Abstract
The idea of meditation is a multivocal expression in current discourse. First, there is a need to proceed from the context of semantics. The fact is that the usual level of usage of this term covers several levels of understanding: meditation as a mental prayer in the Christian tradition; the method of internalization with Eastern, non‑Christian spiritual movements; the reflection of excerpts of holy Islamic texts; or a philosophical treatise, a literary essay or a psychotherapy technique including popularizing approaches to the usage of this term (meditative music or meditation with a picture). That is why the term meditation is part of broader elements in religious life and, being a phenomenon of human culture and religiousness, has common features. At the same time, however, the term Christian meditation has principal and unmistakable specifics. The biblical basis of early monastic practice, expressed in the terms meditari – meditatio, determines the use of criterion as to what meditation is from the Christian and theological point. The starting point for understanding the relationship between the Scripture reading and the oldest forms of meditation is monastic religiousness, when the reading of Scripture became a certain kind of sacrament and an important guideline for searching one’s conscience. In meditation Christ gives himself to us as nourishment.
Highlights
The idea of meditation is a multivocal expression in current discourse
There is a need to proceed from the context of semantics
The fact is that the usual level of us‐ age of this term covers several levels of understanding: meditation as a mental prayer in the Christian tradition; the method of internalization with Eastern, non‐Christian spiri‐ tual movements; the reflection of excerpts of holy Islamic texts; or a philosophical treatise, a literary essay or a psychotherapy technique including popularizing approaches to the usage of this term
Summary
Současné pojetí spirituality a pojem meditace (lectio divina) jako odraz filokalického hnutí v křesťanské praxi U. von Balthasara, můžeme zde zjistit styčné body, jimiž spirituální teologie může dosti dobře popsat současné pojetí spiritualit s roz‐ lišením toho, co pojmenovává jako vybočení z teologické klasifikace, nebo naopak – možná překvapivě – jako autentickou součást křesťanské zkušenosti.[16] Obsah jeho definice je obecný: Spiritualita je základní praktický a existenciální postoj, který vyjadřuje jeho nábo‐ ženskou existenci a etickou angažovanost tím, že determinuje aktivně a habituálně jeho životní cestu v síle objektivní intuice, dodejme prověřovanou životní zkuše‐ ností, a jeho rozhodnutí, která mají definitivní charakter.[17]
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