2006-08-27 08:06:10 · 20 answers · asked by Assad 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
ive heard it best described this way...
prayer is when you talk to God
meditation is when you listen
2006-08-27 08:17:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you mean mediation or meditation. Because mediation is a resolving of an issue, someone is appointed to help the parties come to a resolution.
Meditation is a form of soul searching, thinking things through, from what experiences we have had, searching for the meaning of life and so on.
Prayer is speaking to God, a lot of people recite prayers learned from parents, school, church. Imagine you are God wouldn't you rather have a conversation with your creation rather then hearing the same thing over and over again, Jesus taught us how to pray by saying what we now call the Lord's Prayer. This was just a format. We first must acknowledge God's greatness, "Our Father who are in heaven, hollowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven." this acknowledges that we accept that God is great and all knowing. If we continue we are asking for something, "give us this day our daily bread, forgive us
lead us not into temptation but deliver us" these are all requests made to God our Father. Do you see the order of prayer here?
Acknowledge His Greatness, then ask and you will receive. May God help you threw your search for spirituality.
2006-08-27 08:23:47 · answer #2 · answered by Neptune2bsure 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mediation is where one actively pursues a state of spiritual enlightenment by focusing on the self through physical attributes like breathing, body posture, scents using candles or incense. It is a focus on the self.
However, prayer (true prayer, not just wishful speaking) is a focus on God and activating Him through our conversing with Him.
I used to believe they were one in the same...that prayer was just a focused meditation. But once I learned otherwise, I found that there is a vast difference between the two. Now you might hear now and again the term, "mediating on God's Word." I have found that this merely means to focus on His Word, praying on it and keeping it in our hearts to recieve more guidance through His Holy Spirit. It does not mean to focus on the self, is focuses on God to help the self. There is a huge difference.
2006-08-27 08:39:09 · answer #3 · answered by Bible Trekker 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mediation-action in mediating between parties, as to effect an agreement or reconciliation.
Prayer-wasting time; hoping for something to happen.
2006-08-27 08:10:43 · answer #4 · answered by shadowtemplar 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When you pray you ask for something. When you meditate you do so to center yourself and to clear your mind of worldly desires. You can sit and mediate or do it during every day tasks. Like martial arts!
Meditation is NOT hypnosis, it is the opposite. You're so focused your senses are enhanced and you act out of no mind. Take it from a buddhist.
2006-08-27 08:12:07 · answer #5 · answered by Helen Boucher 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not much. You may get some deep insights about yourself when you mediate. In prayer, you ask for something but don't get it. But both can be relaxing.
2006-08-27 08:10:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Meditation is to clear your mind from everything except one single thought - either to leave it blank, or to focus on an idea, an image, whatever it may be. Prayer is talking to God. Both are good, but one cannot be substituted for the other.
2006-08-27 08:37:13 · answer #7 · answered by Nathan 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think mediation is what you need an attorney for... prayer is when you want to talk with God.
2006-08-27 08:09:22 · answer #8 · answered by more than a hat rack 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the Biblical definition, David says he "meditates" on God's law daily. He strong's dictionary defines this word as "to murmur or to ponder." When David would meditate on the word, he would repeat it over and over until he would get the word down into his soul. Meditation is for you. Prayer is supplication and worshipping God. It's communication between Him and you.
2006-08-27 08:25:24 · answer #9 · answered by shybusch 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my religion meditation is when you reflect on existance. To concentrate/contemplate on life, the reasons, the answers, and your own peace/truth(not similar to the next). And you pray to give thanks to THE GOD. You can converse with THE GOD when you meditate. For it is HIS peace that wills meditation. And prayers are to give thanks and praise. And I am not a christian. I don't ask for anything in my prayers because our will should not have an out come of us praying for forgiveness to our sins. My malice is always pardoned because it is never a sin. Only ill will. The only thing I ask god is to be GOD. The only true thing HE should be asked. And prayers are to simply give thanks. But you can converse while meditating. To either THE GOD or your ancestors. PEACE!
2006-08-27 08:21:15 · answer #10 · answered by Mitchell B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Meditation is letting yourself relax and leave the stress of the day behind, filling yourself with peacefulness.
Prayer is talking to God.
2006-08-27 08:14:22 · answer #11 · answered by fuzzylilhippiechick 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋