I am struggling to come to terms with a book and workshop on biblical meditation that is popular in our church’s women’s ministry, and will be taught at am upcoming large conference. The book uses some scriptures, but the framework is yoga philosophy. We are learning about the journey to the Atman and the five koshas of perception, the subtle body and concepts (e.g. pain on one side of our bodies represents solar energy and the male figures in our life, while pain on the other side represents lunar / female influences) and how to deal with emotional blocks so that the Holy Spirit can move freely around our bodies. It’s being taught that Om is the most powerful mantra to chant, one that God put into creation. So many folks are loving it, and I feel like the Eeyore at the party because I am having trouble embracing it. This may be partly because I know and love some folks who have stopped following Jesus since finding their spirituality in concepts like these. I don’t have trouble doing some yoga asanas in the right setting. I am having a lot of trouble merging meditation that seeks to quiet the mind—until God shows us our pure soul—with what I read in the Bible about meditation. Last, how reliable are extrabiblical concepts of the soul and of the subtle body? What is the biblical concept of the soul? — E.M.
Sorry to be so un-prompt in my reply! Sometimes I get very backed up with the Q&A, even 5-10 years. So now I am reading your question.
What you describe sounds thoroughly pagan, although I recognize that there are some Christian elements thrown in. Avoid it! Biblical meditation is pondering the Lord and his Word… not emptying our mind, but filling it with good things. Eastern meditation, in contrast, opens one’s mind up to anything and everything.
Not all aspects of such meditation are wrong, however. Measuring our breathing, finding a quiet space to meditate, etc., are good. Yoga, insofar as it helps us to be in better condition, can be quite useful – but not when it is packaged in Hinduism!
As for extrabiblical concepts of the soul, I don’t think they are accurate. Moreover, purity is a biblical concept, but “pure soul” isn’t a biblical concept. I have tried to elucidate the biblical truths about the soul at the website, and you should find many articles there. For example, Q&A 0179. See also Q&A 1308, on Meditation. (There are many more.) Hope this helps!
