So Orthodox’ are supposed to never think about Christ? Or only not in prayer. Because when you think about something or someone your brain automatically puts up or creates images about the subject. How can a human being shut that down? f that would happen you are unconscious aren’t you?
No. Prayer is actual communion with God. Meditation isn't. It is the product of thinking, of your imagination. "Meditor" in Latin means "I think". Yoga is a demonic practice, meant for you to commune with Satan and his fallen angels.
@@tudormardare66 Actually, you and John Miller are both incorrect here. The form of "meditation" that Mr. Miller refers to, he is comparing to the practice of "visualization" in Yoga. THIS is the very thing that Father Hopko is warning against in this video. We are to stay away from this practice in prayer, because it comes from our own imagination and is not real. However, it's also incorrect to say that meditation is not communion with God. It definitely can and SHOULD be. However, there are different types of meditation. The use of visualization is an invalid, and dangerous form of meditation. However, meditation itself (free of fanciful imagination) is very important, as through it we contemplate the words being prayed, the Truth of Scripture, and on the Holiness of God. The Bible actually expresses the importance of correct meditation: Psalm 19:14 - Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Joshua 1:8 - This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. Psalm 77:12 - I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. 1 Timothy 4:15 - Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. So, it is very important that we as Christians DO meditate. However, we must do so only through contemplation of God’s Truth, and never through our own mental imagery or visualization. At the very least, visualizing is a vain pursuit, since it comes from ourselves. But at its worst, as you said, it could definitely lead to demonic activity.
@@artdanks4846 I said the same thing you did. It's just that I used a more restricted definition of meditation here, that is the common vulgar definition, referring to the meditation of yoga.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. 2:14
@@apostolicrestoration “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil. 4:8 “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thes. 5:17
I agree. I don't know about the stupidest thing I've ever heard, but... I get what he means as far as being careful about not worshipping an image above God. Prayer needs meditation or else its vain repetition.
What is meant here is that you should be focusing about the prayer,nothing else. And if you want to think or to imagine anything about God then that would be a spiritual deception,for God is infinite and anything that we may imagine of him is finite,so it is infinitely lesser than what God actually is,therefore it is not God but a spiritual deception my friend
words of wisdom, R.I.P. Father Thomas. greetings from Poland to my Brothers and Sisters in Christ +
What is the difference between contemplation and imagination?
So Orthodox’ are supposed to never think about Christ? Or only not in prayer. Because when you think about something or someone your brain automatically puts up or creates images about the subject. How can a human being shut that down? f that would happen you are unconscious aren’t you?
Memorization techniques like making a memory palace not a good idea then ?
In a lot of ways true prayer is almost like meditation. The yogis teach to first be still,then they tought visualization tecniques.
No. Prayer is actual communion with God.
Meditation isn't. It is the product of thinking, of your imagination.
"Meditor" in Latin means "I think".
Yoga is a demonic practice, meant for you to commune with Satan and his fallen angels.
@@tudormardare66lol , you're head is with devil.
Yoga is demonic. Pure prelest
@@tudormardare66 Actually, you and John Miller are both incorrect here. The form of "meditation" that Mr. Miller refers to, he is comparing to the practice of "visualization" in Yoga. THIS is the very thing that Father Hopko is warning against in this video. We are to stay away from this practice in prayer, because it comes from our own imagination and is not real.
However, it's also incorrect to say that meditation is not communion with God. It definitely can and SHOULD be. However, there are different types of meditation. The use of visualization is an invalid, and dangerous form of meditation. However, meditation itself (free of fanciful imagination) is very important, as through it we contemplate the words being prayed, the Truth of Scripture, and on the Holiness of God. The Bible actually expresses the importance of correct meditation:
Psalm 19:14 - Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Joshua 1:8 - This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.
Psalm 77:12 - I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.
1 Timothy 4:15 - Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
So, it is very important that we as Christians DO meditate. However, we must do so only through contemplation of God’s Truth, and never through our own mental imagery or visualization. At the very least, visualizing is a vain pursuit, since it comes from ourselves. But at its worst, as you said, it could definitely lead to demonic activity.
@@artdanks4846 I said the same thing you did.
It's just that I used a more restricted definition of meditation here, that is the common vulgar definition, referring to the meditation of yoga.
0:47 “…you’re not even supposed to be thinking. You stop thinking when you pray.” That’s one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. 2:14
@@apostolicrestoration “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil. 4:8
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thes. 5:17
I agree. I don't know about the stupidest thing I've ever heard, but... I get what he means as far as being careful about not worshipping an image above God. Prayer needs meditation or else its vain repetition.
What is meant here is that you should be focusing about the prayer,nothing else. And if you want to think or to imagine anything about God then that would be a spiritual deception,for God is infinite and anything that we may imagine of him is finite,so it is infinitely lesser than what God actually is,therefore it is not God but a spiritual deception my friend
@@JGuti-ko2xe yes: you focus on the words, which is what Fr. Tom meant. You say them as if you wrote them.