Prayer or meditation? It doesn’t have to be either/or but I have found through more than 20 years of both that there is a difference. You might call what you do prayer when it's actually meditation, or vice versa, due to their similarities. Personally, I find that I approach each practice differently.
Meditation often involves focusing on an object, such as the breath, a candle, or the repetition of a mantra. This one-pointed attention leads to various scientifically backed benefits. Meditation can induce a state of peacefulness, calm the nervous system, and reduce stress. Additionally, it has been shown to enhance concentration, improve emotional health, increase self-awareness, and promote better sleep. Regular meditation can also lower blood pressure, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and boost the immune system. While the primary focus here is not on listing all these benefits, they emphasize the profound impact meditation can have on overall well-being.
On the other hand prayer has a somewhat different dimension or intention. There may be a shared intention of peace but in prayer a relationship or connection with God/Spirit is always included.
After many years of meditation and trying to figure out which type of meditation is the best or ultimate one, I came to a type of meditation which is just listening. Not listening with the ears alone, but being open and receptive to all that moves in me. This led to the seeing and understanding that I am the stillness, space or Being in which all things arise. In this it became apparent that myself and meditation were synonymous.
After some time I was drawn to a type of prayer called centering prayer which in practicality is very similar to this open receptive listening. The intention on entering into this prayer is not to pray for specific things or people, but to be open to the presence and action of God within.
In practice, they are very similar, yet calling it prayer brings a heightened awareness of our connection and dependence on Spirit. In silence, there is emptiness and a lack of evaluation, but embracing an openness to God adds a unique and profound dimension.
Scientifically if one were able to break these kinds of things down like that, maybe no difference would be found between open receptive meditation, and silent prayer, but to have the intention of “prayer” has a unique quality.
In meditation for example, I could experience great peace, quiet and stillness and once the time of meditation has passed I might feel that “yes I meditated today. I did it. I created this spaciousness, and now I’m doing something else.” Whereas in prayer its more like “I did nothing, but surrendered myself to the Silence, and feel more connected with God/Spirit now.” The connection continues after the prayer time is over.
As I write this, I intended to illustrate a greater distinction between prayer and meditation, yet using this specific type of prayer and meditation style, they appear quite similar. However, with other forms of prayer and meditation, the contrasts become clearer. The key distinction, I believe, is that prayer involves surrender—acknowledging my lack of control and expressing gratitude for my reliance on God, fostering a conscious connection, communion, or communication with God or Spirit. In contrast, meditation typically entails directing attention to regulate our experiences. However, it also promotes non-judgmental acceptance and open awareness of thoughts, feelings, and sensations as they arise.
To pray is to give voice and expression to our deepest heart's desires, to commune and connect with the Spirit within us at the most profound level, imparting a profound sense of wholeness, faith, trust, and strengthening our connection with the divine.
While meditation can often perpetuate a separation between oneself and inner peace.., it primarily serves as a tool for enhancing mental and physical health. Engaging in meditation can benefit individuals regardless of their authenticity, genuineness, or spiritual beliefs. It can foster a deeper, genuine desire for spiritual connection in some individuals, but this is not universally the case. Moreover, meditation's positive effects on mental and physical health highlight its value as a practice that transcends spiritual inclinations.
My conclusion is that while there are similarities between meditation and prayer, prayer primarily nourishes the spiritual heart, fostering a deep connection with the divine. In contrast, meditation often serves to calm and pacify the mind, occasionally facilitating a connection with the heart as well.
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