Prayer vs. Meditation-What’s the Difference?
When I talk about meditation during keynote speeches, or teach meditation techniques at workshops and to coaching clients, people often ask me:
“Is prayer the same as meditation? What’s the difference?”
Sometimes prayer looks like meditation (and vice versa). They are related activities that support each other, although there are countless people who pray without meditating, or who meditate without ever praying. Which, of course, is just fine.
For me, prayer and meditation are both critical components of daily living, and the difference in how I use them is fairly simple:
Prayer is the process of bringing your being into alignment with the Divine (which, incidentally, is always in agreement with your Essential Self, but not necessarily in agreement with your ego).
Meditation is the process of training your mind to support your ability to live in a prayerful way.
Prayer is a conversation. A speaking and listening. The investment in your relationship with Something Bigger (whatever name you use for That).
Meditation is a discipline that awakens your ability to use your mind as a tool (rather than identifying with your thoughts or emotions). Meditation also enhances prayer, because it improves your capacity for knowing what to ask, how to recognize when you are receiving an answer and how to act according with guidance that supports your Essential Self—even when your ego is rebelling.
I meditate, in part, to be better at praying, and sometimes, when I am too overwhelmed or confused to pray, meditation techniques calm and focus me and allow my natural connection to Source to re-emerge in my consciousness.
And I pray because I AM, and I don’t know how to live without praying.
Today, I offer prayerful thanks for you, for reading this, for giving me a reason to write and reflect, and for just BE-ING.
I hope you will take a moment today to celebrate YOU with me.
Abundant Blessings to you and yours,
kimberly
The Manifestation Maven
http://Facebook.com/KimberlyVSchneider
Author of Everything You Need Is Right Here: Five Steps to Manifesting Magic and Miracles
(Avalon Emerging Press, 2012)
Download the first chapter for free now at www.KimberlySchneider.com/go
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May 25th, 2012 at 11:05 am
Thanks for sharing this Kimberly. Sometimes I feel like religion is a “bad word” so people are more comfortable admitting that they meditate. The bottom line seems like we all want a connection with God or the Divine.
May 25th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Exactly Tracy! Meditation and prayer aren’t at odds at all. I see you design communion dresses–what a fun job! Blessings, kimberly
July 19th, 2012 at 7:57 am
Kimberly,
Thanks for sharing this. I think there is a lot of confusion out there between the two, but you cleared it up quite nicely! I have been meditating for about a year now, but I have definitely lacked in the prayer department. You have inspired me today to get praying more.
July 19th, 2012 at 8:08 am
Joshua I’m so glad this was helpful! Let me know if adding the prayer element shifts things for you. Blessings, kimberly