Mindfulness Christianity and Pastoral Care Buddhist Mindfulness

Mindfulness, Christianity and Pastoral Care

Buddhist Mindfulness – Its Origins and Purpose Sati is literally 'memory' but is used with reference to the constantly repeated phrase 'mindful and thoughtful' (sato sampagâno); and means that activity of mind and constant presence of mind which is one of the duties most frequently inculcated on the good Buddhist. (Rhys Davids 1881: 145)

The Buddha and Mindfulness I will not let the surgeon pull at this arrow until I know the name and clan of the man who wounded me… Until I know whether the man who wounded me was tall or short of middle height… Until I know whether the bowstring that wounded me was fibre or reed or sinew or hemp or bark… All this would still not be known to the man and meanwhile he would die. Culamalunkya Sutta 5 in The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha (Majjhima-nikāya).

Active Mindfulness Subhuti, in what way does a Bodhisatva-Mahāsattva, being aware that he has a body, practise perfect conduct? Subhuti, a Bodhisatva-Mahāsattva, when walking is fully mindful that he is walking, when he stands up is fully mindful of standing up, when sitting is fully mindful of sitting, when sleeping is fully mindful of sleeping, and if his body is well or ill, he is fully mindful of either condition. Quoted in Namkhai Norbu (1986) Crystal and the Way of Light – Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen. NY: Routledge, p. 147

2. Contemporary Mindfulness

3. Mindfulness and Christianity The Blessed Lord said: Not by the Vedas or grim ascetic practice, Not by the giving of alms or sacrifice Can I be seen in such a form As you saw Me. But by the worship of love (bhakti) addressed to Me alone Can I be known and seen In such a form and as I really am: So can my lovers enter into Me.

Do works for Me, make Me they highest goal, Be loyal in love (bhakta) to Me, Cast off all other attachments, Have no hatred for any being at all: For all who do thus shall come to Me. (BG 11: 53 -55)

On Me alone let thy mind dwell Stir up thy soul (buddhi) to enter Me; Thenceforth in very truth In Me you shall find your home (BG 12. 8)

Francis Vineeth CMI The bhakta lives in the Lord. Having surrendered his mind and thought, having strengthened himself by the light of faith which is beyond all passing waves of human knowledge, the bhakta rests in that profound peace which the Lord gives him as his special gift. ’ (Yoga and Spirituality, p. 186)

Models of Christian Mindfulness: 1. John Cassian and Evagrius of Ponticus Prayer is a conversation of the spirit with God. Seek therefore the disposition that the spirit needs, in order to be able to reach out towards its Lord and to hold converse with him without any intermediary. On Prayer 3

Origen on Prayer Certainly there are countless attitudes of the body, but that in which we stretch out our hands and lift our eyes to heaven is to be preferred for expressing with the body the dispositions of the soul during prayer. . . But circumstances may lead us to pray sitting down, for example when we have a pain in the legs, or even in bed because of fever. For the same reason, if for example we are on board ship or if our business does not allow us to withdraw to perform our duty in regard to prayer, it is possible to pray without taking up any particular outward attitude. . As for the place, you should realise that every place is suitable for prayer. . . However in order to pray undisturbed it is possible to choose a particular place in one’s house, if practicable, as a kind of hallowed spot, and to prayer there. On Prayer 31, PG 11: 549 -52)

Cassian on Prayer ‘And when the mind mens has been established in tranquillity in tranquillitate and has been freed from the bonds of every fleshly passion omnium passionum carnalium, and the heart’s attention is unwaveringly fastened upon the one and highest good, it will fulfil the apostolic words: ‘Pray without ceasing’ (1 Thess 5: 17). / Porro quum mens fundata fuerit in tranquillitate praefata atque a nexibus omnium passionum carnalium absoluta, et illi uni ac summo bono adhaeserit tenacissima intentione, implebit apostolicum illud: Sine intermissione orate. ’

Tranquility of Prayer When our mind finds further occasions for spiritual thoughts, others creep back in and those that had been laid hold of slip rapidly away. Thus our soul (animus) has no constancy of its own, nor does it possess of its own power any immutability with regard to holy thoughts even when it seems somehow or other to hold on to them. / Quumque mens nostra repererit alias quaslibet spiritualium sensuum occasiones, rursus aliis apprehensionibus irruentibus, spirituales meditations quae apprehensae fuerunt, lubrica volubilitate diffugiunt: ita ut animus noster nullam sui constantiam retinens, nec potestate propria possidens stabilitatem cogitationum sanctarum, videatur eas fortuitu, et non ex proposito seu industria concepisse, etiam tunc quam eas aliqualiter retinet.

Four Types of Prayer ‘A supplication obsecratio is an imploring or a petition concerning sins, by which a person who has been struck by compunction begs for pardon for their present or past misdeeds’. ‘Prayer oratio are those acts by which we offer or vow something to God. ’ Postulatio – intercessions, are that ‘which we are accustomed to make for others when our spirits are fervent, beseeching on behalf of our dear ones and for the peace of the whole world’ pro pace mundi totius. Thanksgiving, gratia, whereby, ’ recalling God’s past benefits contemplating his present ones or forseeing what great things God has prepared for those how love him, offers to the Lord in unspeakable ecstasies (per excessus ineffabiles). ’

Christian Mindfulness 2 – Teresa of Avila We shall always be glancing around and saying: ‘Are people looking at me or not? ’ ‘If I take a certain path shall I come to any harm? ’ ‘Dare I begin such and such a task? ’ ‘Is it pride that is impelling me to do this? ’ ‘Can anyone as wretched as I engage in so lofty an exercise as prayer? ’ ‘Will people think better of me if I refrain from following the crowd? ’ ‘For extremes are not good’ they say, ‘even in virtue; and I am such a sinner that if I were to fail I should only have farther to fall; perhaps I shall make no progress and in that case I shall only be doing good people harm; anyway, a person like myself has no need to make herself singular!’ (M: 1. 2. 10)

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