Just when I thought I was free from the horrors of meditation, at least until I become Buddhist, the M-word rears its ugly head yet again.
As part of the Baha’i routine, which includes prayer three times a day, the faithful are supposed to spend time twice a day, in the morning and evening, reading a passage of Baha’i scripture and—here it comes—meditating upon its meaning.
Now, I’m an editor, so I’m on board with the scripture reading part of that prescription. Hell, I would happily read some Baha’i scripture three times a day, or even more, if that was the rule. It’s the meditation part I have a problem with.
As anybody who’s read this blog more than once or twice already knows, I suck at meditation. I have no attention span and no concentration, and spending time alone with my empty head just isn’t the healthiest thing for me. I can’t clear my mind, so all I do is dwell on negative thoughts. I can’t help it.
But the Baha’i faith insists that meditation is important for spiritual discipline, so I guess I have to try.
As author Moojan Momen puts it, “While you meditate you are speaking with your own spirit. In that state of mind you put certain questions to your spirit and your spirit answers: the light breaks forth and the reality is revealed. . . . Meditation is the key for opening the doors of mysteries.”
Oh, crap.
And, as if being required to meditate twice a day isn’t daunting enough, there’s another rule for Baha’i spiritual practice. Believers are supposed to chant a little phrase, kind of like a mantra: “Alláhu Abhá”—“God is most glorious.”
Okay, chanting is fine with me, but here’s the catch: You’re supposed to chant that phrase 95 times—that’s right, count ’em—a day.
I have no idea where the number 95 came from, but in my humble opinion, it seems just a smidge high. I don’t think there’s anything I’d really want to do 95 times a day, except maybe eat. But I’m being a good Baha’i, so I’ll chant and meditate.
Alláhu Abhá. That’s one. Only 94 more to go.
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