Pronunciation: med-ih-TAY-shun
Simple meaning
Meditation means careful thought, reflection, quiet consideration, or focused attention.
Today, people may think of meditation as sitting quietly, breathing, repeating a phrase, clearing the mind, or using a spiritual practice from a particular tradition. In Big Book study, the word should be read carefully because it is often connected with prayer, direction, and a new way of living.
Older meaning
Older dictionary definitions often describe meditation as deep thought, contemplation, reflection, or serious consideration.
That older meaning matters because meditation does not only mean a specific technique. It can also mean turning the mind carefully toward something important, considering it, and becoming open to guidance.
Why this word matters
In Big Book reading, “meditation” matters because recovery is not only about reacting to life.
A person may need to pause, reflect, seek direction, and become willing to live differently. Meditation can help move a person away from impulse, fear, resentment, and self-will.
Meditation is often connected with prayer, but the words are not identical. Prayer may involve asking, speaking, thanking, or seeking help. Meditation may involve listening, considering, reflecting, and becoming quiet enough to receive direction.
That distinction can be useful, especially for people who are learning how to practice both.
Common misunderstanding
A common misunderstanding is to think meditation must be done in one exact way.
In Big Book study, meditation does not need to be reduced to one method, posture, phrase, or tradition. The word can include quiet reflection, thoughtful consideration, and openness to guidance.
Another misunderstanding is to think meditation means emptying the mind so perfectly that no thought appears. For many people, especially newcomers, that expectation can become frustrating.
A useful question is:
Am I making space to listen, reflect, and become willing to be directed?
Helpful meeting handle
A common recovery idea is that prayer is talking to God and meditation is listening.
That phrase can be a useful handle. It helps separate two related practices in a simple way.
But the phrase is only a starting point. In Big Book study, meditation can include reflection, attention, quiet consideration, and openness to direction. It is not only silence. It is part of learning to live less by impulse and more by guidance.
Study note
This website works best with a copy of the Big Book in your hand. Look for the word “meditation” and related ideas in the first 164 pages and nearby discussion. Notice whether the surrounding passage is talking about prayer, direction, listening, quiet reflection, God, willingness, or a changed way of life.
Related words
prayer
God
spiritual
willingness
guidance