LETTER TO THE EDITOR: KAISER PERMANENTE AMONG THOSE PUSHING MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: KAISER PERMANENTE AMONG THOSE PUSHING MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

SEE: https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/newsletters/2020/newsletter20200602.htm;

republished below in full unedited for informational, educational & research purposes:
LTRP Note: While New Age meditative practices (including “mindfulness” meditation) have integrated into all facets of our Western society, including the church, for some time, there has been an even stronger push for them since coronavirus began. Purveyors of eastern-style meditation are using the elevated levels of stress that the “pandemic” has caused to sell the idea that we need meditation practices to help alleviate that stress. The following letter to the editor gives one example (see links below for other examples).

Dear Lighthouse Trails:

I’m sending you this on the off chance you were not aware of Kaiser’s increasing mystical bent. A search for references to Kaiser or Kaiser Permanente on your site came up empty.

This morning I found email from Kaiser Permanente in my regular inbox. This isn’t unusual because my mother-in-law has been enrolled with them for some time, and Kaiser sends her several emails after each of her cancer treatments. Since she “doesn’t do the Internet,” my wife has directed Kaiser’s email to our account. I usually just drop them in a folder without reading them since they contain no info that her doctor hasn’t already given her. But among the messages today is a link to Kaiser’s “Emotional Wellness Tools,” which includes various apps for “mental health and emotional wellness.” It seems Kaiser has taken note of  “these stressful times” and has taken it upon themselves to be guardians of much more than physical health.

On one page of their website, we read:

“Everyone needs support for total health — mind, body, and spirit. These wellness apps can help you navigate life’s challenges, and make small changes to improve your sleep, mood, relationships, and more. It’s self-care made easy, designed to help you live well and thrive.”

There’s an app called “Calm” which features “More than 100 guided meditations” and other “mindfulness tools.” Another app is called “myStrength” (sic) which includes more “Mindfulness and meditation activities” as well as “Tailored programs for managing depression, stress, anxiety, and more.”

Got that? And MORE! From a mainstream healthcare provider!! I’m glad my mother-in-law isn’t computer literate, or she might be exposed to this poison.

We are living in a virtual ashram. The only antidote is the Gospel; God’s offer of eternal life as a free gift, received by simply believing in Christ as one’s Savior.

Thank you for your attention.

Charles F.

Other examples of pushing meditation because of coronavirus (posted for informational and research purposes and not as an endorsement of content or source):

Chicago Expands Mental Health Supports During COVID-19 Crisis

Headspace is offering free mindfulness courses to unemployed Americans

Governor Whitmer and Headspace Launch ‘Stay Home, Stay MIndful’ Website to Offer Free Mental Health Resources During COVID-19 Pandemic

Edward Jones: How We’re Adapting to the COVID-19 ‘New Normal’

Allianz Partners launches student support program

Coronavirus: How Nike is letting athletes teach workouts during COVID-19 pandemic

Baylor University: Global Experts Launch Online Guide for Life, Death During COVID-19 Era

Calvin University: Practicing Mindfulness in a Time of Pandemic

Religious News Service: There’s an app for that: Christian mindfulness, meditation apps find their moment

(photo from bigstockphoto.com; used with permission)