The Catholic Catholic Voice Voice Can Can there there be be a a Christian Christian Zen Zen Comments Comments Feed Feed alternate alternate alternate alternate alternate alternate Menu Menu About About Archives Archives Obituaries Obituaries Freelancers Freelancers Submit Submit A A Story Story Contact Contact Us Us Search Search for for BUTTON BUTTON Search Search Button Button About About Archives Archives Obituaries Obituaries Freelancers Freelancers Submit Submit A A Story Story Contact Contact Us Us Catholic Catholic Voice Voice Omaha Omaha About About the the CV CV News News Catholic Catholic News News Agency Agency Formation Formation Spiritual Spiritual Life Life Shepherd Shepherd s s Voice Voice Contact Contact Us Us Search Search for for BUTTON BUTTON Search Search Button Button Formation Formation Can Can there there be be a a Christian Christian Zen Zen November November by by Connie Connie Rossini Rossini For For the the past past three three columns columns we we have have been been discussing discussing the the document document on on prayer prayer issued issued by by Spain Spain s s bishops bishops in in September September My My Thirst Thirst for for God God for for the the Living Living God God Last Last time time we we examined examined what what it it says says about about the the problems problems with with Buddhist Buddhist methods methods of of meditation meditation Now Now we we ll ll delve delve into into the the final final paragraph paragraph of of that that section section which which answers answers a a vital vital question question To To what what extent extent can can Christians Christians incorporate incorporate Buddhist Buddhist practices practices into into their their spirituality spirituality Paragraph Paragraph of of My My Soul Soul Thirsts Thirsts begins begins Sometimes Sometimes Zen Zen meditation meditation is is practiced practiced by by Christian Christian groups groups and and church church organizations organizations Some Some even even speak speak of of a a so so called called Christian Christian Zen Zen In In principle principle this this would would not not represent represent an an obstacle obstacle if if it it were were limited limited to to incorporating incorporating certain certain techniques techniques into into the the pedagogy pedagogy of of Christian Christian prayer prayer that that predispose predispose the the body body and and spirit spirit to to the the silence silence necessary necessary for for prayer prayer Nevertheless Nevertheless often often times times it it goes goes beyond beyond this this having having no no little little impact impact on on the the understanding understanding of of what what prayer prayer is is In In William William Johnston Johnston published published a a book book titled titled Christian Christian Zen Zen He He was was a a Jesuit Jesuit priest priest living living in in Tokyo Tokyo who who took took up up Zen Zen meditation meditation and and sought sought to to find find commonality commonality between between Buddhism Buddhism and and Christianity Christianity The The bishops bishops are are almost almost certainly certainly referring referring to to Johnston Johnston s s work work We We should should also also recall recall however however that that the the Spanish Spanish bishops bishops apply apply the the term term Zen Zen to to all all meditative meditative practices practices that that originate originate in in Buddhism Buddhism The The only only specific specific practice practice they they reference reference is is mindfulness mindfulness Therefore Therefore what what they they say say of of Christian Christian Zen Zen especially especially applies applies to to what what is is sometimes sometimes called called Christian Christian or or Catholic Catholic Mindfulness Mindfulness The The bishops bishops distinguish distinguish between between techniques techniques and and methods methods The The method method considered considered as as a a complete complete itinerary itinerary of of meditation meditation is is inseparable inseparable from from the the goal goal to to be be achieved achieved and and from from the the anthropological anthropological religious religious and and theological theological assumptions assumptions from from which which it it is is born born and and that that sustain sustain it it On On the the other other hand hand concrete concrete techniques techniques to to help help reach reach a a certain certain disposition disposition prior prior to to prayer prayer could could be be separated separated from from the the whole whole method method and and its its foundations foundations It It is is not not possible possible however however to to have have true true Christian Christian prayer prayer that that assumes assumes a a method method in in its its entirety entirety that that does does not not originate originate in in or or departs departs from from the the content content of of faith faith Incorporating Incorporating a a complete complete program program of of Buddhist Buddhist meditation meditation into into one one s s prayer prayer life life would would be be problematic problematic If If one one exclusively exclusively used used Buddhist Buddhist methods methods in in place place of of traditional traditional Christian Christian ones ones one one might might adopt adopt a a view view of of human human nature nature and and of of the the divine divine that that has has no no room room for for redemption redemption in in Christ Christ Practicing Practicing Buddhist Buddhist methods methods outside outside of of one one s s prayer prayer time time could could reap reap similar similar results results Techniques Techniques on on the the other other hand hand may may be be separated separated from from their their Buddhist Buddhist influences influences How How By By using using them them only only as as a a physical physical or or psychological psychological preparation preparation for for prayer prayer rather rather than than a a stand stand alone alone supplement supplement to to prayer prayer or or substitution substitution for for it it The The Congregation Congregation for for the the Doctrine Doctrine of of the the Faith Faith CDF CDF noted noted this this same same possibility possibility in in its its document document On On Some Some Aspects Aspects of of Christian Christian Meditation Meditation In In context context the the CDF CDF is is referring referring to to such such practices practices as as focusing focusing on on one one s s breath breath or or doing doing stretches stretches before before prayer prayer These These practices practices can can calm calm the the body body and and the the mind mind and and help help set set aside aside distractions distractions However However the the CDF CDF teaches teaches that that these these practices practices are are only only a a preparation preparation for for prayer prayer not not prayer prayer itself itself While While a a particular particular technique technique might might be be separable separable from from the the goals goals and and assumptions assumptions of of Buddhism Buddhism a a method method of of meditation meditation cannot cannot For For the the Spanish Spanish bishops bishops full full fledged fledged Buddhist Buddhist meditation meditation is is a a danger danger whether whether or or not not the the practitioner practitioner sees sees it it as as prayer prayer See See my my column column Spain Spain s s bishops bishops Only Only God God can can quench quench our our thirst thirst in in the the Oct Oct edition edition of of the the Catholic Catholic Voice Voice What What then then about about mindfulness mindfulness which which often often relies relies on on Buddhist Buddhist meditation meditation to to help help form form the the habit habit of of living living in in the the present present Like Like other other Buddhist Buddhist practices practices mindfulness mindfulness is is inseparable inseparable from from the the anthropological anthropological religious religious and and theological theological assumptions assumptions from from which which it it is is born born and and that that sustain sustain it it no no In In other other words words it it is is incompatible incompatible with with Christian Christian prayer prayer and and belief belief Connie Connie Rossini Rossini is is a a member member of of St St Peter Peter Parish Parish in in Omaha Omaha She She is is co co author author of of The The Contemplative Contemplative Rosary Rosary released released by by EWTN EWTN Publishing Publishing and and author author of of four four other other books books on on Catholic Catholic spirituality spirituality Previous Previous Next Next Sharing Sharing the the Good Good News News About About Archives Archives Obituaries Obituaries Freelancers Freelancers Submit Submit A A Story Story Contact Contact Us Us 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