Friday, July 14, 2006
Metanoia and Meditation
John the Baptist preached "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand." Or did he? the Greek work usually translated in the New Testament as repent is μετάνοια or metanoia.
But:
"Metanoia is therefore primarily an after-thought, different from the former thought; a change of mind accompanied by regret and change of conduct, "change of mind and heart", or, "change of consciousness." (Wikipedia article "Repent.")
And if "meta" means after, that makes it much closer to meditation, "after or beyond thinking" i.e. focusing and stilling the mind. Also, the Greek work for sin, ἁμαρτία or harmatia, means something closer to "an arrow missing it's mark" rather than regret.
Maybe the intended meaning is something like: "To reach the kingdom, stop missing the mark by meditating. For the kingdom is within you."
In fact, the Eastern Orthodox practice of Hesychasm is very close to the practice, very common in Eastern religions, of stopping and focusing the mind on a single thing or point, such as a koan, sound ( aum, for example) or name of Buddha (Ahmitaba in Pure Land sects.)
But:
And if "meta" means after, that makes it much closer to meditation, "after or beyond thinking" i.e. focusing and stilling the mind. Also, the Greek work for sin, ἁμαρτία or harmatia, means something closer to "an arrow missing it's mark" rather than regret.
Maybe the intended meaning is something like: "To reach the kingdom, stop missing the mark by meditating. For the kingdom is within you."
In fact, the Eastern Orthodox practice of Hesychasm is very close to the practice, very common in Eastern religions, of stopping and focusing the mind on a single thing or point, such as a koan, sound ( aum, for example) or name of Buddha (Ahmitaba in Pure Land sects.)
