As mentioned in my last blog, self control is Gun control; for that
matter it is the answer to many of our problems. Some ways to learn
self control, can be recognized when people of faith use prayers,
mantras, visualizations and meditations to imagine positive
situations. Even persons who do not belong to a faith or abhor
religion, can meditate. Anyone can use imaging or a choice of
positive words to create a harmonious environment whether they are
Atheist, Christian, Buddhist, Jew, Muslim or any other faith. People
of faith will more likely see the positive outcome of those words and
images. They will more likely feel that very peace for which they are
striving. We attract what we focus on; that is something important to
remember. Engaging in regular meditation also is a discipline, which
will foster self-control.
Meditation for some reason is seen as an “Eastern Faith thing.”
It has been used only sparingly among Christians. Yet, it is
meditation, which can guide individuals to a more peaceful life and
self-control. Churches have a great opportunity to teach self-control
as well as to guide people through meditation. By doing so, the
church helps prevent the violent tendencies in our society. We do not
have to stand by wringing our hands, saying: “The world is falling
apart, what should we do?” Meditation develops compassion and
empathy. For that matter, a person can meditate on the meaning of
compassion, forgiveness, love.
Dr.
Newberg, a renowned neuro scientist, found in his research that there are significant brain
changes when a person shows empathy. “An fMRI (Functional Magnetic
Resonance Imaging) study conducted in 2010 by researchers at
Northwestern University showed that empathy for in-group members is
neurally distinct from empathy for humankind in general.”1
Even though, “they showed more empathy for their own group members,
the study showed that a person could have empathy for others outside
their group as well. It gives us a new neuro-scientific basis for
understanding a moral precept that is crucial to many religious
traditions, namely, that you should love your enemies as well as your
friends.”2
That is significant! It is significant in the way we live together as
people in our cultures and in inter-mixed societies: a pluralistic
world. “Scientific research is helping us understand how certain
beliefs and practices lead to positive changes in the brain while
others lead to negative changes. Based on that research, perhaps we
can find ways to create more positive experiences – which arguably
are beneficial not only for the individual, but also for society as a
whole.”3
Those who think Church is obsolete, need to take a second look.
Prayer, as well as meditation is essential to the repositioning of society, as
well as help the current fear factor to diminish. With these
self control practices in place our society will again become more livable.
However, the Church itself will have to go through a change. Churches
need to embrace meditation not take a sideways glance and declare it an
outlandish thing. There are significant Christian meditations and
faith meditations which can be used for those who have a difficult
time imagining anything but a Biblical meditation.
One
problem that needs to be addressed is fear-based religion. Some of
these belong within the confines of fundamentalism. For some reason
those churches are inhabited by individuals with extreme anger,
hostility, intolerance, separatism, and prejudicial fear. I am not
under the illusion that these individuals will turn around
immediately. I would like to point out that their attitude is
detrimental to a peaceful society as well as world- peace. Some
anti-religious writers will use those groups to devalue religion all
together. They do so by claiming religion to be a threat to the
world.4
Yet, new neuro-scientific research finds no basis for their claims,
and rather to the contrary, sees evidence that religion is beneficial
and essential to a peaceful society. “The problem isn't religion.
The problem is authoritarianism, coupled with the desire to angrily
impose one's idealistic beliefs on others.”5
That tendency does not only occur in religion, it also occurs in
politics and a variety of other scenarios.
My
suggestion for individuals is to practice letting go of fear, forgive, and learn
to meditate and do it regularly. My suggestion to churches is to engage in
meditation, teach meditation, learn about the different types of
meditation, encourage meditation in your congregation as well as
teach forgiveness! Besides promoting peace and harmony, you will also
help people who may deal with memory issues. “Research with memory
patients suggests that meditation can help maintain a healthy
structural balance that will slow the aging process.”6
Simply, meditate!
Example
Meditation:
Part 1
Breathe deeply. From the top of your head breathe in Christ Light
and let it flow through your body and out your feet into the earth.
Follow your breath with your mind. Again, do the same thing as often
as you want in order to feel a sense of peace.
Part 2:
Imagine Christ standing before you. Dwell in his presence.
Part 3:
Then imagine a person, or a group of people you do not understand
or hate and place them between you and Christ. Tell Christ what is on
your mind. Observe what is happening. If you don't understand ask God
what you are being shown about that person or that group.
When you are done, give thanks to God and breathe deeply a few
times before you return to your environment.
1Dr.
Andrew Neuberg, The Spiritual Brain: Science and Religious
Experience, (Course), 135.
2Dr.
Andrew Neuberg, The Spiritual Brain: Science and Religious
Experience, (Course), 136.
3Dr.
Andrew Newberg, The Spiritual Brain: Science and Religious
Experience, (Course), 145.
4Dr.
Andrew Newberg, How God changes your Brain, (New
York: Ballantine Books, 2010), 13.
5Dr.
Andrew Newberg, How God changes your Brain, (New
York: Ballantine Books, 2010), 10.
6Dr.
Andrew Newberg, How God changes your Brain, (New
York: Ballantine Books, 2010), 15.
© 2013 Angelika Mitchell
© 2013 Angelika Mitchell
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