“Prayer is when you talk to God; meditation is when you listen to God.” ~ Diana Robinson
So if you never speak how does anyone know what you're thinking? hmm... If given my druthers, I often think that I could go through life in silent contemplation! Since I live in a house filled with people and daily embark out into the world around me - I am forced by social graces - to speak! There's nothing wrong with language and conversations...except that I often find it or them messy. Humans love to TALK its our nature. For most, words paint the picture of life. For me - I would choose to feel the energy of those around me. Being a part of humanity and not living a life of silent contemplation dictates my having to use my words. So, I have learned to think before I speak, to adjust my actions that they follow my true intent and to cultivate a daily attitude of gratitude.
What does all this have to do with meditation, to listening? For me it has everything to do with it. Meditation gives me the peace and serenity I need to open the spaces in my being that enable me to put forth my truest self - the spiritual part of me that I have worked on with much dedication. This could not be done in a vacuum. If I were left to my own human devices, my own thinking, reacting and responding - I personally would make the biggest messes out of my relationships. I choose to have a relationship with the God of my Understanding. This relationship has gone through many renovations with intense searching, listening and waiting.
I begin my daily practice of meditation with prayer, a mantra, a phrase...a raising of my consciousness. This allows me to connect to the God of my Understanding. I talk, God listens...I listen and God listens...and then I hear answers...they come as tiny whispers, new thoughts, creative solutions and yes, sometimes even admonishments - however, they are never harsh or angry. I end my periods of meditation by clarifying and acknowledging Gods prescence in my life. Just as I would thank a stranger or foe for talking the time to listen and share with me...it's a relationship!
So you know how I meditate...how do I pray? There are many ways in which I incorporate prayer into my spiritual practice. It depends on where I am emotionally. If I am struggling, feeling unsure, insecure, fearful or angry - I say..."God or Mother Earth, or Hey are you there?" Here's what's going on with me!!! "I am angry because someone hurt my feelings and I don't understand why people do that." Sometimes, I begin with my favorite prayer listed above - the Prayer of St. Francis. It's beautiful, full of action, it's easy and full of images. Often, I will use a mantra - calling on the God part of myself, appealing to my highest self. Sometimes, I am even silly and ask God if the clothes I've chosen for our time together is acceptable...(really I know this doesnt' matter to God...but my humanness is an integral part of me...so I use it!). So I ask questions of God, talk openly, send out my petition...I just use my words to the best of my ability. When I was child I always said the same prayer, "Now I lay me down to sleep...". As a teen, my prayers were mostly bargaining tools, "help me out of this one and I'll never...". In my twenties, I began to ask God to help me through the day. At thirty, I mostly fussed and grumbled at what I did or didn't do or like. As the years passed I yearned deeply for a relationship with someone who'd been with me throughout my entire life. A prescence I used to call it when I couldn't find a name. Today, I choose to call that prescence God. My friend! I am thankful today for prayer and meditation. They are my North Star, they illuminate me in such a powerful way that I know there's truly another part to our humanness...it's called our spirit and it too needs to be nourished just as we nourish our bodies with sustenance of food and water! The other part is the most important part for without it, I wouldn't be whole!
