why do people lump meditation in with religion?

Question

if you suggest that meditation should be taught in schools- some people say it would be the same as teaching prayer. how is meditation anything like prayer? also, check this out and tell me what you think... http://www.davidlynchfoundation.org/ - the david lynch foundation for consciousness education and world peace

Answer 1

because it is all baloney

Answer 2

I agree with you that meditation is useful psychologically and physically and can be done with a secular outlook. I am an atheist, but I practice Buddhism and meditate everyday. I do see meditation as being lumped together with my philosophy (I see it as a philosophy rather than a religion since I accept very little of it based on faith) because the end purpose of my meditation is not relaxation or concentration, but rather it is awareness of emptiness and impermanence in my everyday life. For another person, the meditation might be done in order to channel chakra energy. It's the same thing with yoga. It seems like these two practices are only exercised outside the context of a religious philosophy in the West.

The positive results of meditation that are frequently publicized can occur independent of religion so long as one is motivated to put effort into it regularly. But it's probably the Western bias of thinking that anything that comes from the East that was originally associated with some spiritual/religious belief has no real medical/scientific/educational value. You probably won't hear too much about acupuncture in medical schools today either. People seem to just associate meditation with mystical wise men in some far off land talking about dragons, flowing energy, lotuses, and other crazy things.

But I am very intrigued and inspired by the link that you provided. I didn't realize that TM worked that quickly and I keep forgetting that every slight bit of experiential progress is manifested physically in the brain. To think of it that way and imagine all these neural tissues connecting together in the front of my head makes any psychological results seem more permanent and concrete. : ) Even though it's that way with anything that we think.

Answer 3

Because meditation is peace. Peace comes from God. So often we are too busy to see of think clearly. We miss out on hearing the voice of God, speaking to our hearts and minds. Sometimes causing us to make wrong choices. At some point in time, we must be still in order receive spiritual guidance, if that is what we are seeking. This might be considered a form of prayer. Often we simply meditate in order to clear our minds, which helps us to make intelligent decisions. Bottom line, we determine what we use our thought process ability for, during meditation - spiritual or not, it comes from God.

Answer 4

Because several religions use meditation as a tool for raising consciousness. Therefore, in the mind of a lot of Christians, meditation = religious thingy them pagans do.

Answer 5

I would estimate 80% of people are just uninformed yet rush to judgment. It's in our nature to think we know more than we do. Particularly when others are watching. Ordinary people will say what ever it takes to make them look good or intellectual. Those with higher degrees of common sense and open mindedness can understand the deeper definitions to a good-many things. As for the rest of us, we simply must smile and say "you're and idiot." Here is the real question: do I know what I am talking about or am I just saying what ever it takes to make me look intellectual? Hmmmmm ... Here is a hint: I did have to use the Spelling Checker. Or did I. Hmmmmm ...

Answer 6

well - when parying olot of realigions take a special body movement and siting forms like meditation ...
In state of meditation brain can easily show you cleared true or some think , becouse it's not disturbed of environment ...
( This is explanation of "revelations" in religious writings :) )
you start revelation to yourself :)

Well - to be teached in schoools - it shall not be ...
this is descision which shall be taken individual
and at late age ... - not young than 17-18 years ... becouse hard "revelations" can damage childhood in some way...

Anyway - it's good in schools to start with teaching some defensive concentrating martial art - like Aikido, some kind of Budo or Kendo ...
Sems like studed such things create good descisions and live beter and hapyer ... :)

Answer 7

Interesting site.
People in to certain Religions think that meditation can bring evil spirits in to there children's mind.

Answer 8

Only the ignorant do, and they don't count.