Some of my most intense and powerful meditation experiences have been while practicing at spiritually vibrated locations. Much to explore in the realm of spiritual practice, much unknown.
Yet, in the absence of illuminating convicting knowledge of the finished work of Christ, through His incarnation and cross, true reconciliation with and salvation in God is impossible. Meditative mysticism alone is not salvation.
But meditative practice in light of sanctification in the Lord post-arising of revelatory faith is needful and beneficial. As is meditative preparation of the mind-ground prior to arising of revelatory faith.
"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:7-11 ESV)
These verses from Paul are among my top favourites in the entire Bible. So much meaning and wisdom in them that I cannot even begin to unravel and fathom this in my life. The journey continues from infinity to infinity. But what is clear is this: the truly spiritual life is not one of self-aggrandizement with all its burdens but of self-forgetfulness with all its freedoms, not one of puffing up but a gentle movement of humbling down. A spiritual life is inextricably wedded to a contemplative life.
A contemplative life is in many respects a J-shaped life (see Paul E. Miller): dying and rising, again and again. Dropping down to the depths and rising up to the heights, carried by grace and drenched in love. It is a life of dying to the autonomous self, the encumbrance of ego, only to be raised again into new joy of a life utterly dependent on the Absolute who became flesh for us.
It is a life of meeting anguish and suffering, inconveniences and disappointments, despair and darkness, even death itself, and rising through the grave—endless samsara—by the strength of Spirit not of this world. A J-shaped life of contemplative communion, much like the life of Jesus.
