Sing4Him
September 28th, 2007, 11:26 PM
Meditation Techniques vs. The Word Of God
By Ed Tarkowski
Meditation - contemplation - what a mess the church has been sinking into for the past 15 years. After reading up quite a bit on various techniques for meditation and contemplation, I thought I would describe some of the basics of these techniques as I understand them. They may vary in terminology, but the principles and essentials are basically the same.
These techniques don't necessarily require a belief in God. In some forms of meditation, the supposed creative power of the mind is used, and often positive thinking comes into play. Practitioners can be religious or not, young or old, educated or not, but all are told that they can create health, wealth and prosperity.
Meditation is often used to bring physical or mental relief, such as healing, improvement of overall health, relief of stress or anxiety, relaxation, or reduction of the effects of aging. A person creates what he speaks or visualizes: weight loss, habit control, control of stress, worry, fear and the like. These things certainly appeal to the masses, which is one reason for the ongoing rise in such practices among Christians and non-Christians alike. But using meditation to achieve goals like these can, and often do, lead to deeper meditation practices that are religious in nature.
The more spiritual person will practice meditation techniques in order to balance his spiritual makeup or to manifest "gifts" such as astral projection or remote viewing. At an even deeper level, the person reaches for the ultimate experience: discovering his "other" or "true self" (self realization), "God," angels, "spirit guides," or other entities. The ultimate spiritual goal is to be absorbed into, or be fully indwelt by, "God" (whatever that may be to the person). In order for this to take place, the meditator must attain a very deep state of consciousness alteration, where all becomes quiet.
Meditation/contemplation techniques may bring the practitioner to experience any or all of the following three stages:
1. Bring the body to a relaxed state
2. Empty the mind by focusing concentration
3. Connect to an entity
Many New Age gurus, as well as Teresa of Avila, distinguish between meditation and contemplation. According to them, meditation is the process for arriving at the state of contemplation. Total mental silence and physical quietness is achieved through meditation, which leads into contemplation, the non-verbal communication by "God."
None of these things are Scriptural. Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit, who would always remain in the believer:
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
For Catholic mystics, New Agers, and non-Christian meditators, one of the primary purposes of meditation/contemplation is to experience God and be infused with His love. In chapter 25 of her "The Way To Perfection," Teresa of Avila describes the love she experienced during contemplation:
"In case you should think there is little gain to be derived from practising vocal prayer perfectly, I must tell you that, while you are repeating the Paternoster [Our Father] or some other vocal prayer, it is quite possible for the Lord to grant you perfect contemplation. In this way His Majesty shows that He is listening to the person who is addressing Him, and that, in His greatness, He is addressing her, by suspending the understanding, putting a stop to all thought, and, as we say, taking the words out of her mouth, so that even if she wishes to speak she cannot do so, or at any rate not without great difficulty.
"Such a person understands that, without any sound of words, she is being taught by this Divine Master, Who is suspending her faculties, which, if they were to work, would be causing her harm rather than profit. The faculties rejoice without knowing how they rejoice; the soul is enkindled in love without understanding how it loves; it knows that it is rejoicing in the object of its love, yet it does not know how it is rejoicing in it. It is well aware that this is not a joy which can be attained by the understanding; the will embraces it, without understanding how; but, in so far as it can understand anything, it perceives that this is a blessing which could not be gained by the merits of all the trials suffered on earth put together. It is a gift of the Lord of earth and Heaven, Who gives it like the God He is. This, daughters, is perfect contemplation."
But for the Christian, love of God and love of neighbor comes from knowing that Christ loved us first and came into the world to save us from our sins:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
The Lord Jesus then commands us to love one another as He loved us, and gives the power to do so:
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Although Teresa of Avila wrote: "she is being taught by this Divine Master, Who is suspending her faculties," it is not by the suspension of our faculties that we come into the fullness of God's love or by which He teaches us. It is by reading and understanding God's word that we learn to walk in His word, fulfilling the command of Jesus. He said that whoever loves Him keeps His commands, which results in the perfection of His love:
1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Relaxing The Body
The first step in any mystical meditation is always to relax the body. A person is encouraged to find a place where he will not be disturbed, so the meditative process will not be broken. Yoga is often used as a way of bringing the body to a relaxed state. It's not necessary, but what is emphasized is that the body be comfortable in order to avoid distraction. There is a form of yoga where one concentrates on the various parts of the body (arms, legs, etc.) to bring them to a point of relaxation. The adherent is told to concentrate on each part of the body and release tension in each part one by one. If pursuing healing, he visualizes flowing water or rushing air washing away the tensions and anxieties or the impurity of the part of the body that is sick, then visualizes healing coming to that part.
Whether a person is pursuing healing or a deeper spiritual experience, the point throughout the meditative process is to never allow the mind to be distracted. If it does become distracted, repetition of the mantra holds the mind focused until the other thoughts or distractions subside. Sometimes a symbol is pictured in the mind and used instead of, or along with, the verbal mantra. Other practitioners use a phrase from Scripture or even the name of Jesus. But the repetition of Scriptural phrases to attain an altered state of consciousness is not why God gave us Scripture. Scripture was given so that we could understand God and His ways, and our need for Him, by knowing His plan of salvation. Scripture is to be read and studied and understood with a fully alert mind, not used as a technique to bring a person to a state of silence in which he does not or cannot think at all.
According to Teresa, meditation is the focusing on and reflection on some religious theme, often the life of Jesus while on earth. Or it could be the simple process of repeating a prayer, such as the Our Father:
"In case you should think there is little gain to be derived from practising vocal prayer perfectly, I must tell you that, while you are repeating the Paternoster or some other vocal prayer, it is quite possible for the Lord to grant you perfect contemplation" (Ibid.)
After using meditation to bring herself to a place of no distraction, Teresa didn't seem to use words or objects, but concentrated on just "God." When things would try to distract her, she focused more heartily on God until all of the other thoughts ceased.
But none of these techniques are of God, and a Christian should never practice them. They alter the consciousness. In Christian worship, one's emotions come into play and are expressed through the body. For example, if a Christian is anxious, he may raise his arms in praise to God while praying about his anxieties because he knows God cares for him. Often in such situations, he is brought to repentance for previous sinful actions which caused the tensions and anxieties. The blood of Jesus is always available to bring us back to walking in His image and likeness:
1 Pet 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
If a Christian needs healing, he should call for prayer from the elders of the Church:
James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Breathing Exercises
Mystical meditators often use a breathing technique to bring the body into a relaxed state, and in some cases the breathing itself is an actual part of the mantra. A person concentrates on his breath and does not try to control it. Often a two syllable mantra is used, focusing on the first syllable when breathing out, and then on the other when breathing in. Sometimes, the person counts each breath.
Nowhere in Scripture does God condone self-induced altered states of consciousness by the manipulation of our mental or bodily processes. Each man is made of a spirit, soul and body, and God wants each of their functions to work in unison. There is to be no altering of the bodily senses in order to go into a meditative state. Man is the wonder of God's creation and He has designed a person's being to work properly in all of its functions: spiritually, soulishly and physically:
Psa 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
The answer to life's problems is reliance on God while praying for healing, or repenting of sin by which one is cleansed by the blood of Jesus, so that a Christian can live a more abundant life in the Spirit.
Affirmations
If a person is not seeking to attain union with "God," but is only using meditation for emotional or physical healing, he is then told to use affirmations, such as "I am happy," "I am free from pain," "I am filled with love and kindness," etc. Similar techniques are found in the word of faith movement, the affirmation or "positive confession" being the creative power that brings about what one says.
The Christian does not need affirmations. He has a knowledge of the word of God, and through a careful study of God's word under the direction of the Holy Spirit, he knows what to believe God for. In the midst of bad situations, the Spirit of God may bring Scriptures to mind, along with the faith to hold on to what God has promised. His word tells us of the love He has poured into our hearts and how we are to walk in that love:
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.
We dare not mistake the scriptural standing on the word of God for New Age "affirmations." Unfortunately, some have allowed such terminology to enter the Church, confusing important Christian beliefs. First comes the terminology, then confusion, followed eventually by occult practices and/or powers themselves.
Deeper Levels
Often the consciousness is altered through the meditator's visualization of himself as a symbol, such as a candle or a bird. Through such visualization, he "becomes" the symbolic object, and at this point enters a deeper realm of the occult. This is the point at which he is "detached" from his thoughts and bodily senses and enters the state of contemplation, where he can do nothing but wait for "God" to mystically invade him.
What It Means For The Mystic To Achieve Union With God
Teresa of Avila describes how her contemplations resulted in God's "enrapturing of the soul," where union is attained:
"Here we are all asleep, and fast asleep, to the things of the world, and to ourselves (in fact, for the short time that the condition lasts, the soul is without consciousness and has no power to think, even though it may desire to do so). There is no need now for it to devise any method of suspending the thought. Even in loving, if it is able to love, it cannot understand how or what it is that it loves, nor what it would desire; in fact, it has completely died to the world so that it may live more fully in God. This is a delectable death, a snatching of the soul from all the activities which it can perform while it is in the body; a death full of delight, for, in order to come closer to God, the soul appears to have withdrawn so far from the body that I do not know if it has still life enough to be able to breathe. I have just been thinking about this and I believe it has not; or at least, if it still breathes, it does so without realizing it. The mind would like to occupy itself wholly in understanding something of what it feels, and, as it has not the strength to do this, it becomes so dumbfounded that, even if any consciousness remains to it, neither hands nor feet can move; as we commonly say of a person who has fallen into a swoon, it might be taken for dead. Oh, the secrets of God! I should never weary of trying to describe them to you, if I thought I could do so successfully. I do not mind if I write any amount of nonsense, provided that just once in a way I can write sense, so that we may give great praise to the Lord" (Interior Castle, Fifth Mansions, Chapter 1).
"Returning now to what I was saying, the Spouse orders the doors of the Mansions to be shut, and even those of the Castle and its enclosure. For when He means to enrapture this soul, it loses its power of breathing, with the result that, although its other senses sometimes remain active a little longer, it cannot possibly speak. At other times it loses all its powers at once, and the hands and the body grow so cold that the body seems no longer to have a soul -- sometimes it even seems doubtful if there is any breath in the body. This lasts only for a short time (I mean, only for a short period at any one time) because, when this profound suspension lifts a little, the body seems to come partly to itself again, and draws breath, though only to die once more, and, in doing so, to give fuller life to the soul. Complete ecstasy, therefore, does not last long.
"But, although relief comes, the ecstasy has the effect of leaving the will so completely absorbed and the understanding so completely transported -- for as long as a day, or even for several days -- that the soul seems incapable of grasping anything that does not awaken the will to love; to this it is fully awake, while asleep as regards all that concerns attachment to any creature.
"Oh, what confusion the soul feels when it comes to itself again and what ardent desires it has to be used for God in any and every way in which He may be pleased to employ it!. . . ." (Interior Castle, Sixth Mansions, Chapter 4).
Much ion these quotes reminds us of the Toronto experience. But, God has given us His word so we understand who Jesus is. In this understanding, we have eternal life:
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
The meditation/contemplation prayer of the mystics is often simply called "prayer." Paul's prayer is much different from the mystics', yet he includes in his prayers all that they seek. Here are two of Paul's prayers for you to ponder:
Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Col 1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
http://www.velocity.net/~edju/NewsV3N15.htm
By Ed Tarkowski
Meditation - contemplation - what a mess the church has been sinking into for the past 15 years. After reading up quite a bit on various techniques for meditation and contemplation, I thought I would describe some of the basics of these techniques as I understand them. They may vary in terminology, but the principles and essentials are basically the same.
These techniques don't necessarily require a belief in God. In some forms of meditation, the supposed creative power of the mind is used, and often positive thinking comes into play. Practitioners can be religious or not, young or old, educated or not, but all are told that they can create health, wealth and prosperity.
Meditation is often used to bring physical or mental relief, such as healing, improvement of overall health, relief of stress or anxiety, relaxation, or reduction of the effects of aging. A person creates what he speaks or visualizes: weight loss, habit control, control of stress, worry, fear and the like. These things certainly appeal to the masses, which is one reason for the ongoing rise in such practices among Christians and non-Christians alike. But using meditation to achieve goals like these can, and often do, lead to deeper meditation practices that are religious in nature.
The more spiritual person will practice meditation techniques in order to balance his spiritual makeup or to manifest "gifts" such as astral projection or remote viewing. At an even deeper level, the person reaches for the ultimate experience: discovering his "other" or "true self" (self realization), "God," angels, "spirit guides," or other entities. The ultimate spiritual goal is to be absorbed into, or be fully indwelt by, "God" (whatever that may be to the person). In order for this to take place, the meditator must attain a very deep state of consciousness alteration, where all becomes quiet.
Meditation/contemplation techniques may bring the practitioner to experience any or all of the following three stages:
1. Bring the body to a relaxed state
2. Empty the mind by focusing concentration
3. Connect to an entity
Many New Age gurus, as well as Teresa of Avila, distinguish between meditation and contemplation. According to them, meditation is the process for arriving at the state of contemplation. Total mental silence and physical quietness is achieved through meditation, which leads into contemplation, the non-verbal communication by "God."
None of these things are Scriptural. Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit, who would always remain in the believer:
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
For Catholic mystics, New Agers, and non-Christian meditators, one of the primary purposes of meditation/contemplation is to experience God and be infused with His love. In chapter 25 of her "The Way To Perfection," Teresa of Avila describes the love she experienced during contemplation:
"In case you should think there is little gain to be derived from practising vocal prayer perfectly, I must tell you that, while you are repeating the Paternoster [Our Father] or some other vocal prayer, it is quite possible for the Lord to grant you perfect contemplation. In this way His Majesty shows that He is listening to the person who is addressing Him, and that, in His greatness, He is addressing her, by suspending the understanding, putting a stop to all thought, and, as we say, taking the words out of her mouth, so that even if she wishes to speak she cannot do so, or at any rate not without great difficulty.
"Such a person understands that, without any sound of words, she is being taught by this Divine Master, Who is suspending her faculties, which, if they were to work, would be causing her harm rather than profit. The faculties rejoice without knowing how they rejoice; the soul is enkindled in love without understanding how it loves; it knows that it is rejoicing in the object of its love, yet it does not know how it is rejoicing in it. It is well aware that this is not a joy which can be attained by the understanding; the will embraces it, without understanding how; but, in so far as it can understand anything, it perceives that this is a blessing which could not be gained by the merits of all the trials suffered on earth put together. It is a gift of the Lord of earth and Heaven, Who gives it like the God He is. This, daughters, is perfect contemplation."
But for the Christian, love of God and love of neighbor comes from knowing that Christ loved us first and came into the world to save us from our sins:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
The Lord Jesus then commands us to love one another as He loved us, and gives the power to do so:
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Although Teresa of Avila wrote: "she is being taught by this Divine Master, Who is suspending her faculties," it is not by the suspension of our faculties that we come into the fullness of God's love or by which He teaches us. It is by reading and understanding God's word that we learn to walk in His word, fulfilling the command of Jesus. He said that whoever loves Him keeps His commands, which results in the perfection of His love:
1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Relaxing The Body
The first step in any mystical meditation is always to relax the body. A person is encouraged to find a place where he will not be disturbed, so the meditative process will not be broken. Yoga is often used as a way of bringing the body to a relaxed state. It's not necessary, but what is emphasized is that the body be comfortable in order to avoid distraction. There is a form of yoga where one concentrates on the various parts of the body (arms, legs, etc.) to bring them to a point of relaxation. The adherent is told to concentrate on each part of the body and release tension in each part one by one. If pursuing healing, he visualizes flowing water or rushing air washing away the tensions and anxieties or the impurity of the part of the body that is sick, then visualizes healing coming to that part.
Whether a person is pursuing healing or a deeper spiritual experience, the point throughout the meditative process is to never allow the mind to be distracted. If it does become distracted, repetition of the mantra holds the mind focused until the other thoughts or distractions subside. Sometimes a symbol is pictured in the mind and used instead of, or along with, the verbal mantra. Other practitioners use a phrase from Scripture or even the name of Jesus. But the repetition of Scriptural phrases to attain an altered state of consciousness is not why God gave us Scripture. Scripture was given so that we could understand God and His ways, and our need for Him, by knowing His plan of salvation. Scripture is to be read and studied and understood with a fully alert mind, not used as a technique to bring a person to a state of silence in which he does not or cannot think at all.
According to Teresa, meditation is the focusing on and reflection on some religious theme, often the life of Jesus while on earth. Or it could be the simple process of repeating a prayer, such as the Our Father:
"In case you should think there is little gain to be derived from practising vocal prayer perfectly, I must tell you that, while you are repeating the Paternoster or some other vocal prayer, it is quite possible for the Lord to grant you perfect contemplation" (Ibid.)
After using meditation to bring herself to a place of no distraction, Teresa didn't seem to use words or objects, but concentrated on just "God." When things would try to distract her, she focused more heartily on God until all of the other thoughts ceased.
But none of these techniques are of God, and a Christian should never practice them. They alter the consciousness. In Christian worship, one's emotions come into play and are expressed through the body. For example, if a Christian is anxious, he may raise his arms in praise to God while praying about his anxieties because he knows God cares for him. Often in such situations, he is brought to repentance for previous sinful actions which caused the tensions and anxieties. The blood of Jesus is always available to bring us back to walking in His image and likeness:
1 Pet 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
If a Christian needs healing, he should call for prayer from the elders of the Church:
James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Breathing Exercises
Mystical meditators often use a breathing technique to bring the body into a relaxed state, and in some cases the breathing itself is an actual part of the mantra. A person concentrates on his breath and does not try to control it. Often a two syllable mantra is used, focusing on the first syllable when breathing out, and then on the other when breathing in. Sometimes, the person counts each breath.
Nowhere in Scripture does God condone self-induced altered states of consciousness by the manipulation of our mental or bodily processes. Each man is made of a spirit, soul and body, and God wants each of their functions to work in unison. There is to be no altering of the bodily senses in order to go into a meditative state. Man is the wonder of God's creation and He has designed a person's being to work properly in all of its functions: spiritually, soulishly and physically:
Psa 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
The answer to life's problems is reliance on God while praying for healing, or repenting of sin by which one is cleansed by the blood of Jesus, so that a Christian can live a more abundant life in the Spirit.
Affirmations
If a person is not seeking to attain union with "God," but is only using meditation for emotional or physical healing, he is then told to use affirmations, such as "I am happy," "I am free from pain," "I am filled with love and kindness," etc. Similar techniques are found in the word of faith movement, the affirmation or "positive confession" being the creative power that brings about what one says.
The Christian does not need affirmations. He has a knowledge of the word of God, and through a careful study of God's word under the direction of the Holy Spirit, he knows what to believe God for. In the midst of bad situations, the Spirit of God may bring Scriptures to mind, along with the faith to hold on to what God has promised. His word tells us of the love He has poured into our hearts and how we are to walk in that love:
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.
We dare not mistake the scriptural standing on the word of God for New Age "affirmations." Unfortunately, some have allowed such terminology to enter the Church, confusing important Christian beliefs. First comes the terminology, then confusion, followed eventually by occult practices and/or powers themselves.
Deeper Levels
Often the consciousness is altered through the meditator's visualization of himself as a symbol, such as a candle or a bird. Through such visualization, he "becomes" the symbolic object, and at this point enters a deeper realm of the occult. This is the point at which he is "detached" from his thoughts and bodily senses and enters the state of contemplation, where he can do nothing but wait for "God" to mystically invade him.
What It Means For The Mystic To Achieve Union With God
Teresa of Avila describes how her contemplations resulted in God's "enrapturing of the soul," where union is attained:
"Here we are all asleep, and fast asleep, to the things of the world, and to ourselves (in fact, for the short time that the condition lasts, the soul is without consciousness and has no power to think, even though it may desire to do so). There is no need now for it to devise any method of suspending the thought. Even in loving, if it is able to love, it cannot understand how or what it is that it loves, nor what it would desire; in fact, it has completely died to the world so that it may live more fully in God. This is a delectable death, a snatching of the soul from all the activities which it can perform while it is in the body; a death full of delight, for, in order to come closer to God, the soul appears to have withdrawn so far from the body that I do not know if it has still life enough to be able to breathe. I have just been thinking about this and I believe it has not; or at least, if it still breathes, it does so without realizing it. The mind would like to occupy itself wholly in understanding something of what it feels, and, as it has not the strength to do this, it becomes so dumbfounded that, even if any consciousness remains to it, neither hands nor feet can move; as we commonly say of a person who has fallen into a swoon, it might be taken for dead. Oh, the secrets of God! I should never weary of trying to describe them to you, if I thought I could do so successfully. I do not mind if I write any amount of nonsense, provided that just once in a way I can write sense, so that we may give great praise to the Lord" (Interior Castle, Fifth Mansions, Chapter 1).
"Returning now to what I was saying, the Spouse orders the doors of the Mansions to be shut, and even those of the Castle and its enclosure. For when He means to enrapture this soul, it loses its power of breathing, with the result that, although its other senses sometimes remain active a little longer, it cannot possibly speak. At other times it loses all its powers at once, and the hands and the body grow so cold that the body seems no longer to have a soul -- sometimes it even seems doubtful if there is any breath in the body. This lasts only for a short time (I mean, only for a short period at any one time) because, when this profound suspension lifts a little, the body seems to come partly to itself again, and draws breath, though only to die once more, and, in doing so, to give fuller life to the soul. Complete ecstasy, therefore, does not last long.
"But, although relief comes, the ecstasy has the effect of leaving the will so completely absorbed and the understanding so completely transported -- for as long as a day, or even for several days -- that the soul seems incapable of grasping anything that does not awaken the will to love; to this it is fully awake, while asleep as regards all that concerns attachment to any creature.
"Oh, what confusion the soul feels when it comes to itself again and what ardent desires it has to be used for God in any and every way in which He may be pleased to employ it!. . . ." (Interior Castle, Sixth Mansions, Chapter 4).
Much ion these quotes reminds us of the Toronto experience. But, God has given us His word so we understand who Jesus is. In this understanding, we have eternal life:
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
The meditation/contemplation prayer of the mystics is often simply called "prayer." Paul's prayer is much different from the mystics', yet he includes in his prayers all that they seek. Here are two of Paul's prayers for you to ponder:
Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Col 1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
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