Is Mindfulness Integratable with Christianity?

Over the past 30-some-odd years since mindfulness made its way Westward, the influences of Western thought and science (particularly neuroscience). have had an impact on our understanding of mindfulness and the meditative arts with the aid of such revolutionaries as Jon Kabat-Zinn, Daniel Siegel, Sharon Salzberg, and Jack Kornfield (to name just a few such luminaries). Some (i.e.; Buddhist purists) may not see this as a good thing. My notion of this is there is a fear that Buddhist thought and psychology will be watered down by Western marketing of mindfulness. This is not altogether inaccurate. But, in my mind at least, it would not be much different than saying Christianity is watered down by the proliferation of Christian books, Christian music, a proliferation of versions of Scripture (including one of my personal favorites - the Life Recovery Bible.

What I think is more salient in this discussion is that geometrically growing advances in neuroscience have helped us to see that much of what the Buddha taught about the mind now has empirical verification; something more plausible to the Western mind and, yes, more marketable. Who loves self-help books more than the American public (to the tune of about $10 billion dollars annually)? One particularly important contribution to this knowledge is Rick Hanson's Buddha's Brain: The practical neuroscience of happiness, love and wisdom (2009) and his lovely and practical Just one thing: Developing a Buddha brain one simple practise at a time (Hanson, Rick, 2011).

I tell you all this because it is one set of evidence that the Buddha did not create these ideas but simply observed them and coded them in a simple set of principals. Coming, as I do, from an unashamed Christian Worldview, it is likely more satiable to many Christians to discuss how mindfulness and meditative practises (like formal medication, mindful living, and contemplative prayer) weigh out on the scale of God's Word. It would be difficult in light of current neurological evidence to deny the plethora of benefits that mindfulness seems to afford its practitioners. From what we now know of brain plasticity, there are many ways the brain (and thus the mind) is constantly malleable to new learning. Literally, through mindfulness practises we can exercise our brains and minds so as to develop them in ways that benefit us.

One purpose of this humble blog is to create discussions on how what we are learning can be grafted into our growing field of the integration of Psychology and Christianity.If we can but leave the notion that we are somehow swallowing Buddhism (whether in religious or psychological form) hook, line, and sinker, we may find that once again the creature has brought something to bear on our understanding of the Creator.

In future posts I hope to explore the integration of mindfulness and mindful living into practical Christianity and demonstrate any way it can be utilized to help us to grow and better serve the Kingdom of God, I also hope to make cases that it has the potential to enhance Bible study, prayer, fellowship, Christian service, and personal reflection and change.

Is mindfulness for everyone? I wish it were so, but admit that likely it is not. Can one benefit from any of it without feeling the unconscious desire to run off to the Himalayas and join an Ashram. If this is your worry, I commend to you a sage piece of wisdom delivered to those who first venture skeptically into a Twelve Step Program such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

"Take what you can and leave the rest. But keep coming back..."

Mindfulness: Can a Buddhist Concept be Compatible with Christianity

Before I ever studied Psychology (the study of the mind), I received my Master's degree in Theology (the study of God). Ever since, I have been fascinated with the integration of Theology and Psychology. My foundational belief for this integration is that all truth is God's truth. Therefore, however truth is uncovered, it is still truth and, for my purposes, usable and valuable. So, for example, an atheist could conceivably uncover some morsel of truth. The fact that he or she would be unlikely to attribute this truth to a God they do not believe exists, nonetheless does not make it less a truth. 

If you follow me on Facebook, then you might remember that I have before written that the fact that the Buddha discovered Mindfulness, so to speak, does not mean he invented it; no more than Isaac Newton's discovery of God's law of gravity makes it his invention. In both cases, they belong to God. So, as I have studied the Buddhist psychological concept of mindfulness, I view it separately from the religious notions of Buddhism.  In other words, integration is the attempt to parcel out that which is in tune with God's truth. I should hasten to mention here that another foundational belief I hold is that the Scriptures are the "revealed Word of God" (not my notion, but Scripture's claim about itself), and therefore the source of truth whenever it speaks. I use Scripture, then, as a sort of sieve through which I can filter psychological notions to see what "pans out" as consistent with revealed truth. This brings me to my point of this musing (bet you thought I'd never get there).

As I study the interpreters of the Buddhist concept of mindfulness to us Westerners, I attempt to separate that which seems to align with Biblical truth from that which does not. This is a primary reason I (as well as most of the interpreters of mindfulness to a Western mentality) distinguish Buddhist psychology from Buddhism (as a religion).  For instance, I am a great fan of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddist monk from Vietnam Nam.  He, in my opinion, is one of the clearest interpreters of mindfulness to the Western world. But when he speaks of Buddhism in the more religious sense, I depart ways with him.  I do not, however, throw out the proverbial baby with the bath water. Whatever truth about mindfulness survives the sifting process, is therefore usable and valuable to me.

I will speak to the many values of mindful living in a near future blog. But, let me make this one important (at least to me) distinction that for me mindful living has served to enhance my conscious contact with God, and therefore my overall spirituality. This single benefit alone has made my own personal study and practice of mindful living beneficial.

Originally posted Apr. 8, 2014 on Dr. Allen's Musings

Welcome to Dr. Stephen C. Allen's Mindful Musings.

 If you followed me on my other blog, Dr. Allen's Musings (sallencounseling.blogspot.com), thanks for checking out this new endeavor. If you are new to my blogs altogether, I welcome you as well.

 Mindful Musings is a place where I "think out loud" about the art and science of mindfulness and, more specifically, about the integration of mindfulness concepts and skills with Christianity. Some have referred to this as Christ-mindfulness. I am endeavoring, here, to explore ways in which the well researched benefits of mindfulness and mindful living can be utilized by Christians to enhance their pursuit of Christ-likeness (Sanctification). For example, can learning to be better aware ( a distinct outcome of practicing mindfulness) assist the believer in being more sensitive and responsive to the Holy Spirit's role in making us like Christ. I have written in my other blog (sallencounseling.blogspot.com) about some of the tangible ways I believe mindfulness has benefited me in my own quest for spiritual growth. I hope to build on this theme here.

I cordially invite you to embark on this journey with me. Check in often and, if you like what you see, tell others to check it out as well. In the very near future I will consider how mindfulness can be a resource for prayer, Bible study, personal Christian growth, fellowship, and as many other notions as come to mind. And let me say from the outset, everything written here is my notion and not intended to be taken as anything but. Agree or disagree (hopefully in a direct response post), but at least ponder some of these humble musings. I wish to have a dialogue not a monologue.

I consider you all friends. As a seminary professor of mine once told me, a good definition of a friend is "someone with whom you can share your most profound heresies." Please know that I sincerely pray that what I share will only help build the Kingdom and you as a fellow Kingdom dweller. In closing this post, I offer this sage advice from the Twelve-step tradition, " Take what you can and leave the rest."  Selah.