The combination of prayer and meditation is a way to ask for help and listen for answers. When we sit quietly we have a chance to dive within to the source of our being.
For example, you go up to a house and knock on the door, then stand there for a while waiting for someone to answer. Finally someone opens the door.
That’s like prayer and meditation working together. Prayer is the knocking on the door; meditation is the waiting time for someone to answer. The Divine answers the dooor.
Pick a place and time to sit where you will not be disturbed. Early morning, the lunch hour, dusk, and before retiring are traditional times for prayer and meditation.
When I was growing up I spent a half hour before going to sleep saying a rosary, then listening to the silence that followed. I was praying that the soul in purgatory that needed prayers the most would receive mine; I felt very good, even at 9 years old, being quietly useful.
A traditional method to combine prayer and meditation is to sit in a meditation pose, either on a cushion on the floor, or seated on a chair. If you are going to read a prayer, have the verse handy, or make your request in your own words.
Prayer can be for a specific request or for the highest good, the best resolve of a situation. When we ask for help for the highest good, we open the way for a Divine resolve.
But, either way, praying for a specific purpose or help as the Divine sees fit, we can then sit in the quiet portion of our session and be receptive for any directives that come to mind. The listening for God’s or the Divine’s words is the 2nd part of your session.
The combination of asking for help, and listening for the directive, is prayer and meditation in action.
When inspired direction comes to mind, write out the plan in your journal. I keep my notebook next to my meditation seat so I don’t have to get up to record new insights.
The time you spend in silence listening for the voice of God can vary. Ten minutes is enough to relax your mind to be receptive to new direction, new insight, previously unseen ideas.
Finish your prayer and meditation session with positive affirmations, and send thoughts out in a radiant stream for universal peace and harmony. It feels uplifting to end on a high note.
After your peaceful time slowly rise and review your journal notes; think how you can put new ideas into practice.
I invite you to join me in a world-wide cyber meditation every day of the year. Click on this link to read about it.
Article by Susan Helene Kramer
For offline reading
Gentle Yoga and Meditation – for All AdultsGentle yoga poses and meditations for adults of all ages, plus a dose of yoga philosophy and virtues. All poses illustrated. 107 pages. Table of contents at this link.
Meditation for all KidsSitting, walking, dance and group circle meditations, along with positive affirmations, verses and benefits of meditation for kids of all ages and abilities in a 100 page book with illustrations.
