Many people in Western cultures have adopted practices like mindfulness and yoga derived from Eastern religions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism, to help cope with the stresses of modern living and to obtain a deeper sense of mental and physical wellness. However, there is a long history of Christian practices that have been neglected in the West.
Recent spiritual writers, such as Thomas Merton, John Main, and Thomas Keating, have emphasized that these Christian practices may lead to improvements in mental and physical health; however, they have a deeper purpose in awakening us to an experience of the loving presence of God. This indwelling presence is mentioned in the Gospel of John (14:17) as well as in St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians (1:27).
