I would say that the main differences between traditional Western religious approaches and traditional Eastern approaches has actually more to do with External vs. Internal – Cataphatic vs. Apophatic.
It may appear to be “I” vs. “We”, but in every instance one has to be still to listen to God and be in His presence via stillness. Many Western religion have a lot of external focus and chatter… while some Eastern religions’ focus is on quieting the mind and allowing superfluous thoughts to pass by without hooking into them (some of them are externally busy too!).
Unfortunately, the Cloud of Unknowing was only available to those who could read, mainly those who became monks or clerics. Royalty who could read most likely could have cared less. So with that in mind it also appears the Cloud was written expressly for those who have chosen the vocation of monk, priest or cleric, but it was available to any who were curious!
The methods outlined in the Cloud are very TMish (to draw a comparison), however ….. HERE for me is the main difference between the two…..
With TM and traditional Eastern meditation/contemplation, God is still somewhere outside you and you are efforting somehow to open yourself to be with Him….until you have had some breakthrough to allow a union.
With the Centering Prayer approach, the use of one’s INTENT to CONSENT (to giving PERMISSION) to God to be in one’s presence is at once so elegant, profound and powerful, that it becomes humbling to acknowledge that by our INTENT we usually do NOT give GOD permission to be with us.
That is a huge deal to me.
I feel as though I spent many years doing all sorts of spiritual and personal work to get beyond my own limitations…. but that was simply me — efforting.
CP/Cloud lays it out elegantly and effortlessly. With one’s permission GOD is ALLOWED to do what he wants to do most earnestly and that is simply to LOVE us, answer our prayers, and heal us. We simply need to give Him the space to enter and do his work. It is through His grace we are blessed, not our efforts.
Honestly, when my sessions are over in a flash, I am grateful because I know I was ‘fully’ receptive to God being with me. It is when my mind is wanting to be clever and be in control, that my sessions are tedious.
So, for me anyway, it is about the work that is done internally by my own intent to surrender, and by God’s Intent when with me, more than about whatever position we might perceive we are in.
One more quick thought… Eastern religious approach to meditaion is as varied as there are religions. Most Hindu’s are more into the personal relationships with the various manifestations of God, whereas most Buddhists are interested in the impersonal perfection of God… two very different polar opposites.
We in the west have simply eschewed mysticism, whether Protestant or Catholic. However, within the Catholic approach there is more openness to the mystical. Only within certain boundaries in the Fundamentalist/Charismatic expressions of faith is it ok to experience some phenom such as speaking in tounges (which I fear is less Spirit driven and more need to express by the person). Somehow the Fundamental/Charismatics have a hard time giving up control.
I know because I was raised as one, but could never completely buy it.
Whew!
Maurus
