--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Prayer and contemplation are both…" description: "\"Prayer and contemplation are both exercises in concentration. The normal deluge of conscious thought is restricted and the mind is brought to one consc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc7/henepola-gunaratana-10550_areas_prayer-and-contemplation-are-both-exerci_2804576.png" --- # Prayer and contemplation are both exercises in… ![“Prayer and contemplation are both exercises in concentration. The normal deluge of conscious thought is restricted and the mind is brought to one conscious area of operation. The results are those you find in any concentrative practice: deep calm, a physiological slowing of the metabolism and a…” quote by Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc7/henepola-gunaratana-10550_areas_prayer-and-contemplation-are-both-exerci_2804576.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc7/henepola-gunaratana-10550_areas_prayer-and-contemplation-are-both-exerci_2804576.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc7/henepola-gunaratana-10550_areas_prayer-and-contemplation-are-both-exerci_2804576.png) > “Prayer and contemplation are both exercises in concentration. The normal deluge of conscious thought is restricted and the mind is brought to one conscious area of operation. The results are those you find in any concentrative practice: deep calm, a physiological slowing of the metabolism and a sense of peace and wellbeing” [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focused meditation concentrates the mind, reducing mental chatter and inducing calm, physiological relaxation, and wellbeing. **In simple terms:** Meditation calms the mind and body. Key Takeaway Practice concentration to achieve inner peace. Themes meditation concentration calm wellbeing Mood peaceful centered Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - daily meditation - stressful workday - pre‑exam anxiety - pain management Key Concepts mindfulness neuroscience physiology spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What techniques help you maintain focus during meditation? - How does regular practice affect your daily stress levels? A Different Perspective Sustaining concentration can be challenging for beginners. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Areas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/areas/) [Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) [Concentration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentration/) [Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious/) [Conscious Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious-thought-232550/) [Contemplation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation/) [Contemplation Exercises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation-exercises-3474347/) [Deluge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deluge/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Exercises Concentration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercises-concentration-3474348/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Metabolism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metabolism/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal/) [Operations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/operations/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Physiological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physiological/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Prayer Contemplation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer-contemplation-1692945/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Slowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slowing/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Wellbeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wellbeing/) ## Related quotes > [I think that the power of the Silent Minute lies in its inherent lack of external direction: what participants actually do during that minute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-williams/i-think-that-the-power-of-the-silent-minute-lies-in-its-inherent-lack/) [Liz Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-williams/) > [“Prayer that craves a particular commodity, -- anything less than all good, -- is vicious. 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I want a life of strife, lust, striving, seeking, struggling, and debauchery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-echols/i-don-t-want-a-holy-life-of-prayer-and-contemplation-i-want-a-life-of/) [Damien Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-echols/) > [The first stage of meditation is simply to ignore thought; to become conscious that there is something beyond thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-first-stage-of-meditation-is-simply-to-ignore-thought-to-become/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [There's really not much conscious thought involved when I record. I just kind of record what feels good. I'm not trying to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-rns/there-s-really-not-much-conscious-thought-involved-when-i-record-i/) [BØRNS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-rns/) > [I back away from conscious thought and turn the problem over to my unconscious mind. It will scan a broader array of patterns and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-fry/i-back-away-from-conscious-thought-and-turn-the-problem-over-to-my/) [Arthur Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-fry/) > [We have no proper understanding of the relationship between conscious thought and conscious sensation. The various forms of thought and sensation are underpinned by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/we-have-no-proper-understanding-of-the-relationship-between-conscious/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) > [“What you hold in your conscious thought, you invite more of it into your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mininni/what-you-hold-in-your-conscious-thought-you-invite-more-of-it-into/) [Lisa Mininni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mininni/) > [“You are not who you think. You're not even the thinker. You are the one conscious of the thought.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/you-are-not-who-you-think-you-re-not-even-the-thinker-you-are-the-one/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [all conscious thought is a process in time; so that to think consciously about Time is like trying to use a foot-rule to measure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/all-conscious-thought-is-a-process-in-time-so-that-to-think/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“Every conscious thought you have, every moment you spend on an idea, is a commitment to be stuck with that idea and with aspects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-michel/every-conscious-thought-you-have-every-moment-you-spend-on-an-idea-is/) [Kevin Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-michel/) > [For most people on the planet, consciousness can be equated with thought. They haven't experienced what it means to be conscious without thought, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/for-most-people-on-the-planet-consciousness-can-be-equated-with/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Make rituals of the important elements of your work. It ensures that they get done without much conscious thought.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-s-sivasubramanian/make-rituals-of-the-important-elements-of-your-work-it-ensures-that/) [Mani S. Sivasubramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-s-sivasubramanian/) ## More by Henepola Gunaratana > [You can only have bliss if you don't chase it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-only-have-bliss-if-you-don-t-chase-it/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“we try mentally to grab onto it or push it away. 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Only a middle path, avoiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/the-buddha-s-message-was-simple-but-profound-neither-a-life-of-self/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [Mindfulness helps us freeze the frame so that we can become aware of our sensations and experiences as they are, without the distorting coloration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/mindfulness-helps-us-freeze-the-frame-so-that-we-can-become-aware-of/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [But look within and watch the stuff coming up-restlessness, anxiety, impatience, pain-just watch it come up and don't get involved. Much to your surprise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/but-look-within-and-watch-the-stuff-coming-up-restlessness-anxiety/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“You can learn to perceive your life as an ever-flowing movement. You can learn to see the continuous flow of all conditioned”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-learn-to-perceive-your-life-as-an-ever-flowing-movement-you/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [No problem. You are not crazier than you were yesterday. It has always been this way, and you just never noticed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/no-problem-you-are-not-crazier-than-you-were-yesterday-it-has-always/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“We spend all of our energies trying to make ourselves feel better, trying to bury our fears, endlessly seeking security.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/we-spend-all-of-our-energies-trying-to-make-ourselves-feel-better/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [Peace is not a thought, not a concept; it is a nonverbal experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/peace-is-not-a-thought-not-a-concept-it-is-a-nonverbal-experience/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [You can't ever get everything you want. It is impossible. 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Mindfulness treats all experiences equally, all thoughts equally, all feelings equally. Nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/there-is-no-clinging-to-the-pleasant-no-fleeing-from-the-unpleasant/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“Place no head above your own.” By this he meant, don’t just accept somebody else’s word. See for yourself. We want you to apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/place-no-head-above-your-own-by-this-he-meant-don-t-just-accept/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) [Explore all 65 Henepola Gunaratana quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) ## More Areas quotes > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-that-i-ve-spent-trying-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The earliest language was body language and, since this language is the language of questions, if we limit the questions, and if we only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/the-earliest-language-was-body-language-and-since-this-language-is/) [Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/) > [This ball was so crowded that it took me - a trained professional journalist with vast experience in this area - forty five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-ball-was-so-crowded-that-it-took-me-a-trained-professional/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [People don't want to believe that technology is broken. 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