Meditation and Quaker Worship: Similarities and Differences
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ย. 2024
- I have been asked a lot to do a video on this and have shied away but, having done a couple of meditations, I have decided to talk about what it feels like to do both.
Thich Nhat Hahn has very interesting teachings. The point of meditation is to realize we are all one thing. He would disagree there’s a something (god) inside us all with a will speaking to us. But he also has “dharma sharing” sessions where it is the time to share your leadings. That is practically handled very much the way Quakers share their leadings. But Hahn definitely says to ignore “revelations” and just keep meditating, and not to trust them - as words from god, or the reality of nature, etc. But in the end, I think both Zen and Quakerism have many many similar results in the world (engaged Buddhism/activism, love for all beings, focused on ethics, huge focus on community and joint discernment, etc). But also trust me - lotus posture on the floor is *not* comfortable! 😂
Great video. I went to a Quaker/Brethren seminary in Indiana, though I'm an Episcopalian these days. I identify I guess the most with that Quaker quietist phase. Have you ever read or done anything on the Quaker anthology 'A Guide to True Peace'? As an Anglican who sometimes tries to follow the "method" of silent prayer outlined in that book, I'd be interested to see what you make of it. It has some similarities with contemplative practices and with meditation I think.
Was that Earlham by any chance?
Interesting, as I think it is a sadly much maligned period in Quaker history! I finished reading earlier this year a book looking at the period which I found fascinating 'Quakerism in the Atlantic World 1690-1830).
I will add it to my Quaker to read list, thank you for the recommendation!
@@Quake-It-Up It was indeed! I graduated from Bethany, which is the Brethren part of that seminary, but they share the same faculty and I mostly took spirituality classes on the Quaker side! I went to an unprogrammed meeting with my wife for a few years before that. Yeah, I didn't find a lot of sympathy for the quietist period among my classmates, but I've always had a certain quietist streak in me I guess. Luckily I had a really great Quaker professor Michael Birkel, who actually did some academic work on the Guide. It's featured in a big anthology called Contemplative Literature: A Comparative Sourcebook on Meditation and Contemplative Prayer, edited by Louis Komjathy, and his chapter is actually a very good intro to the text. Thanks again for your content and I will have to check out that book!. Hope you enjoy the Guide!
@@thezachmays Very jealous, would love a chat with Michael Birkel, heard a lot from him online!
Shall let you know when I’ve read it!
Love your stuff!
Thanks so much 🙂
I would say the main difference is that in mindfulness meditation, the goal to notice your thoughts but recognise they are illusions and not to get fixated on your thoughts. Where as in meetings you are looking for a feeling of conviction attached to your thoughts so that you know that they are meant for sharing (or perhaps I have misunderstand what I am supposed to be doing in meeting? As I am new to meetings)
I think I agree with you, everyone does meeting for worship differently but yes, I suppose Quakers are looking for that interruption that meditation looks to avoid