What are the different purposes of meditation? ( in different religions and belief systems)?

Answer 1

Biblical (Christian) mediation is to think about God's word and how it might apply to your life. Christian mediation is to FILL your mind with good thoughts. The Bible does not teach that our God given desires are inherently bad (Unlike Buddha, who did); the Bible teaches that we simply desire the wrong things, so we suffer for it. To change your desires, think about good things instead of bad things. Think about your blessings rather than the things that make you stressed out. Biblical mediation is to "listen" to God by actively using the brain that God created you with.

In contrast, if I may be so bold as to speak for the Buddhists (forgive me if I make a error), eastern style (Buddhist) mediation is an attempt to empty your mind of all thoughts and desires (based on the Buddhist theory that all desire is bad, and being an individual causes suffering). Eastern, or Buddhist style, mediation focuses on things like, "think of the sound of one hand clapping" (I.E.: think of nothing.). The best that I understand it (and I admit that I haven't actually tried it), it is an attempt to EMPTY your mind of bad thoughts.

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Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Psalm 48:9 (NIV)
Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.

Psalm 77:11-13 (NIV)
I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Answer 2

There are different types of meditation and though each type fulfills the same purpose (communing with God/dess) each type goes about it a different way.

The "quiet your mind" sort of meditation was the hardest for me to get used to, because I have OCD and my mind is always going a mile a minute. But once I had that under control, I realized its nice to zone out. With this type of meditation, its like the opposite of prayer. Instead of talking to God/dess, you are listening to him/her. Sometimes I'll meditate this way and focus on a question I need answered. The answers usually come, and usually they aren't the ones I wanted to hear... but they end up being the ones I needed to hear.

With guided meditation, its easier, because someone is explaining to you what you are to visualize. Its easier for most to focus on this, and its easy to commune with deity in a meditation like this, since someone is helping guide you through.

With a moving meditation or a meditation where repetitive chant is used, I find that it puts me in a zone... almost like a trance, where Im thinking of nothing. I feel that its in these types of meditations that deity can reach us through our subconscious.

Thats just my take on the whole thing. I'm Wiccan, by the way. :)

Answer 3

Some form of meditation is found in almost every religion.

It may be used to cultivate physical, mental, and spiritual wellness and strength.

Meditation serves many purposes in Buddhism, and there are different types, techniques and approaches to meditation, each with its own particular purpose. But generally speaking the goals are to liberate oneself, cultivate mindfullness (full consciousness), and to help put an end to selfishness, egotism, ignorance, desire, and suffering. The Buddha provided a great teaching on the practice of mindfulness in the Maha-Satipatthana Sutta.

You may find information on this webpage useful:
http://www.buddhanet.net/ftp10.htm

In my opinion, Buddhanet.net is a great resource to explore to learn more about Buddhism.

EDIT: In response to the post below mine, I offer a minor correction: the Buddha did not teach that all desire was bad. For example, a desire to become enlightened ("hongan" means the 'desire' to become a Buddha; it is a vow that a bodhisattva makes to become a Buddha) or a desire to help others or a desire to live a purposeful and meaningful life are not "bad" desires. And the Buddha taught that selfish desires contribute to suffering, just as is explained in the context of Christianity.

Answer 4

you got it! that is an identical. each and each and every of the international's religions are tied mutually in a unmarried structure or variety. I were studing this for rather a at the same time as. An ex-nun, Karen Armstrong, wrote a e book "A historic past of God, the 4,000 12 months quest of Judiasm, Christianity and Islam" and that i imagine you need to take exhilaration in examining this. She does an striking pastime commencing from the first concepts of gods and godesses and tying them in to what the major religions now count on.

Answer 5

Ummmm.. its mainly to relax and it can be used to focus your life or take your mind off pain...

but I dont meditate so l'm not the best person to answer!

By the way your avatar is funky! I likes

Answer 6

Ground, center and draw on the Earth's energy!
Blessed Be...