Christian Meditation Techniques

The term Christian meditation is nothing but meditation in a Christian context. The word meditation has two different meanings: a focused and continued thought; and a state of intentionally contentless awareness. It is this double meaning that has often lead to disagreement and misunderstanding about the nature and appropriateness of Christian meditation. It is sometimes defined in Christian literature as a prayerful reflection on the scriptures. Many believe the term highlights religious practices of the East. Actually, the term includes both the concept of contemplation and prayerful reflection. The emphasis is on silence and solitude which facilitates listening more attentively to God.

The root of Christian meditation can be traced to the Bible. God, in Joshua 1:8, says to meditate on His word day and night. In the Old Testament there are two Hebrew words for meditation: Haga, meaning to ponder or meditate; and Sihach, meaning to contemplate or rehearse in one's mind. The Old and New Testaments, especially the Psalms, have reference to meditation as part of Christian heritage. But in the last few centuries the Church has gone on to ignore this.

It must be noted that Jesus had endorsed the Old Testament saying that we must love God with all our mind. Today, Christian meditation is often seen as a practice of the New Age movement. This comes mainly from its association with Transcendental Meditation developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and is steeped in Hindu philosophy.

In the context of eastern religion, meditation is emptying the mind through specific mental and physical techniques in order to attain ‘nirvana'. Christian meditation can use such techniques but here, the purpose is to commune with the God, not achieving a void.



Christian meditation summarily rejects the concept of emptying the mind. It aims to connect to the Lord, contemplate on his words and overcome suffering. Here, the idea is to purify the mind and ego so that the Lord shines within the heart. Some techniques, however, are similar to Hindu and Buddhist meditation techniques.



Sitting in an upright position in solitude is how all forms of Christian meditation begin. The duration of a session is usually 20 minutes to one hour. These sessions can be carried out by oneself or guided by a teacher. The teacher helps by giving simple instructions so as to keep the seeker's mind from wandering. These instructions have to be interspersed with silence. In those moments, one must attempt communion with the Lord.

A relaxed mind and body and an unhurried atmosphere is necessary for meditating. The techniques that are used include focusing on breathing, a good posture, muscle relaxation and a prayer in the heart. A regular time needs to be set everyday for the communion. Three times a day one can turn one's mind actively to God. Waking up in the morning one can have God's word as the first thing to fill the mind. Before falling asleep God's word can be the last thing occupying the mind. Lastly, a specific time each day needs to be set aside to hear God's word.

• Matt Thompson
• 30/04/2009, 2:59 PM
• 0 Comments