| While at the cash register the woman who was | | | | your eyes. The simplest form of meditation is |
| checking me out and I started a conversation | | | | following your breath as it comes and goes |
| about how to reduce stress. I suggested that | | | | through your nostrils, following it down into the |
| meditation can reduce stress in our lives. The | | | | lungs and then following the out breath from the |
| woman said that she didn't have time, because | | | | lungs and back up through your nostrils. You can |
| she worked two jobs. I said during your break go | | | | also use that mantra, a word or phrase that has |
| outside and consciously watch and monitor your | | | | meaning for you as you release the out breath. A |
| breathing. Consciously watch the breath coming | | | | beginner will need to focus on a particular object |
| into the chest, and slowly releasing your breath on | | | | like a candle flame, or a shape, a picture or |
| exhalation. That was in itself meditation, and would | | | | something that is pleasant to your eye. The |
| help in reducing stress. She then stated that she | | | | meditation can be as long as five minutes for the |
| knew about meditation, and that all she needed to | | | | novice to hours for the more experienced. If for |
| do was to read scripture, and concentrate on the | | | | some reason you get distracted then return your |
| messages from God for her. I had lost the | | | | focus and attention back to your breathing. |
| conversation because she didn't truly understand | | | | For centuries, monks, nuns, mystics and |
| the concept of meditation. Our conversation also | | | | wandering ascetics preserved the art of |
| revealed to me that she had intertwined and | | | | meditation, and used it in secret, to enter higher |
| confused meditation with prayer. | | | | states of consciousness and ultimately to achieve |
| Meditation and Prayer have often been used | | | | the pinnacle of their particular path. The lay person |
| interchangeable. Are they the same, or is there | | | | had access to a few of meditations techniques, |
| some difference between the two? Webster's | | | | but the practice remained a sacred pursuit limited |
| ® Dictionary defines meditation as focusing | | | | to an elite few who were willing to renounce the |
| one's thoughts; to reflect on or ponder over; to | | | | world and devoted their lives to the practice of |
| plan or project the mind with intention or purpose. | | | | meditation. Time has given over to the |
| Prayer is to entreat, implore, often used as a | | | | mainstream with its practical benefits being |
| function word in introducing a question, a request, | | | | applauded in every medium, both actual and |
| or plea. Already the differences are that mediation | | | | virtual. The reason meditation works so |
| is reflective, and prayer requires action. Why do | | | | effectively is that it connects you to the spiritual |
| people get confused? It is true both require | | | | dimension. The art of state of just being, that |
| silence, and both are personal. My belief is that | | | | place in between breaths; the connection to one's |
| many people do not understand prayer or | | | | soul. |
| meditation. | | | | Mediation can also be accomplished through the |
| Prayer involves actively seeking help from God, | | | | practice of mindfulness. This requires the blending |
| or some sort of spiritual deity, a higher power. | | | | of concentration and receptive awareness. It too |
| The most powerful and most well know prayer is | | | | is as easy as being mindful of ones breath, and |
| one that is as simple as "God help me." The | | | | easy for a beginner to learn, and very adaptable |
| words of a prayer can also be in the form of a | | | | to the busy schedules most of us face. Most |
| hymn, an incantation or an utterance from the | | | | people who meditate are looking to living a more |
| person seeking answers to his life's problem. | | | | harmonious, loving, stress-free life; not being |
| Praying throughout the day and seeking guidance | | | | divorced from the people and places you love. |
| as the day progresses is another form of prayer. | | | | The beauty, belonging and love you seek are right |
| Ultimately prayer is a communicative relationship | | | | here and right now, and all you need to do is |
| between the created and the creator, and can be | | | | focus your mind, open your mind, and open your |
| incorporated into the daily "thought life." | | | | heart. In essence you are paying attention to the |
| People will often confuse the two and decide that | | | | experiences of each moment. Practicing |
| meditation and prayer are transposable. Meditation | | | | mindfulness could be as simple as focusing your |
| and prayer are very similar in nature, especially | | | | attention on the art of drinking water, watching |
| individual prayer. For prayer to work usually | | | | the sunrise or sunset, or eating a cookie. |
| requires solitude and quiet, but not always. For | | | | Ponder for a minute that cookie. Maybe it's one |
| meditation to work effectively the requirements | | | | that came fresh from the oven, smelling of |
| are usually solitude and quiet. As we can see | | | | warmth, and the good smells that fresh baked |
| those are the similarities of the two, and yes both | | | | cookies bring to mind. Hold that cookie for a |
| can be achieved within a group. The differences lie | | | | minute. Look at the texture, the ingredients; |
| in the outcome, and intention of the person | | | | knowing that when you put it in your mouth it will |
| performing the prayer or the meditation. Prayer | | | | be an exquisite taste. Take one small bite, and |
| can often turn into mediation, but meditation | | | | focus your attention on the taste and the bite of |
| cannot turn into prayer. | | | | that cookie. How does it feel in your mouth? How |
| Meditation requires quieting the mind through your | | | | does it feel on your tongue, and teeth? Now |
| breath, or mantra, the mystical formula of | | | | swallow it, and feel it go down towards your |
| invocation or incantation said during meditation to | | | | stomach. Take another small bite and do the |
| quiet the mind. There are many varieties of | | | | same. What are your emotions, or memories that |
| mantras and there is not one better than any of | | | | stir within you? That is the art of mindfulness; |
| the others. These mantras have meaning, and | | | | which is a beginning meditation practice. |
| guide the mind and health of each individual. Some | | | | Meditation is not thinking, it's the opposite of that, |
| mantras are as simple as "om", others are "I am" | | | | it's non-thinking. Meditation is not daydreaming, |
| and "so hum." What matters is that the person | | | | they offer their own rewards. Spacing out is not |
| who is meditating gets to the place where there | | | | meditation which involves a gap in which nothing |
| is nothing, or the place right between the in | | | | seems to be happening. It's definitely not |
| breath and the exhalation of breath. The goal is to | | | | repeating affirmations, which basically are more |
| communicate with one's soul. | | | | like positive thinking. Meditation is also not |
| In prayer there are many kinds of prayers such | | | | self-hypnosis which is imaging a safe place where |
| as; morning, evening, praying over meals and | | | | you are in a light trance. Sleeping is giving the |
| prayer with physical gestures. There are many | | | | body the refreshing it needs, and it is not |
| ways to pray, Christians bow their heads, Native | | | | meditation unless you are really an experienced |
| Americans dance. Sufis whirl. Hindus Chant. | | | | yogi master. Prayer is not meditation because you |
| Orthodox Jews sway their bodies back and forth. | | | | are seeking the Divine form or God or some |
| The Quakers keep silent. The varieties of prayer | | | | Deity, and usually an answer or communication |
| are endless, and they encounter every religious | | | | from God is desired. |
| group. In understanding prayer there are many | | | | Meditation will help reduce stress in our day-to-day |
| approaches. Prayer is communication between an | | | | living, and can help increase our body's health and |
| individual or group to a spiritual deity. Prayer is | | | | welfare. Contrary to many people's beliefs |
| answered on a spiritual schedule, one without hour | | | | meditation can and should be used by all, |
| hands or calendars. | | | | Christians included. Prayer is easy as well, and |
| The person who prays, has a belief that they will | | | | used by every religious group as well. Meditation is |
| receive an answer. The prayer is intended to | | | | not difficult to learn, but it does take time; as little |
| inculcate certain attitudes in the one who prays, | | | | as 5 minutes to 20 minutes twice a day. Just like |
| rather than to influence the recipient. The prayer | | | | exercise of 20 minutes a day is good for the |
| is intended to affect the very fabric of reality | | | | body; meditation at least twice a day is good for |
| itself. The recipient expects, believes, or | | | | the soul, and including but not limited to the health |
| appreciates prayer when the prayer is directed | | | | of the body, by reducing stress, providing |
| towards them. Prayer is important to the spiritual | | | | relaxation, and providing a mental physical break. |
| well-being of the person conducting the prayer as | | | | Take and make the time and breathe in and out |
| well as a group who gather for that intent. | | | | consciously. You'll find that you are on your way |
| Meditation is easier than people think. Meditation is | | | | to a healthier lifestyle. Understand that their are |
| the practice of focusing your attention within, and | | | | differences between prayer and meditation, and |
| quieting the mind. Take a moment; relax your | | | | each provide a purpose in life. |
| body, and take a few deep breaths, and close | | | | |