha nature of the universe, which is the only permanent reality."
Sorry about all the bold. I'm just emphasizing certain statements.
The author of this article, who practiced this form of meditation, uses the terms "emptiness" and "state of no-thinking" (which are used by Buddhists) as the goals of mindfulness. The "universal self" is not the person God created us to be, but it's the "Buddha nature of the universe." This goes back to the pantheistic belief of Buddhism that "all that exists is God," which is completely contrary to how God presents Himself in the Bible.
I'm having a hard time understanding why you don't see a problem with this. Do you believe that the Bible teaches the truth about who God is? Or are you open to believing that "all that exists is God"?
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I am not a pantheist...i know that God is separate from his creation. I think we are getting caught up on the word ‘emptiness’ - emptiness is more of a perception than a state of being.....it is a perspective of a witness - our true self...watching our own thoughts and feelings as seperate from our true self. The psychological term is called metacognition and it is an important skill to develop in yourself because perspective on your own ideas amd concepts helps you not over-identify with the roles you play in this world.
I believe we are called to witness the world as it is under the reign of Satan and the consequences of the Fall. This world is in essence an alternate reality, which thanks to us has run amuk and is currently circling the drain. We are guilty and responsoble for this train wreck amd we need Jesus as our savior.
We are called to resist this worldliness by learning and practicing perfect love. Only perfect love drives out sin - it is in fact the opposite of sin.
Buddhists call the world an illusion - i call it an alternate reality.....they are pretty similar concepts. Christianity has also taught the concept of diefication, which I tend to interpret as God making us perfect human beings and part of the Body of Christ - Christ is fully human - a perfect lover from birth. We will become fully human just like Christ when God perfects us as perfect lovers, as we were created to be. .
I do believe in a triune, omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent God, i have know him and i have experienced his love and my hope is to become a perfect lover when I kneel before Him. In the meantime I am practicing my sanctification by loving my neighbor imperfectly, but improving as I walk the path I have been called to walk. When i see tools to help me along the way I pick them up and use them.....meditation and mindfulness are two tools I use.
I appreciate our conversation. We do not have to agree on everything - i could be wrong.....I am not afraid of being wrong anymore. All I care about is loving, praying, and worshipping.