What is the Difference Between Meditation and Contemplation?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between meditation and contemplation is that meditation focuses on clearing the mind, while contemplation is a more analytical and reflective practice that involves thinking deeply about a particular topic or concept. Here is a point-by-point comparison between meditation and contemplation:
- Meditation:
- Involves letting go of thoughts.
- Often used as a foundation for the contemplative life.
- Can be secular or religious, depending on the form.
- Aims to cultivate a nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment.
- Contemplation:
- Involves lingering on thoughts to understand them more deeply.
- Sometimes involves reflection on a religious text.
- Focuses on exploring a topic or feeling in more depth.
- In Christian context, it is a form of wordless prayer in which mind and heart focus on God's greatness and goodness in affective loving adoration.
While both practices share some similarities, they serve different purposes and involve different approaches to quieting the mind and reflecting on thoughts or concepts.
Comparative Table: Meditation vs Contemplation
Here is a table comparing the differences between meditation and contemplation:
Meditation | Contemplation |
---|---|
Focuses on clearing the mind and cultivating a nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment | Involves lingering on thoughts or exploring a topic in more depth to understand it more deeply |
Can include various forms and techniques, some religious and some secular | Sometimes involves reflection on a religious text |
Calms the mind and helps with stress relief | Focuses the mind in a particular direction |
Meditation corresponds to the First Water in St. Teresa of Avila's stages of prayer, which is an invitation to contemplative prayer | Contemplation is often a misunderstood word and is not a prayer that can be initiated or prolonged by human action; it is divinely produced |
Can be practiced by people of various faiths and beliefs | Can involve reflecting on past or future events, or reflecting on ideas or inspiration |
Both meditation and contemplation are spiritual practices that offer significant benefits when practiced regularly. While they share some similarities, they also have distinct differences in their focus and approach. Meditation is about clearing the mind and cultivating awareness, while contemplation is about exploring thoughts or topics in more depth to gain a deeper understanding.
- Meditation vs Prayer
- Mindfulness vs Meditation
- Concentration vs Meditation
- Yoga vs Meditation
- Meditation vs Sleep
- Hypnosis vs Meditation
- Conciliation vs Mediation
- Moderation vs Mediation
- Prayer vs Worship
- Reflection vs Introspection
- Thought vs Imagination
- Cognition vs Metacognition
- Attention vs Concentration
- Worry vs Concern
- Thought vs Feeling
- Dialogue vs Conversation
- Thinking vs Feeling
- Consciousness vs Awareness
- Conflict vs Controversy