| Many people associate meditation with Far Eastern | | | | Eastern Orthodox Christianity incorporates the |
| religions like Buddhism and Hinduism, and don't realize | | | | 'hesychasm', or Jesus prayer, performed in a |
| that there are also many forms of Judeo-Christian | | | | meditative, chanting fashion, in order to connect with |
| meditation, as well as meditations from other faiths. | | | | the heart of faith. For some more info, go to |
| Below is an overview of meditation as it is generally | | | | Hesychasm. |
| viewed within each major religion, along with book | | | | Roman Catholicism includes contemplative practices |
| suggestions and links to resources with more | | | | such as the rosary for lay people, and many silent |
| information. | | | | contemplative practices for monastic initiates. St. |
| In Buddhism, observing and stilling the mind are the key | | | | Theresa of Avila was one of several Catholic mystics |
| to recognizing the transience of all thoughts and | | | | who wrote on the benefits of mental prayer. Check |
| emotions, in order to connect with eternal, non-personal | | | | out her writings or the writings of Jesuit Ignatius Loyola |
| awareness. Awakening the Buddha Within: Tibetan | | | | for traditional Catholic meditations. |
| Wisdom for the Western World by Surya Das is a | | | | In Quaker meetings participants sit in silence, waiting for |
| great book for learning the basics of Buddhism and | | | | the 'inner light' to inspire someone to speak. Check out |
| meditation. | | | | the writings of Mary Coelho, a modern Quaker and |
| In Hinduism, meditating is the core practice for merging | | | | writer, for her insights on the role of quiet |
| the mind with the energies operating beneath the | | | | contemplation in modern Quakerism. |
| physical world, through which the mind can ultimately | | | | The Sufis within Islam incorporate both energy center |
| merge with the source of these energies itself. | | | | and devotional meditation to merge with the 'beloved |
| Meditation is considered part of yoga practice - yoga | | | | divine' responsible for life itself. Sufism has many |
| means 'union' and meditation is considered the primary | | | | branches and corresponding meditation techniques, but |
| method for merging our awareness with the divine. | | | | most are centered on love meditations. Check out |
| Yoga periodicals such as Yoga Journal often feature | | | | How to do Sufi Meditation by Kuriakos for more |
| beginning yoga meditation techniques. | | | | information. |
| In Kabbalah, often called Jewish mysticism, a form of | | | | Taoism is the ancient Chinese mystic tradition and |
| meditation called 'hitbonenut', which involves | | | | philosophy focused on balance and the interacting |
| contemplating a concept or light itself, is used to attain | | | | forces of yin/yang, passive/aggressive, masculine |
| true, meta-intellectual knowledge. A good book for | | | | feminine, and creating/receiving. Tai Chi is often |
| learning about incorporating meditation into mainstream | | | | considered a form of moving Taoist meditation. Sitting |
| Jewish traditions is Jewish Meditation: A Practical | | | | Taoist meditation focuses on similar themes of |
| Guide by Aryeh Kaplan. | | | | balance and flow. |