Prayer vs. Meditation

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[isaiahxp]

These are the linguistic technicalities that cause misunderstanding. In the English Psalter it reads: But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he MEDITATE day and night.

[milagroman]

Why would I waste my time meditating when I could be praying? Focusing on God calms me down a whole lot more than thinking about myself.

[athenagoras.v]

I get the sense that people are understanding meditation in this sense as some eastern spiritual practice rather than rational contemplation and thinking.

[bondockz]

He doesn't realize he is actually meditating, he just calls it "prayer." You're using prayer, detaching from your thoughts, to achieve Hesychia or an inner stillness, divine quietness. This is the goal of meditation in many cases. Meditation isn't an intellectual practice.

[Orthodoxi]

Meditation is us (thinking we are) willing our thoughts. Vanity.

Prayer is God willing our thoughts. Illumination.

Death to life.

All Glory to God.

[fredfredburger]

Many upset new-age adjacent Christians and syncretists in the comment. Father Peter is right on the money, once again

[albavellozo]

The rosary is for meditation and remembering Christs life and the Jesus prayer is for communion with God and detaching from thoughts. Both are very powerful and necessary

[internationale]

Meditation is about stilling the body and chatter of the mind. It is about connecting with the Word inside.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” Corinthians 6:19-20

[cubul]

The main difference is that prayer is directed to Christ - which means we open our will to Christ. Meditation is not directed to Christ/God/The saints - which means it will be picked up by spirits that don't respect free will. And those are the demons. That's it, that's all. Meditation leads to demonization if done "properly".

[TheCameron]

I had a question, isn't the practice of theology a form of intellectual contemplation, would this be considered a form of meditation in Orthodoxy then? Prayer seems to be the way to enter into proper meditation so that our contemplation of God can be understood through direct experience?

[dzaxys]

Was curious about this one video says this another video said that that meditating mentioned in scripture at least meditation on the word of God

[GotFaculty]

What you're talking about as prayer is true meditation, it is letting go of thoughts and being with God.
What you think as meditation is speculating.. many others do too and it's ignorant but they will find the way

[iliesculiliana]

I THINK PRAYING AND MEDITATION IS THE SAME THING FOR ME.REMEMBER IF I MAYYOU ARE ADDRESSING TO DIFFERENT BELIEVERS WITH A DIFFERENT SPIRITUAL BACKGROUND. I DON T KNOW MUCH ABOUT ORTHODOXY. TRY NO TO MONOPOLIZE US. EVERYONE IS UNIQUE IN GOD S MIND.. THANK YOU FOR YOUR POINT OF VIEW

[gamingthisera]

No, it's about emptying your mind

[rideforever]

Much as I appreciate this, the problem with Christianity is not that it doesn't save your soul ... but if you aren't going to think or use your own faculties, then what is the point, you become a slave or something. For what? Is this really God's plan?
Does nobody think except God?
Prayer is real and is communion and the most valuable, but I cannot accept that I will represent God or adore God but not then using all my faculties to the utmost in a sharing with his will, some of that is mine some his. Otherwise what is the point of creating me?

[lucycastro]

Sometimes people will use the words, meditation and contemplation, interchangeably. Can anyone explain the difference? ....

[GrandCelestialKnight]

Father Heers, do you suggest that Lectio Divina (the 2nd step "meditation" specifically) as practiced by Orthodox Benedictines is not a pure form a prayer then? Sure, meditation may not be hesychasm but it is still prayer nonetheless.

[Subeffulgent]

That's the whole explanation? You tell people what to do without telling them how to do it?

[digitalsublime]

Reverend Father, Christ is risen.
Eastern meditation it's not reflection or intellectual. It's to the contrary a search for silence, many times focus is placed on something that is not a thought, like breathing. Hesychasm has aspects of this, what the real difference is, is that Christian prayer is about communion with Christ, and in meditation that communion is not present or actively/consciously search for, it leaves the individual prone to suggestion, to ANY metaphysical influence, that includes demonic.

[DFMoray]

No. It’s exactly the same thing. You’re supposed to meditate on God. That’s why there was controversy over transcendental meditation because it was just random sounds repeated.

A very important aspect most people don’t talk about is that it’s essential to go beyond the mind to experience God because the mind is a dualistic function of the brain. And God is beyond the mind and non-dualistic (and obviously so much more)

I’m not a Buddhist but there is a concept in Buddhism called the “monkey mind” that is helpful in understanding why the mind needs to be surpassed. Buddhists usually don’t believe in God so there is an issue there haha.