A Wisdom Archive on History Of Meditation

Formal Christian meditation began with the early Christian monastic practice of reading the Bible slowly. Monks would carefully consider the deeper meaning of each verse as they read it. This slow and thoughtful reading of Scripture, and the ensuing pondering of its meaning, was their meditation. This spiritual practice is called "divine reading", or lectio divina. Sometimes the monks found themselves spontaneously praying as a result of their meditation on Scripture, and their prayer would in turn lead on to a simple, loving focus on God. This ...

Read more here: » Christian meditation: Encyclopedia II - Christian meditation - History

Some of these individuals have died or are no longer practicing TM. ...

Read more here: » Transcendental meditation: Encyclopedia II - Transcendental meditation - Notable practitioners

The Transcendental Meditation technique, or TM, is a form of meditation that originates from the Vedic tradition of masters that includes Guru Dev and the venerated Shankara, a part of the long history of India. It was introduced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a disciple of Guru Dev, fifty years ago. It has become a worldwide movement, with more than five million people having learned the technique. The TM organization has founded an accredited university Maharishi International University, and at one point even had a political part ... Including:

• Transcendental meditation - History
• Transcendental meditation - Effects of TM
• Transcendental meditation - Procedures and theory
• Transcendental meditation - Pure consciousness
• Transcendental meditation - Stress
• Transcendental meditation - Mantra
• Transcendental meditation - TM and religion
• Transcendental meditation - Criticisms and controversies
• Transcendental meditation - Possible negative side effects
• Transcendental meditation - TM-Sidhi Program and Maharishi Effect
• Transcendental meditation - Publications on Maharishi's technologies
• Transcendental meditation - Political activities of the TM organization
• Transcendental meditation - Sexism and the TM organization
• Transcendental meditation - Coercive methods
• Transcendental meditation - Notable practitioners
• Transcendental meditation - Reference

Read more here: » Transcendental meditation: Encyclopedia - Transcendental meditation

Christian meditation is a form of quiet (but not necessarily silent) contemplation often associated with prayer or scripture study. It is rooted in the Bible, which directs its readers to meditate. In Joshua 1:8, God commands his people to meditate on his word day and night to instill obedience. The psalmist says that "his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:2). The Bible ... Including:

• Christian meditation - History
• Christian meditation - Theology of Christian meditation
• Christian meditation - Christian meditation: many strands

Read more here: » Christian meditation: Encyclopedia - Christian meditation

Ignatius of Loyola Thomas Merton Bede Griffiths Jesus Prayer Hesychasts Apophatic theology Richard Foster Quakers Emerging Church Taizé Community ...

Read more here: » Christian meditation: Encyclopedia II - Christian meditation - Christian meditation: many strands

Theravada (Pali; Sanskrit: Sthaviravada) is one of the eighteen (or twenty) Nikāya schools that formed early in the history of Buddhism. These developed in India during the century subsequent to the death of the Buddha. The name of the school means "Teachings of the Elders" which implies that this was the most conservative school of Buddhism, a school that has attempted to conserve the original teachings of the Buddha. Adherents trace their lineage back to the Sthaviras (Pali: Theras; "Elders") of the First Buddhist Council when 500 arahants, including Mahakasyapa chose a position of orthodoxy to keep all the ... Including:

• Theravada - History
• Theravada - Philosophy
• Theravada - Praxis
• Theravada - Lay and Monastic Life
• Theravada - Meditation
• Theravada - Levels of Attainment
• Theravada - Festivals and customs
• Theravada - Temporary Ordination
• Theravada - Buddhist orders within Theravada
• Theravada - Criticisms

Read more here: » Theravada: Encyclopedia - Theravada

Zoroastrianism was once the "official" religion of Sassanid (Sassanian) Persia, and played an important role in the Achaemenid as well as Parthian empires in Persia. The religion is also known as Mazdaism by some followers; and currently, as Zarathustrianism by others. Zoroastrian areas once stretched from Anatolia to the Persian Gulf, and its followers once numbered in the millions. Its followers today, located in South Asia, Iran, and throughout the diaspora, num ... Including:

• Zoroastrianism - Principal beliefs
• Zoroastrianism - Specific Zoroastrian concepts
• Zoroastrianism - The Prophet
• Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's meditations
• Zoroastrianism - Zoroaster's preaching
• Zoroastrianism - Holy Book
• Zoroastrianism - History
• Zoroastrianism - Historical importance
• Zoroastrianism - Principles of modern-day Zoroastrianism
• Zoroastrianism - Adherents
• Zoroastrianism - Famous Zoroastrians
• Zoroastrianism - Notes

Read more here: » Zoroastrianism: Encyclopedia - Zoroastrianism

Zazen is at the heart of Zen Buddhist practice. Zazen is different from other meditation in that it uses no meditation object or concept to focus on. The aim of Zazen is to first still the mind. Then after years of practice to reach a state of pure thought free wakefulness so that the mind can realize its own Buddha nature. In Zen Buddhism, sitting meditation or zazen (Japanese: 座禅; literally "seated concentration") is a meditative discipline practitioners perform to calm the body and the mind and experience i ... Including:

• Zazen - History and Tradition
• Zazen - Misconceptions about Zazen

Read more here: » Zazen: Encyclopedia - Zazen

Occasional intersections between Western civilization and the Buddhist world have been occurring for thousands of years. Perhaps the most significant of these began in 334 BCE, early in the history of Buddhism, when the Macedonian king Alexander the Great conquered most of Central Asia. The Seleucids and the successive Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek kingdoms established an important Hellenistic influence in the area, which interacted with Buddhism. The conversion to Buddhism of the Indo-Greek king Menander (155-130 BCE) is described in Indian sources (the Mili ...

Read more here: » Buddhism: Encyclopedia II - Buddhism - Buddhism and the West

Zoroastrianism teaches many of the concepts found in the major Abrahamic faiths such as Heaven, Hell, Day of judgement, the concept of Satan, the prophecy and the coming of the Messiah and the extensive teaching of Angels and Evil spirits. According to the Gathas humans are free and responsible beings. Predestination is rejected in Zoroastrian teaching. Humans bear responsibility for all situations they are in, and in the way they act to one another. Nothing in the Heavens and Earth has the power to force a being to do evil. Reward, p ...

Read more here: » Zoroastrianism: Encyclopedia II - Zoroastrianism - Specific Zoroastrian concepts