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AR 23:17 - Concealing yoga's dangers
In this issue:
ECKHART, MEISTER - his "philosophy and large influence on Western Christian mysticism"
HINDUISM - realization of Self versus union with the Creator
+ a new translation of "one of the most important works of Hindu scripture"
YOGA - its potential negative impact is being "kept in the dark"
Apologia Report 23:17 (1,383)
May 11, 2018
ECKHART, MEISTER
Dangerous Mystic: Meister Eckhart's Path to the God Within, by Joel F. Harrington [1] -- Kirkus (Feb '18 #1) finds this an "Insightful biography of [the] German theologian [and] a worthy effort in building this biography around a man whose life is scantily documented. ... A Dominican monk, Eckhart attained the rare title of 'Master,' or 'Meister,' of theology through years of study mixed with periods of leadership in his monastic order." Part-way through, he "began a monumental theological undertaking only to eventually cast it aside in favor of reaching the common populace (including women) with his insights on communion with God. Eckhart's ideas — which entailed negative theology (i.e., understanding God's nature by describing what he is not); 'letting-go-ness' (gelâzenheit), a mystical technique leading to spiritual rebirth; and direct access to the divine by even the most ordinary layperson - met with mixed reactions. [Harrington] <www.bit.ly/2jN92kf> does an admirable job of presenting Eckhart dispassionately, as a historical figure, a theological innovator, and an impetus for modern thinkers. Extremely well-researched and fluidly written, Harrington's work will serve as a meaningful resource for students of mysticism and of late Medieval Christianity." [4]
The Publishers Weekly Annex Review (no date) finds that Harrington "adroitly places Meister Eckhart's (1260–1328) key ideas about the accessibility of direct, personal, universal experience of God ... back into proper historical and cultural context. Harrison's key contention is that Eckhart's original ideas have been distorted by 'modern syncretists' (particularly Eckhart Tolle) and should be reconsidered through an understanding of the era's literature, the development of the Dominican Order, and religious concerns about the relationship between clergy and laity." The biographer also "considers Eckhart's early friarhood and the seeds of his philosophy, and explores the maturation of his thought as an academic and theologian, which led him to become a pariah of the Catholic church. The final chapter looks at the conflicts caused by Eckhart's preaching on esoteric concepts to everyday people for whom his ideas of a via negativa - living without reliance on good deeds, aestheticism, or intermediaries for salvation - had strong appeal. Harrington's text shows that Eckhart was a man of his time: his teachings were radical, but grounded in Catholic orthodoxy and not intended to be as dangerous as many modern seekers might believe. This illuminating book successfully explains Meister Eckhart's philosophy and large influence on Western Christian mysticism." [6]
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HINDUISM
"A Christian Response to the Hindu Concept of Spiritual Quest" by C. Wayne Marshall, professor of comparative religions at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University -- "Hindus believe that life is basically a search, or a quest. One cannot expect to find all the answers to life's deepest questions in one lifetime in a simple, easy-to-digest formula. ...
"This occurs through many lifetimes and life forms in the cycle of birth-to-death through reincarnation - a quest for the ultimate, the final realization of Self (the inner being, the eternal Atman) within oneself, and which is the ultimate destiny of humankind. The final destination is becoming one with Brahman, the ultimate impersonal oneness."
Marshall observes that "Most Hindus struggle with the gospel presentation because it 'takes away' the deep search of humankind [and] hinders spiritual progress...."
In appreciation of this conflict, Marshall explains that "The Hindu expects to endure an eternal quest for the perfection of humankind with an eternal hunger for deeper teachings of truth, life, and reality; it is difficult to accept Jesus Christ as the one whose absolute authority over conscience and whose ability and willingness to save is presented as self-certifying. ...
"While fixed intellectual beliefs mark off one religion from another, Hinduism sets itself no such limits. Intellect is subordinated to intuition, dogma to experience, outer expression to inward realization. ...
"A Hindu seeker is thus looking for an experience of reality without knowing in advance what the ultimate experience would be like. ...
"The follower of Christ should encourage her Hindu friend not to give up her search for reality but to continue this search after receiving Christ as her personal Savior. ...
"However truth may be known, Hindus believe that one cannot reduce or limit the concept of truth to one interpretation. ...
"We can challenge our Hindu friends to distinguish between philosophical truth and revealed truth. The former is intellectually stimulating; the latter is spiritually satisfying. ...
"Let Hindus learn about the words of Peter when he talks about the saints who searched for answers and found their answers in Christ....
"Though there is a great deal of confusion about the concept of life in most of the Hindu texts, Hindus do not believe that we see, hear, or observe with our physical senses is life. ...
"A Hindu thus seeks to fulfill concurrently two vital missions in life: to seek union with the Self in the world, and to seek renunciation from the world. ...
"It is necessary to explain that Jesus Christ give abundant LIFE to every person who comes to Him in faith by providing complete deliverance from this world that leads to death. However, this deliverance is not from the world of illusion; it is from the world of sin. ...
"In the end, Hindus have two choices: accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and begin to live fulfilled lives with the reality and truth *of* Jesus, and life *in* Jesus; or, they can continue to explore and search out ideas and concepts that may raise interesting questions but do not answer them. They propose the existence of certain metaphysical realities but do not promise any spiritual certainties. In the end, this leads to hopelessness and endlessness." Christian Research Journal, 41:1 - 2018, pp6-7, 53. [3]
Godsong: A Verse Translation of the Bhagavad Gita, with Commentary, by Amit Majmudar <amitmajmudar.com> [2] -- from the publisher: "Born in the United States into a secularized Hindu family, Amit Majmudar puzzled over the many religious traditions on offer, and found that the Bhagavad Gita had much to teach him with its 'song of multiplicities.' Chief among them is that 'its own assertions aren't as important as the relationships between its characters ... The Gita imagined a relationship in which the soul and God are equals'; it is, he believes, 'the greatest poem of friendship ... in any language.' His verse translation captures the many tones and strategies Krishna uses with Arjuna - strict and berating, detached and philosophical, tender and personable. 'Listening guides' to each section follow the main text, and expand in accessible terms on the text and what is happening between the lines. Godsong is an instant classic in the field, from a poet of skill, fine intellect, and - perhaps most important - devotion."
From Library Journal (Feb 2 '18): "Majmudar, an accomplished author, offers this new translation of one of the most important works of Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita (or Godsong). ... Overall, his translation is well-written; the text is easy to understand and it maintains its poetic quality. It is supplemented with a short introduction illustrating the author's main ideas, notes on the principal Sanskrit words that he chose not to translate, and brief synopses of all 18 chapters (or sessions). He concludes the translation with 'Listener's Guides,' which provide context and further elaboration on each session. This is a well-crafted and exceptional translation of a spiritual and cultural masterpiece. VERDICT Recommended for those wishing to learn more about Hinduism or for those looking for spiritual inspiration." [5]
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YOGA
"The Dark Side of Meditation" by Jessica Downey -- summarized: "Contemplative practices can unearth painful memories and unease. Here's what you nee to know to avoid being blindsided." The introduction begins: "Meditation is often portrayed as a cure-all for mental, emotional, and physical well-being. But it is also capable of unearthing painful memories and general unease, which can be frightening or unnerving....
The feature itself first describes how a woman [Ms. Miller] was diagnosed with "post-traumatic stress and depressive disorders" for which a 12-week mindfulnes meditation class was recommended. "To her surprise, she was never approached by her meditation teacher, and the potential for these kinds of emotional responses during meditation was never addressed in any way. 'In yoga class, we were offered modifications for physical limitations or if something didn't feel good. But in meditation class, there was no recognition of potential mental limitation or injury,' she says.
"Ultimately, Miller was glad she finished the class, because it led to her finding the mantra she'd eventually use on a regular basis: May I find ease; May I be well; May I be healthy; May I be happy; May I live in lovingkindness. ...
"[T]he potential negative effects of meditation - including fear, panic, hallucinations, mania, loss of motivation and memory, and depersonalization - can be distressing at best and debilitating at worst. ... [T]his potency meditation holds cannot be understated or underestimated by teachers or practitioners." Willoughby Britton, assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University, notes: "While many people benefit from meditation, some won't. ...
"When she realized negative reactions to meditation were prevalent, Britton decided to formally study it. 'It was clear that a lot of people knew about these potential effects and weren't really talking about it.'
"She believes one of the reasons the darker side of meditation is being, well, kept in the dark is financial. 'Mindfulness is a multi-billion-dollar industry,' she says. ...
"Plus, says Britton, many people feel a lot of shame about negative meditation experiences, which speaks to the overhyped advertising that meditation is good for everything. ...
"Britton set out to investigate meditation-related experiences, specifically those that were described as challenging, difficult, distressing, functionally impairing, or requiring additional support. [Her study considered] meditation teachers, experts, and practitioners of Western Buddhist practices - including Theravada, Zen, and Tibetan traditions - many of whom reported challenging meditation experiences.
"The majority (88 percent) of the meditators in the study reported that these experiences had an impact on their lives beyond their meditation sessions. A whopping 73 percent indicated moderate to severe impairment (meditating prompted a reaction or result that kept them from living their normal, daily lives), 17 percent reported feeling suicidal, and another 17 percent required inpatient hospitalization for psychosis."
Anna Kress, a clinical psychologist in Princeton, New Jersey, says that "there are a handful of important signs for teachers to look for that indicate a meditation student may be having a traumatic reaction. The common ones include prolonged crying, which may be silent but uncontrollable; shortness of breath; trembling; clenched fists; skin turning red or pale; and excessive sweating." Yoga Journal, May '18, pp41-47. <www.bit.ly/2rm1XdS>
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SOURCES: Monographs
1 - Dangerous Mystic: Meister Eckhart's Path to the God Within, by Joel F. Harrington (Penguin, 2018, hardcover, 384 pages) <www.amzn.to/2HVEawn>
2 - Godsong: A Verse Translation of the Bhagavad Gita, with Commentary, by Amit Majmudar (Knopf, 2018, hardcover, 256 pages) <www.amzn.to/2JWtydg>
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