Meditation in Christianity + Cleansing One's Mind

I posted this as "Buddha-Jesus Prayer Meditation", but it was deleted, I guess for that reason.

However, people mention this, so I wanted to share this, as I believe it is helpful, so here it is again:

Hence it clearly follows that, when the soul has completely purified and voided itself of all forms and images that can be apprehended, it will remain in this pure and simple light, being transformed therein into a state of perfection. For, though this light never fails in the soul, it is not infused into it because of the creature forms and veils wherewith the soul is veiled and embarrassed; but, if these impediments and these veils were wholly removed (as will be said hereafter), the soul would then find itself in a condition of pure detachment and poverty of spirit, and, being simple and pure, would be transformed into simple and pure Wisdom, which is the Son of God. For the enamoured soul finds that that which is natural has failed it, and it is then imbued with that which is Divine, both naturally and supernaturally, so that there may be no vacuum in its nature.

When the spiritual person cannot meditate, let him learn to be still in God, fixing his loving attention upon Him, in the calm of his understanding, although he may think himself to be doing nothing. For thus, little by little and very quickly, Divine calm and peace will be infused into his soul, together with a wondrous and sublime knowledge of God, enfolded in Divine love.

And let him not meddle with forms, meditations and imaginings, or with any kind of reasoning, lest his soul be disturbed, and brought out of its contentment and peace, which can only result in its experiencing distaste and repugnance. And if, as we have said, such a person has scruples that he is doing nothing, let him note that he is doing no small thing by pacifying the soul and bringing it into calm and peace, unaccompanied by any act or desire, for it is this that Our Lord asks of us, through David, saying: Vacate, et videte quoniam ego sum Deus. As though he had said: Learn to be empty of all things (that is to say, inwardly and outwardly) and you will see that I am God.

St. John of the Cross, The Ascent of Mount Carmel

Also recently finished with The Buddhist Catechism and found this interesting:

1. Q. Have we a way of classifying Bōdhisattvas? If so, explain it.

A. Bōdhisattvas—the future Buddhas—are divided into three classes.

1. Q. Proceed. How are these three kinds of Bōdhisats named?

A. Pannādhika, or Udghatitajña—"he who attains least quickly"; Saddhādhika, or Vipachitajña—"he who attains less quickly"; and Viryādhika, or Gneyya—"he who attains quickly". The Pannādhika Bōdhisats take the course of Intelligence; the Saddhādhika take the course of Faith; the Viryaāhika take the course of energetic Action. The first is guided by Intelligence and does not hasten; the second is full of Faith, and does not care to take the guidance of Wisdom; and the third never delays to do what is good. Regardless of the consequences to himself, he does it when he sees that it is best that it should be done.

1. Q. When our Bōdhisattva became Buddha, what did he see was the cause of human misery? Tell me in one word.

A. Ignorance (Avidyā).

1. Q. Can you tell me the remedy?

A. To dispel Ignorance and become wise (Prājña).

1. Q. Why does ignorance cause suffering?

A. Because it makes us prize what is not worth prizing, grieve when we should not grieve, consider real what is not real but only illusionary, and pass our lives in the pursuit of worthless objects, neglecting what is in reality most valuable.

1. Q. And what is that which is most valuable?

A. To know the whole secret of man's existence and destiny, so that we may estimate at no more than their actual value this life and its relations; and so that we may live in a way to ensure the greatest happiness and the least suffering for our fellow-men and ourselves.

1. Q. What is the light that can dispel this ignorance of ours and remove all sorrows?

A. The knowledge of the "Four Noble Truths," as the Buddha called them.

...

1. Q. Has not the Buddha summed up his whole doctrine in one gāthā, or verse?

A. Yes.

1. Q. Repeat it?

A. Sabba pāpassa akaranm,

Kusalassa upasampadā

Sachitta pariyo dapanam—

Etam Buddhānusāsanam.

"To cease from all evil actions,

To generate all that is good,

To cleanse one's mind:

This is the constant advice of the Buddhas."

Submitted September 09, 2017 at 07:54AM by Dillon123 http://ift.tt/2gQXFpo