Have you ever found spiritual practices of religions other than yours helpful?

Question

I am reading a book right now called "Essential Spirituality" which I find incredibly interesting. The author has spent 23 years studying world religions and studied science prior to his religious studies. In this book he incorporates several different spiritual excercises and techniques from the world's seven major religions to describe what he believes to be the most essential spiritual practices.

My question is have you ever found spiritual practices from religions other than your own helpful. For example if you are a Christian, have you found meditation useful?

Rachel: The author is Robert Walsh. It is a fantastic book. Here is a link for more info:

http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Spirituality-Central-Practices-Awaken/dp/0471392162

Answer 1

Actually, I would have to say yes.

I am a Catholic, but I very much enjoy yoga and meditation, and find them useful to me.

I do not embrace the beliefs/ideas/spirituality of the eastern religions. I simply go through the movements of yoga and find that it helps me to feel good physically, as well as improving my posture, flexibility and muscle tone.

I also find meditation helpful in reducing my stress level and causing me to focus more clearly. However, I do not chant mantras or go into trances.

I'm thankful to have been introduced to these things that I can enjoy practicing, and benefit from, without compromising what I believe or going against my own religion.

Christy, this is an interesting question. I really had not previously thought much about this subject.

Answer 2

I'm a Christian and Yes, I have found meditative prayer to be very beneficial to me in recent months.

Also, re: the person who mentioned Islam and not needing to pray three times a day because God is there at any time - yes, HE is...however, I find that many times WE are NOT. I rather like the idea that they stop whatever they are doing 3 times a day to pray to God.

There are orthodox Jews who make a practice of praying in a specific way a specific number of times as well. Although these are not practices I include in my faith life, when I let the busy-ness of daily life get the best of me - I can see where a set time/# of times would be beneficial to my communication with God.

I think there is much we can learn from each other spiritually - even if it's not exactly in line or worded exactly like the Bible - doesn't make it less insightful or useful.

Answer 3

I think it's the sign of an open mind to be able to consider and accept spiritual practices from a religion that is not your own.

I was really into meditation awhile back, mainly because it helped my insomnia in college. When I lived overseas I went to Buddhist temples frequently to watch people pray, burn some incense, and just take it all in. It always gave me a feeling of great peace.

That book sounds great, by the way. Who's the author?

Answer 4

Yes, while I am neither Hindu nor Buddhist (in fact I am an atheist and a humanist) I can find value in some of their teachings as I am not necessarily "anti-religion". I just direct my focus to the interdependence of things (in a naturalistic sense) rather than to a theistic view of God. I realize most people are theistic.

So for nonsectarian spirituality I like to promote the Uddhava Gita. The Uddhava Gita is a summation of the essence of the Bhagavad Gita, and so it is eminently suitable for nonsectarian, universal teaching which is the essence of Hinduism.

Here is a short summation of the Uddhava Gita which is found in the Srimad Bhagavatam (also known as Bhagavata Purana) 11.7:

EPILOGUE - LORD KRISHNA'S LAST SERMON

At the end of another long sermon comprising of more than one thousand verses, disciple Uddhava said: "O Lord Krishna, I think the pursuit of God as You narrated to Arjuna (in the Bhagavad Gita), and now to me, is very difficult indeed, for most people; because it entails control of unruly senses. Please tell me a short, simple, and easy way to God-realization." Lord Krishna upon Uddhava's request gave the essentials of Self-realization as follows:
· Do your duty, to the best of your ability, for Me without worrying about the outcome.
· Remember Me at all times. (Note that this is the point of chanting things like the mahamantra - Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Kare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.)
· Perceive that God is within every living being. Mentally bow down to all beings and treat all beings equally.
· Perceive through the activities of mind, senses, breathing, and emotions that the power of God is within you at all times, and is constantly doing all the work using you as a mere instrument and a trustee.

I recommend the International Gita Society as they are nonsectarian, offer affordable translations of the Bhagavad Gita with commentary, and can help teach you the basics without having to spend a lot of money or submit to some guru you know nothing about:

http://www.gita-society.com/

http://www.gitainternational.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/international_gita_society

They also have an online Gita study and discussion forum:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gita-talk/

Answer 5

Born and raised Roman Catholic... I really tried to believe everything I was taught. When I was in my early 20s I found the Unitarian Universalist Church and they teach from every religion they can get their hands on. I absolutely love that and now consider myself a UU Pagan. It has rounded out my life and I find truth in many religions.

I found that I love meditation, tarot reading, dancing at drum circles, and personal and group ritual. Even practices that I didn't find personally useful I have found fun and interesting.

Answer 6

I am a Christian and the only way that I can think other spiritual practices have been helpful to me is this;
In the islamic religion(i think) they pray to mecca three times a day- it reminds me that I don't have to pray to God three times a day facing him, but that I can pray to him whenever I want because he will be there.

Answer 7

i became faith editor for a substantial metropolitan on an ordinary basis newspaper and had to benefit as much as i might desire to on the subject of the religious ideals of others. while you're searching for an consumer-friendly reference, might desire to I recommend attempting to discover a extreme college text cloth e book (used by some northern prep faculties) titled "Biographies of non secular Leaders." I edited a sequence titled "What Others have faith" which ran interior the 60s interior the Houston placed up.

Answer 8

It has helped me to see what all the early christian fathers borrowed to form the dogma that is still practiced today.

Some help me to see different spiritual truths in a new light.

Answer 9

No I haven't. I have studied the major religions some. But their views don't line up with Christianity.

Answer 10

Yes, some Zen concepts. Some Jewish concepts.

I have found meditation useful.