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They don't feel the same to me at all. While meditating I try to keep my mind energized (not sleepy) while attempting to be aware of of the moment, my breath, a

They don't feel the same to me at all. While meditating I try to keep my mind energized (not sleepy) while attempting to be aware of of the moment, my breath, and the stray thoughts which although I'm aware of I let them go. My mind is energized but quiet and without thoughts (if I'm successful, which I'm often not, that's ok), a state few in this world spend much time in. In contrast when I pray I'm often judging the past and planning the future. The first 2 points you mentioned are specifically reinforcing these habits. Meditation gives me a time to practice not constantly dwelling on the past or the future, which if we're not careful we spend most of our lives doing; meditation is merely a time to practice breaking this thought habit. Not to say one is better than the other though. I just wanted to express my opinion that meditation is much different than prayer according to my own understanding. Granted there are a variety of definitions and understandings of both words.

mping 9y ago
My understanding is that there are different definitions, where generally meditation is some sort of thought cultivation. But the way I learned, you meditate in order to enter samadhi. Samadhi is a Sanskrit word that means right concentration/proper concentration, and it is what allows you to gain insight. It represents a class of meditative states that you enter and can last for short time or long time, typically when you leave samadhi you feel very good, very peaceful and blissful - you reduced your thinking process thus your afflictions too. The higher your samadhi, the better your concentration and wisdom. Without samadhi, meditation is just analytical thought process. So, if any practice (prayer included) is to be meditative it has to enable you to enter samadhi IMHO. I believe that's why it has a different feel for you.
- Buttons840 9y ago
  I know there are many ways to meditate and many differing thoughts about how and why we should meditate. I don't know any of the religious beliefs behind meditation. I believe what I've practiced is called mindfulness meditation. What is the type of meditation you described called?
  - mping 9y ago
    Generally speaking, it is Buddhist meditation; Buddhist meditation texts talk about dhyana (or jhana in Pali; where most of mindfulness sources come from) which is another word for proper concentration. All Buddhist meditation is about entering/achieving dhyana as far as I can tell, although I believe the Chan meditation system puts more emphasis on this. Of course, mindfulness meditation nowadays means many different things, but if you go to the Buddhist sources you will find information about this.

mping 9y ago

My understanding is that there are different definitions, where generally meditation is some sort of thought cultivation. But the way I learned, you meditate in order to enter samadhi. Samadhi is a Sanskrit word that means right concentration/proper concentration, and it is what allows you to gain insight. It represents a class of meditative states that you enter and can last for short time or long time, typically when you leave samadhi you feel very good, very peaceful and blissful - you reduced your thinking process thus your afflictions too. The higher your samadhi, the better your concentration and wisdom. Without samadhi, meditation is just analytical thought process. So, if any practice (prayer included) is to be meditative it has to enable you to enter samadhi IMHO. I believe that's why it has a different feel for you.

Buttons840 9y ago
I know there are many ways to meditate and many differing thoughts about how and why we should meditate. I don't know any of the religious beliefs behind meditation. I believe what I've practiced is called mindfulness meditation. What is the type of meditation you described called?
- mping 9y ago
  Generally speaking, it is Buddhist meditation; Buddhist meditation texts talk about dhyana (or jhana in Pali; where most of mindfulness sources come from) which is another word for proper concentration. All Buddhist meditation is about entering/achieving dhyana as far as I can tell, although I believe the Chan meditation system puts more emphasis on this. Of course, mindfulness meditation nowadays means many different things, but if you go to the Buddhist sources you will find information about this.