Meditation Myth #3: Meditation is associated with a specific religion

Both meditation and prayer have been around for thousands of years and have a close relationship. Meditation does have a foundation in ancient philosophies and several world religions from Eastern religions to Christian religions. Despite this history, meditation does not have to be religious in nature.

Here are 4 key differences between prayer and mindfulness meditation:

1. Prayer requires belief while meditation does not require any trust in a divine source. Meditation is a practice of training your brain to be in the present moment, purposefully observing, without judgment.
2. Prayer is communication while meditation is observation. Typically, prayer focuses on communication with the divine, often focusing on change (e.g. praying for someone’s health to improve). Mindfulness is a practice of acceptance of things as they are, rather than desire for change.
3. Both prayer and meditation have been shown to positively impact stress and anxiety. Meditation has been the subject of hundreds of randomized controlled trials and has also been shown to have additional benefits such as improved focus, lower blood pressure, improved sleep, and more.
4. Prayer can cover any time period, past, present, or future. Meditation focuses on the present moment.

It is up to the individual how they wish to associate their spiritual self with meditation. Certainly, sitting to quiet the mind can be a part of a spiritual practice. Mindfulness meditation is typically a secular practice that can play a key role alongside other spiritual practices for positive mental and physical health.