There are many different types of New Age meditations that promise a vast range of benefits, everything from spiritual enlightenment to psychic healing. These practices include techniques for centering prayer, creative visualization, Zen and Buddhist practices, yoga, and other energy-based meditations. Most of these forms of meditation begin by chanting a mantra in an attempt to enter a trance-like state.

According to a Hindu tradition, a mantra (or sacred Sanskrit word) is given to the student to meditate on twice a day. Once the instructor gives the student a mantra, that person is never to divulge it to another person. The student is then advised to repeat the mantra over and over again while "assuming a passive and accepting posture."

On one New Age website a list of mantras is offered to help people overcome various life issues along with a corresponding list of meanings for each mantra. For example, the "Ganesha Om Gum Ganapatayei Namaha" chant is asking a spiritual entity named Ganesha to remove all obstacles in a person's life.¹

"Lakshmi Om Shrim Mahalakshmiyei Swaha" is addressing a feminine energy asking her to bestow all manners of wealth in a person's life. "Durga Om Dum Durgayei Namaha" is another feminine energy that has a hundred arms, each equipped with a different weapon of destruction. By chanting this mantra, the participants pay tribute to Durga and ask her to protect them from all negative influences.²

Other forms of New Age meditation are more contemplative. Instead of chanting a mantra to invoke various gods and goddesses, one metaphysical site recommends a more direct approach by saying: "Set your spiritual intent to contact your spirit guide. If you like, do a prayer to ask for spiritual support as you make contact with your spirit guide.

"Call in your spirit guide. Start to open up your awareness of their presence. You may see them, feel their presence, hear them communicating, or somehow just know they are there. Without speaking, ask your spirit guide if they have a message for you.

"After a few minutes, or when that feels complete, bring your palms together in front of your heart. Finish by saying, thank you to your spirit guide for all their support in life. Let go of focusing on your spirit guide and focus your attention on yourself."³

Although these types of practices may sound alluring to those who are hungry for deeper spiritual encounters, they are very dangerous because they are an open door for demonic influence. Once the doorway has been opened to the demonic by chanting mantras or inviting spirit guides into your life, it will be very difficult to get these entities to leave. These entities may seem very helpful at first, but after they develop a stronghold in a person's life, they will hinder that person's relationship with God, and lead them into deeper forms of bondage along with a never-ending search for enlightenment.

Although Catholics are encouraged to meditate on Sacred Scripture and practice contemplative prayer as defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church under sections 2709–2719, they are not allowed to chant mantras to demonic entities or invite spirit guides into their lives.

 

Scripture Passages to Set the Captives Free

 

"Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night." — Psalm 1:1–2

"Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your decrees are my meditation." — Psalm 119:97–99

"With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord. I will keep your statutes. I cry to you; save me, that I may observe your decrees. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I put my hope in your words. My eyes are awake before each watch of the night, that I may meditate on your promise." — Psalm 119:145–148

 

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