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Originally Posted by Hemera
...My understanding of contemplative prayer is that it's about listening to God/receiving messages from him through a meditative state,
whereas meditation alone is becoming aware of one's thoughts and connecting to a higher state of consciousness which may or may not be termed as God.
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Hi,I feel very strongly about the difference! :)
(And I am not a Buddhist, nor believe as they do regarding meditation.
So they will take this in their direction. Follow what rings true.) :)
Meditation according to what I was taught and what I believe...
would have nothing, at all, with becoming aware of your thoughts..connecting to God, yes.
Thus, silencing thoughts, sitting in stillness to know God.
Focusing on this...the sincerity to know God...period, nothing more, nothing else;
No thoughts, just focus. Holding an empty cup, waiting to be filled and given an experience.
Contemplation, which is a wonderful thing, but different would be, say, taking a subject or idea or verse and
'thinking about it'...almost like dissecting the meaning of it yourself.
Example: 'Delight in that Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.' - Psalm 37:4
or Seek the Kingdom of Heaven first...and all else with come.
When you would
contemplate, your thoughts would go to 'Delight'...what is it to delight? An hour could be spent contemplating
all aspects and examples of what it is to delight in something...your baby, you new puppy, the sunset...
'delight in the Lord?'...now what would THAT mean!?
And so on ...
What is it to 'seek'...anything?...What is the Kingdom of Heaven ---(well, that could take 4 hours of sitting, pondering.)
"my desires''? -what are my desires...could they be given to me? What would that be like ? Is that possible? And so on.
That is contemplating...or pondering.