There is a lot of interest these days in meditation. Maybe you have already discovered some of its benefits. It’s so praised by so many people. Perhaps you too have found solace in prayer, or you know of someone who has. What if you meditated as well as prayed?
As you will see further on, the two don’t oppose each other despite their differences.
In fact, they complement each other quite well. But how are they different from each other? And why is meditation stigmatized in Christian circles?
What is the Difference Between Prayer Vs Meditation?
As we examine the differences between praying and meditation, let’s clarify a question that often arises:
Can a person who prays to God also meditate? Specifically, can a Christian meditate?
Given the confusion about what meditation actually is, it’s understandable. So here are some things to clear up:
- Mediation is neither anti-Christian nor anti-monotheistic.
- Gratitude and inner peace are cultivated by both prayer and meditation.
- You can deepen your meditation through prayer, and vice versa.
Here’s why you don’t have to abandon either practice. The idea is that you should try both and find the method or approach that works best for you.
If they complement each other so well, why limit yourself to just one?
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Is it possible to pray while meditating?
Despite the fact that prayer and meditation are two separate activities, as you’ll see further on, the two can be combined to form a sort of praying meditation.
Mediation appears frequently in the Christian Bible, including this famous prescription:
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8
Words can be meditated on by dwelling on them. As a rule, Christians aren’t opposed to this type of meditation, which has more to do with voluntary thoughts than with involuntary ones.
In contrast, mindfulness meditation acknowledges and accepts whatever is already present.
A praying meditation can accommodate both.
10 Ways Prayer Is Different From Meditation
Although meditation and prayer both have some benefits in common, the following 11 differences make them distinct.
1. Prayer is directed outward. Meditation is inward.
The purpose of prayer is to connect with someone or something outside of yourself. Most commonly, this is a deity or spirit guide.
When you meditate, you connect with yourself – with your intuition or internal guidance system. You don’t have to use words, but you can recite a mantra if it helps.
All regrets about the past and worries about the future melt away. You are left with your current self and its current thoughts, sensations, and feelings.
2. Prayer depends on one’s religious faith. Mediation doesn’t.
Through prayer, one addresses external deities or spirit guides. Therefore, belief in those beings is a prerequisite to prayer. The reason for prayer disappears when there is no belief in an external guide or benefactor.
Meditating does not require belief in a personal God or benevolent spirit. Your inner wisdom is what you are tapping into, not the wisdom of others.
3. In some religions, prayer is a requirement. Not so with meditation.
Prayer is a requirement in many religions. Those who take their faith seriously are expected to do so. Devotion and prayer are synonymous in the eyes of a religious person.
Meditation is not mandatory for anyone, but it brings nothing but benefits to those who practice it regularly.
4. Through prayer, you learn the duality of God and believer; through meditation, you learn oneness.
When you pray, two people are interacting. When you meditate, there is only one. When you pray, the dual relationship between God and the believer is very important to your relationship.
In meditation, oneness with your inner guide is crucial to listening, accepting, and loving yourself. By practicing this attitude toward yourself, you become more capable of listening, accepting, and loving others.
5. When we pray, we learn childlike submission to God, but meditation does not.
You assume a submissive role when you pray – whether you are a student or a parent. In contrast, meditation does not require a submissive attitude. Your company is that of a spiritual being larger than yourself (but also a part of yourself).
Rather than supplicating, you extend the love and wisdom of that being.
6. When you pray, you speak. When you meditate, you listen.
When you pray, you are speaking to someone. In your prayers, you utilize your own words or prayers formulated by others to address a spiritual being more powerful than yourself.
Through meditation, you become aware of what is going on in your mind and heart – what you are thinking and feeling. In addition to bodily sensations and impressions from your environment, you also pay attention to your surroundings. Words are not necessary.
7. Prayer requires movement. Meditation involves stillness.
For meditation, you might adopt a specific posture, but you’re not required to do so. Meditation is about remaining still.
Prayer often involves specific postures (prostration and kneeling are the most common), hand gestures, and lifting one’s face to heaven.
Christian belief holds that the way you pray is correlated with what you believe (lex orandi lex credendi). During a prayer, body movement and posture are just as important as the words spoken.
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8. When we pray, we ask. When we meditate, we accept.
When you pray, you’re usually asking for something that you don’t yet have or asking that something happen (or not happen). It’s your petition to receive a benefit you desire.
As you meditate, you will become more aware of what is happening inside of you and in your immediate surroundings.
Meditation is about accepting transient thoughts and feelings without judging them, just as sensations come and go without your control.
9. Prayer is relational in nature. Meditation is personal.
Prayer is a relationship between the petitioner and the one being petitioned. Building on that relationship is the key to encouraging honesty, trust, and childlike audacity.
Meditation is a personal experience, independent of any relationship other than the one you have with yourself.
Still, the habit of meditating can be beneficial to all your relationships.
10. Youth find prayer easy. Maturity is required for meditation.
Praying is an easy thing for youth to learn. Children of religious families are taught how to say their prayers as soon as they learn to speak.
Meditation, however, requires some maturity and is likely beyond the patience of most toddlers.
As part of their education, school-aged children can learn the benefits of meditation without reference to any religion or spiritual practice.
11. The purpose of prayer is to address the past, present, and future. Meditation focuses on the present.
When you pray, you touch the past, present, and future. You might confess a past sin, remark on a present situation, or ask for a future blessing.
Mediation focuses on the present moment and all of the thoughts, feelings, and sensations you are experiencing at the time. It doesn’t look into the future or dwell on the past. All that matters is now.
You don’t have to choose between meditation vs prayer. They can coexist.
You do not have to be religious to pray, even though it is directed to someone outside of yourself. Having faith in an all-powerful, loving creator isn’t dependent on religion.
If you believe in a God that is a part of you, separate from you and fills everything and everyone at the same time, you can pray to this entity as easily as meditate with them.
There is no contradiction – or there doesn’t need to be.
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The 7 Benefits of Praying + Meditation
Even if you don’t pray or meditate, knowing these benefits would definitely inspire you to do either of these acts.
1- Both create peace and harmony in life, bringing more happiness to the individual.
2 – Both help strengthen psychological well-being and emotional stability. Ultimately, your mood impacts your physical health and enhances your well-being.
3 – They are both crucial to believing in goodness, which is the basis for improving yourself.
4 – The disconnection from one’s self is a major cause of suffering. Meditation and prayer help you stay connected to yourself.
5 – Both help you develop a positive attitude that will help you vibrate higher.
6 – Meditating has the significant benefit of being anti-aging, similar to those who regularly pray.
7 – Both help to relax your mind, making you feel more energetic and creative.
FAQs: Prayer vs Meditation
Why Prayer and Meditation are Important?
Prayer and meditation are important, but they are not essential. The wisest people, however, have already integrated it into their daily routine. There is one major point you need to understand.
In both prayer and meditation, you can spend time with yourself, reflect on your life, Karma, and gain wisdom to choose the right path. Connecting to higher consciousness opens up the doors of wisdom that guide you to your greater purpose.
If you think of yourself as “your best friend”, then when you meditate or pray, you are spending time with your best friend.
Meditation vs prayer which one’s better?
Both have their own power and effects, but meditation is particularly helpful in awakening the powers God has given us. In my daily routines, meditation comes first, but I am a believer in prayer so I do include prayers.
Does meditation allow you to talk to God?
The purpose of meditation is to calm the mind and learn to listen to God’s voice. During meditation, you can communicate with God, but you must listen first for the first few days.
Can meditation heal the brain?
Our brain cells are directly affected by meditation and can be allowed to settle in their natural way as they were when we were born. Today, many studies have demonstrated that meditation is effective for healing the mind and body.
Being a regular practitioner, I would say yes to this question. The brain does heal through meditation!
Final Words
I hope all of your doubts have vanished about prayer vs meditation. If you still have any question, let me in the comment box.
Be Blessed,
Andy
P.S. If you’re feeling discouraged and as though you’ll never achieve a life free of stress, health or financial worries…
Then I highly encourage you to watch this free video tutorial on how a “magical” 4-sentence prayer will make you start attracting miracles into your life in no time.
