Are there any Atheists that meditate?

[Sha'irullah]

Well, are there?
I have been a big fan of Hindu philosophy and various principles found in Buddhism as well. I feel sort of awkward knowing that I am perhaps one of the few atheists that meditate

 

[mycorrhiza]

I do.

The health benefits are even scientifically supported

 

[Sees]

Most Buddhists are atheists and a good portion of them meditate daily. Before I was a theist I meditated...and still do. I don't think the theistic stance matters much for it unless doing some type of guided or journeywork meditation involving deities. Even then some will use a deity archetype that is a mask of their own self/non-self/state of mind simply as a tool.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I dont now, but did when younger.
I saw nothing mystical in it. More psychological.

 

[Sha'irullah]

Most Buddhists are atheists and a good portion of them meditate daily. Before I was a theist I meditated...and still do. I don't think the theistic stance matters much for it unless doing some type of guided or journeywork meditation involving deities. Even then some will use a deity archetype that is a mask of their own self/non-self/state of mind simply as a tool.

Sort of what I do then. I am began learning about Sufi meditation and the concept of tafakur which is nothing but deep pondering and contemplation about the world and in Muslim's case, the Qur'an. Of course that is of no concern to me but meditative pondering has always been useful. Allows me to get work done everyday.

 

[LuisDantas]

Well, are there?
I have been a big fan of Hindu philosophy and various principles found in Buddhism as well. I feel sort of awkward knowing that I am perhaps one of the few atheists that meditate

Don't. It is certainly not at all something to feel awkward about. Nor is it nearly as rare as you seem to think.

 

[LuisDantas]

Sort of what I do then. I am began learning about Sufi meditation and the concept of tafakur which is nothing but deep pondering and contemplation about the world and in Muslim's case, the Qur'an. Of course that is of no concern to me but meditative pondering has always been useful. Allows me to get work done everyday.

Sufis are certainly impressive.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I never knew any one thought that meditation was fundamentally religious.
It would seem to be both ancient and universal.

 

[LuisDantas]

I never knew any one thought that meditation was fundamentally religious.

I do. But that hardly implies that being a believer in God has anything to do with it.

It would seem to be both ancient and universal.

It is. Basic Buddhist meditation (vipassana, shamata, zazen) is as universal in purpose as it comes.

 

[bobhikes]

Well, are there?
I have been a big fan of Hindu philosophy and various principles found in Buddhism as well. I feel sort of awkward knowing that I am perhaps one of the few atheists that meditate

Meditation was taught to me in a Karate class and my son was also taught it in karate. It is very good for calming stress and focus. Don't feel awkward at all many people of all faiths and non-faiths meditate.

 

[Michael Colton]

I do not, but that is largely because whenever I hear about it the terms used all sound spiritual and incoherent to me. That being said, if one takes the OED definition of it:

Think deeply or focus one’s mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation.​

It could be argued that when I relax and listen to my favorite music while thinking about things, it is a form of 'meditation.' But I would never describe it as such due to the various spiritual connotations of the term.

 

[metis]

I am a non-theist, and yes I do meditate.

 

[YmirGF]

Well, are there?
I have been a big fan of Hindu philosophy and various principles found in Buddhism as well. I feel sort of awkward knowing that I am perhaps one of the few atheists that meditate

Yes, I am an atheist who has meditated for some time now. From my standpoint your question actually sounds a little weird.

 

[Michael Colton]

Yes, I am an atheist who has meditated for some time now. From my standpoint your question actually sounds a little weird.

I agree with others who have said the original poster should not feel alone in their meditation - it is not an uncommon occurrence. But I assume the question was a response to atheists, such as myself, that find the spiritual aspect odd or difficult to comprehend. When people try to describe meditation to me in spiritual terms I quite literally do not understand what they mean. I have had several people try to explain Abhijñā to me, but it all sounds nonsensical to me. But if someone were to say, "I use such and such tools to relax myself and relieve stress," I understand and can relate to that.

 

[YmirGF]

I agree with others who have said the original poster should not feel alone in their meditation - it is not an uncommon occurrence. But I assume the question was a response to atheists, such as myself, that find the spiritual aspect odd or difficult to comprehend. When people try to describe meditation to me in spiritual terms I quite literally do not understand what they mean. I have had several people try to explain Abhijñā to me, but it all sounds nonsensical to me. But if someone were to say, "I use such and such tools to relax myself and relieve stress," I understand and can relate to that.

I see now, thanks. I've just been at it so long that I've forgotten about all the mumbo-jumbo. For me, meditation is a quiet downtime used to wander through the doorways of the psyche.

 

[Sha'irullah]

I agree with others who have said the original poster should not feel alone in their meditation - it is not an uncommon occurrence. But I assume the question was a response to atheists, such as myself, that find the spiritual aspect odd or difficult to comprehend. When people try to describe meditation to me in spiritual terms I quite literally do not understand what they mean. I have had several people try to explain Abhijñā to me, but it all sounds nonsensical to me. But if someone were to say, "I use such and such tools to relax myself and relieve stress," I understand and can relate to that.

This has been my primary issue with things like meditation. I have always feared that atheists will ignore it because of the superstition associated with it. Chakras, ruh and samsara tend to be major themes in meditation and frankly that is not the case.
Meditation is always made to seem as if it is more than what it is. All meditation is, is the power to control your own mental state. To go from unfocused to focused and from stressed to relaxed.

 

[Michael Colton]

This has been my primary issue with things like meditation. I have always feared that atheists will ignore it because of the superstition associated with it. Chakras, ruh and samsara tend to be major themes in meditation and frankly that is not the case.
Meditation is always made to seem as if it is more than what it is. All meditation is, is the power to control your own mental state. To go from unfocused to focused and from stressed to relaxed.

It is quite true that I will not partake in something that I believe is full of inane superstition. If it is as simple as focusing (which is one of those terms that I think needs explanatory details because it is also often used in pseudo-superstitious ways, ie, what exactly does someone mean by 'focusing your mind'?) and relaxation, why do people insist on attaching superstition to it?

I will grant that not all do - there are some folks I have met that use the physiological tools of meditation (breathing and such) but refuse to use all of the spiritual terms. That is when I can relate and say that I have my own methods of relaxation.

 

[Sha'irullah]

It is quite true that I will not partake in something that I believe is full of inane superstition. If it is as simple as focusing (which is one of those terms that I think needs explanatory details because it is also often used in pseudo-superstitious ways, ie, what exactly does someone mean by 'focusing your mind'?) and relaxation, why do people insist on attaching superstition to it?

I will grant that not all do - there are some folks I have met that use the physiological tools of meditation (breathing and such) but refuse to use all of the spiritual terms. That is when I can relate and say that I have my own methods of relaxation.

I fully understand how you feel honestly. My biggest gripe as of now are atheists who claim to be "spiritual" and love this New Thought/New Age silliness. I just do not understand it or why they wish to be apart of it.
This is why I do not tell other atheists I meditate since they will immediately assume I am "spiritual".

I love reading into religious text and especially Hindu and Sufi stuff but I just rip out the religious garbage

 

[LuisDantas]

Don't assume religion implies belief in God or in "Spirituality", Philotech.

It is a pet belief of mine that such beliefs are instead usually obstacles to religious practice.

 

[Sha'irullah]

Don't assume religion implies belief in God or in "Spirituality", Philotech.

It is a pet belief of mine that such beliefs are instead usually obstacles to religious practice.

I actually think religion can be very beneficial if every last single shred of the superstition, theistic and metaphysical baggage was dropped. They would become ethical philosophies if anything.
This is why I love philosophy I my add