ISAIAH 55:6
Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.
A Christian seeking zen is what I would consider an oxymoron. I have often heard people speak of ‘zen’ and assumed its’ definition based on the context of the conversation; according to my “Google” reseach zen is a state of being. The goal of zen, based on this superficial research, is to achieve enlightenment; by enlightenment I guess they mean understanding. A Buhdist idea, embraced by those who do not know or understand Scripture, zen is not God’s way.
Christians are to seek Jesus. Many Christians have gotten into yoga as a way of relaxing and getting physically fit and have incorporated the vocabulary of Buddhist ideology. Jesus said “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34); what you are saying is what you believe. The words of the Lord should come out of your mouth not the words of the Hindu or the Buddhist.
The basis of yoga is stretching your body which requires you to redirect your focus from the cares of this world to what your body is doing. The flesh becomes a priority but the word tells us to be lead by the Spirit and not the flesh (Galatians 3:3, 5:16).
ROMANS 8:6 THE VOICE
A mind focused on the flesh is doomed to death, but a mind focused on the Spirit will find full life and complete peace.
If your goal is to become physically fit work. At 120 years of age a physically fit Moses climbed a mountain to die.(Deuteronomy 34:7) The less technology a person incorporates in his life, the more physical activities she does the healthier he or she will be.
I find it interesting that people love making bread from scratch but all they do is put ingredients in a machine and the machine does the rest! Kneading bread is work.
It is easier to go to the store and purchase tomatos but eif all you have an outdoor space where you can place a container you can grow your own tomatos but that requires work.
Once upon a time people did not need a gym life provided plenty of exercise.
I believe, people who are seeking zen are actually looking for peace and quiet in the midst of a stressful environment. Those of us who are in Christ achieve this even in the middle of chaos because He is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
ISAIAH 26:3
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
Peace is not achieved by placing your body in a specific position and becoming one, what you get is a quiet time. Perfect peace is obtained when you trust God more than anyone and anything.
PSALM 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
When I meditate I am not trying to be one with my body I am listening to the Holy Spirit. I do not try to be one with myself but I do focus on His word.
PSALM 119:99
I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.
Meditation is not a yoga thing. To meditate is: to consider, to focus your thoughts on. Your brain is never thinking of nothing unless you are dead. Christians should meditate, consider, focus their thoughts on the Word of God.
PHILIPPIANS 4:8 THE VOICE
Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy.
Again, referring to Google to obtain a definition of mantra I read: “(originally in Hinduism and Buddhism) a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation” Jesus said:
MATTHEW 6:7
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Mantras are vain repetitions, uselesss words: stop! There is nothing zen do for you but present a false sense of peace. For the Believer the Spirit of God porduces in you what many try to obtain via medititation without incorporating God’s word.
GALATIANS 5:22-23 THE VOICE
The Holy Spirit produces a different kind of fruit: unconditional love, joy, peace, patience, kindheartedness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You won’t find any law opposed to fruit like this.
Exercise is good but it is not necessary to stand on one foot to have love, joy, peace, patience and the rest of the fruit which is produced when the Spirit of God is in you. Perfect peace is acheived when you know and focus on Himand not the cares of this world.
Does a person who is meditating for a long period of time receive answers to problems? I would suspect the answer is yes. Who is the source of those answers? Seeking “zen” and not Jesus opens the door to demonic influence. Psalm 46:10 states we acheive perfect peace when our mind is on the Lord. So what are you thinking about? —written by Marsha L F Randolph
A MATTER OF FAITH reflects the opinions and property of the author MARSHA L F RANDOLPH. All rights reserved- do not use without permission. All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated. Don’t miss weekly faith based post FOLLOW THIS BLOG and receive notifications when a new article is posted.
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