Both meditation and prayer are spiritual practices that have been used in cultures and religions for thousands of years. They have many benefits including calming the mind and creating a stable connection with the divine or universe.
Those who practice meditation and prayer may be religious or non-religious, but they have the same desire for spiritual connection. It's an instinctual desire to connect with something greater than themselves, to find that sense of oneness where the world begins to fall away.
Meditation involves a deep contemplation of a single idea, thought, or feeling. It focuses on the present moment and helps people calm their minds by removing thoughts of negativity.
The word meditation is derived from the Sanskrit words, vasant
In addition to bringing peace to your mind, meditation can also help you make better decisions in the present. When you're in the present, you're more likely to take action and stop repeating negative patterns of behavior.
Research shows that when people pray, their brains are in the same state as when they're doing meditation. According to Newberg, the part of the brain that deals with focus and language is in use during both.
