MINDFULNESS – OR MIND EMPTINESS?

by | Nov 26, 2020 | Articles

Peter Sammons takes a look at an Eastern religious technique, now heavily promoted in the West.

Scientists are beginning to question the long term (deleterious) effects of mindfulness “training”: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/psychologists-express-growing-concern-with-mindfulness-meditation?utm_source=pocket-newtab-global-en-GB

 

Christians have long understood “mindfulness” approaches to be variations on Eastern (pagan) religious practices, designed to open the mind to spiritual forces.

What is mindfulness?

“Mindfulness” is rooted in Buddhist meditation, although it is not solely a Buddhist discipline. Buddhists believe that ‘awareness’ obtained through meditation is a “power” that helps them reach their nirvana: their state of enlightenment, peace, and happiness. As commentators, we are struggling to find real evidence of widespread Eastern happiness! It seems that many in the East are struggling to get to the West, but that is another story!

Mindfulness has gained traction in the West as a counselling and psychotherapy tool. Jon Kabat-Zinn is considered to be a major influencer in Western adoption of the practice. (Mmmm! Zinn – what does that remind you of?) He created a program called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Similar programs such as Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy are adopted to treat depression and anxiety, and enhance mental health. As to how ‘successful’ such ‘treatments ‘ may be, we have no empirical evidence. Mindfulness is now also increasingly used by employers and schools to try to cope with stress and spark creativity.

Self focus

Mindfulness: 

  • is based on an unhealthy degree of self-focus.
  • promotes a one-with-the-cosmos worldview.
  • supports emptying the mind (which can leave people exposed to demonic influences).
  • encourages escape from reality.

Secular mindfulness claims to be horizontal. In other words, people pay attention only to themselves. However, that approach contradicts Scripture’s teaching to have the mind of Christ and evaluate everything in the light of our vertical relationship with God the Father and God the Son.

Bible focus

Interestingly the Bible has much to say about calming our minds and keeping a vertical focus on the One who lovingly created us and knows us intimately. For examples:

  • The apostle Paul reminds Christians that they’re called to be mindful and live with an awareness of the present (Philippians 2:1-5).
  • Prayer might be argued as a practical way Christians apply ‘mindfulness’ to daily life (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
  • Meditation appears in the Bible in the context of spending time studying the Word of God (Psalm 48:9; Psalm 63:6).
  • Christians shouldn’t let themselves to be distracted by worry about the future (Matthew 6:25-34).
  • Paul tells us to “be transformed” by renewing our minds (Romans 12:2) and to practice God-honoring thoughts (Philippians 4:9).

A fuller Christian critique of mindfulness techniques is here:

https://christiannewsjournal.com/the-dark-side-of-mindfulness/

Mind emptiness

Mindfulness or mind emptiness? It does seem that the West, having now decidedly rejected the Judeo-Christian root and worldview, is suffering the terrible effects of spiritual emptiness, and clutching at any straw to find some degree of certainty and happiness. The 2020 “Pan-panic” in the West may be the clearest evidence yet of how far we have receded into infantilism.

 

Following on from Christian warnings about ‘mindfulness’ (which might more correctly be called mind-emptiness, it is good to know that at long last scientists are beginning to question the practice as well. Do not expect the mindfulness industry to give up without a fight, however.

 

 

Peter Sammons is commissioning editor at Christian Publications International. He is author of the books “Rebel Church” (2013), “The Prince of Peace” (2015) and “Three Days and Three Nights – That Changed the World” (co-authored with David Serle) in 2019: https://christian-publications-int.com/default-32.html?ID=176 .