Ask Aunt B

Dear Aunt B,

You talk about prayer and meditation in the same sentence. I have always thought they were way different things and am confused by your use of the words. Which do you do and why?

Confused

Dear Confused,

I use both words because I realize that most people hear those two words as different processes. Personally, I don’t hear them that much differently.

In my opinion, the two words mean basically the same. In meditation I try to listen to God. In prayer, I talk to God. I thought I would research a little what others are saying.

Gita Mike identified 9 differences in prayer and meditation that I found extremely interesting.

1. Prayer is to speak; meditation is to be spoken to.

2. Prayer is outward; meditation is inward.

3. To pray is to seek and meditation is to accept.

4. Prayer is dependent on belief; meditation is independent of it.

5. Sensation and perception feel different between prayer and meditation.

6. Prayer is easy for youth; meditation can be more difficult.

7. Meditation and prayer usually differ in duration.

8. Prayer is relational; meditation is individual.

9. Meditation focuses on the present and prayer can be more on the future.

I agree with most of what she says. Number 6 is where I might deviate. I believe if children would be taught meditation early, it would come very easy for them and benefit them greatly.

Interestingly enough, meditation by many people’s standards includes thinking on topics. This allowed me to reflect. When I am meditating am I thinking about a specific topic? The answer is I am trying not to think about a specific topic. I am trying to completely quiet my mind. I am trying to have no thoughts, not concentrated thoughts. My goal in meditation is to let God talk. But hey, whatever works for you is what matters.

The basis for both prayer and meditation to me is communing. I don’t get real caught up with the words people use for things. I try a bit more when I am trying to make a point for you all, but in my own practice not so much.

One of my core beliefs is that everything is either love or fear. This can sound very simple but it works for me. Not only is everything love or fear, it is very easy for me to tell which one. Love and fear show up and look very different. I bring this up because whenever I am doing prayer or meditation, I try to stay in love. Actually sometimes in prayer it is more difficult for me but only when I wait too long to pray. Only when I am requesting something from God does my prayer feel more fear based. Only when I am asking for things to go my way do I show up with fear. What do you think that says about me? Is it a lack of faith? Probably.

I would prefer prayer to be in a state of love as well. So my goal will be to pray more and sooner, rather than later. In prayer my goal will also be for my words to be more intentional and to ask more for wisdom and less for particulars.

What do you all think? Is prayer and meditation the same to you or are they different? If they are different, how are they different? What are the different ways that you meditate? What are the different ways you pray? I would love to hear from you.

Love,

Aunt B

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