Meditation means a state of thoughtless awareness. In a way, it is negative; it rejects thoughts and creates a silent state inside you. That silence is beautiful, but it is lacking something. It is lacking music, there is no poetry in it, there is no dance in it. It is a kind of dead silence; no song arises out of it.
Prayer means the heart is full of love. It is a positive approach. Prayer can dance, prayer can sing, prayer can be a celebration, but without meditation all that celebration remains superficial, noisy. Yes, there is a great liveliness in it, but that liveliness is childish, not mature.
Maturity comes through meditation, joy comes through prayer. Centering comes through meditation, dancing comes through prayer. A man is really blessed who can remain centered and yet in a dance; who can become the center of the cyclone.
