Category Archives: Ecumenical Christian

Tantra, Christianity, and Sex

Hi everyone, my name is Dave Miller and I’m the author of Christian Tantric Meditation Guide, now available at Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com in paperback and ebook forms. I’m here today to answer some questions that people have been asking about Christian Tantric Meditation. It seems that Christian people ask the question, why include Tantra, Non-Christians ask why include Christianity, and a lot of people ask whether this practice involves sex in any way.

To answer the first question, Tantra includes several practices that can be easily adapted to almost any religion or tradition. The concepts of energy centers and flowing breath energy are actually common to many if not all human cultures and religions, including Christianity. The practices of self emptying, Divine Communion or Guruyoga, and Compassion are also common to many if not all cultures and religions.

To answer the second question, which was why Christianity, Tantric Guruyoga meditation can be practiced with saints in mind or teachers or revered ancestors, or even Deities from other traditions. In practicing Christian Tantric Meditation, we visualize Jesus the Christ as our Guru and connection with Divinity.   We also visualize 3 energy centers or chakras rather than the 7 usually visualized in Yogic or Tantric practices. These chakras correspond to the mind, center of thought and hope, the heart, center of love, and the core, center of faith and wisdom.

Now to answer the third question, what about sex? Its true that there are many books and programs that describe Tantric practice in sexual terms. Those practices generally involve Chakras associated with sexual energy. Again, Christian Tantric Meditation utilizes Mind, Heart, and Core Chakras. With regard to sexuality, in Judeo-Christian Scripture the creation story tells us that a whole being adam was divided into male and female counterparts, Adam and Eve. Scripture also describes the female aspect of God as being Sophia or Wisdom. Christian Tantric Meditation recognizes that we are made in the image of God, having both male and female character attributes. So in meditation, we strive for developing wholeness and balance within ourselves, Consciously, Spiritually, physically in terms of taking care of ourselves, and in relationships also.

So, I hope this little video blog was helpful in answering questions you may have regarding CTM. If you have any other questions, feel free to visit our contact page at ecumenicalwellness.org/contact-us, and there is also a Facebook group called Ecumenical Meditation Insights for sharing meditation techniques, questions, and experiences as well. For people local to Atlanta Georgia in the US, we are now offering meditation workshops in Gainesville and Cumming Georgia, visit ecumenicalwellness.org/workshops for more details. If there is an interest in workshops outside of the Atlanta area, visit the website and let us know, we’re always willing to share.

Christian Tantric Meditation Introduction

Excerpt from my recently published book Christian Tantric Meditation Guide.

“Imagine sitting in an open field in the middle of a clear moonless night. Imagine seeing a vast panorama of stars from horizon to horizon. Now think about the burdens of life – including money, family, job stresses and anxieties and depressions we don’t even know the source of. As we feel the weight of these forces, the beautiful and awe inspiring view fades until we no longer notice it at all.

Now imagine being in the same field, but this time with a mind and a body that are completely transparent. The field, the stars, the air, and the earth are all a part of our being. The awesome beauty, the power of the moment, the gentleness of the breeze, the hardness of the ground, and the chill of the settling dew all become a part of our existence. This is the power of mindfulness, to be completely present and transparent.

Having developed a sense of complete transparency, imagine sensing the existence of a power much greater than ourselves. The majesty of the vista that our transparent body participates in witnesses to a Creative Being that is part of and beyond the creation we participate in. Our very existence bears witness to this Being’s loving nature, bringing forth life and nurture in the midst of this majestic openness.

In recognizing the existence of this Creative Being, we also recognize the Divine nature that is a part of who we are, giving us the power to think, and to love, and to reach beyond the confines of our human flesh that anchors us to the ground. We sense Divine Thought, Love, and Wisdom reaching out to us, embracing us, filling us with hope, love, and faith.

We sense our own Divine Nature glowing within us, like a beacon in the night, part of creation and in communion with the Creator who has chosen out of love to be a part of us. Filled to the point of overflowing, we sense the Divine attributes of hope, love, and faith emanating from us and touching others. Our Divine body glows with a Divine Light.

Finally, having recognized our nature as being transparent and Divine, we find ourselves recognizing other living creatures around us in this open field on this clear night. Our consciousness widens to recognize plants and animals in the field. Our consciousness widens even further to recognize people whom we love and people whom we dislike, those whom we know, and others whom we don’t know. We recognize both the aspirations and the suffering that we hold in common with all living beings, the aspirations for freedom and happiness, and the suffering that comes when our aspirations are disappointed. Recognizing our common aspirations and common suffering draws out a sense of compassion for ourselves and for others. We recognize our own humanity.

Having recognized our transparent Spirit selves, our glowing Divine selves, and our living Human selves, we feel whole and at peace, and all the aspects of who we are draw together into one. We simply are – individuals connected with Others, Creation, and the Divine Creator.

In this open field, we are witnesses to the open transparency, the living Divinity, and the aspirations and suffering that all humans, indeed all of creation, hold in common. We feel both humbled and joyful. We breathe deeply and with a sense of gratitude.”

What In the World is an Ecumenical Christian?

The dictionary says that the word “Ecumenical” means universal, and that the word is usually applied to promoting unity within the Christian faith. The root of the word comes from the Greek Oikos, which means “house.” This ever shrinking world we call “earth” is our home. We are all neighbors, we are all family members, and wouldn’t it be nice if we all tried to be friends as well?

When I think about what it means to be an Ecumenical Christian, I start by asking myself: what does it mean to have a good friend? I think in terms of someone who accepts me for who I am, loves me unconditionally, and believes in me.

What does it mean to accept someone for who they are? The core of who I am is defined by my Christian faith, my family life, my occupation, and many other factors. So naturally I appreciate a friend who respects and accepts me as a Christian, a family man, and as a licensed counseling minister.

I also love music, I love to fish and garden, I love to write, and I’m also a certified EMC engineer. I appreciate a friend who respects and accepts these aspects of who I am as well.

I’ll admit, I don’t particularly like it when people point out my faults. But if I’m struggling with an issue, I like having a friend who offers help and support. And if I’m not ready to accept help, I like being able to say “no thank you,” and still know that my friend will be there for me. I also like knowing that my friend is familiar with my gifts and strengths, and believes that my goals and ambitions are achievable, especially when I doubt myself.

When I think about the characteristics I appreciate in a friend, I think of some of the words that Jesus had to say on the subject. Words like “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Then I think of some of the friends who I am blessed to have. I have friends who are Christians of all varieties, including Evangelical, Ecumenical, and Catholic. I have friends who are Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, “New Age”, Hindu, and Atheist. I have many friends who are not sure of what faith represents who they are.

I also have friends who are married, single, with children, without children, male, female, gay, straight, bisexual, and just not sure of who they are yet.

For me, being an Ecumenical Christian means being a Christian who recognizes that we are all connected, we are all family, and who tries to accept, love, and believe in others.  An Ecumenical Christian tries to be patient and available when a someone needs help, and looks for and encourages the strengths and gifts within others.

And this is what I bring to my therapeutic practice. I love working with people of all faiths and orientations, and I strive to accept and love and celebrate the diversity of cultures and faiths and orientations that people bring to therapy. I help people to identify and build on the gifts and fruits that they bring with them, and I love seeing the light that shines in a person’s eyes when he or she realizes how loved and gifted they really are.

Dave Miller,

LAPC, NCC, MACC, MTS, and NCE

July 9, 2014