What is Meditation?
Last updated: February 25, 2026
Contemplation and communion with God. In New Thought, meditation is the recognition of God within.
Understanding Meditation in New Thought
Contemplation and communion with God. In New Thought, meditation is the recognition of God within. In Haanel's system, each of the 24 chapters includes a progressive meditation exercise, beginning with sitting still and progressing through thought-inhibition, relaxation, visualization, and concentration.
In New Thought, meditation transcends mere relaxation. It is a deliberate and active engagement with the divine presence within, a core tenet emphasizing humanity's inherent connection to Universal Mind. Historically, New Thought meditation evolved from earlier spiritual practices, adapting them to its unique metaphysical framework where consciousness is paramount. This practice is crucial for cultivating a state of mind conducive to manifesting desired realities and realizing one's spiritual potential, moving beyond passive contemplation to active co-creation.
What the Teachers Say
Meditation vs. Prayer
While both meditation and prayer involve communion with the Divine, New Thought distinguishes between them based on the direction of communication and mental approach. Understanding their relationship clarifies how each serves spiritual development.
| Aspect | Meditation | Prayer |
|---|---|---|
| Communication Direction | Receiving divine wisdom and truth | Speaking to or petitioning God |
| Mental State | Receptive listening and recognition | Active speaking and requesting |
| Primary Purpose | Realizing God within consciousness | Expressing gratitude and desires |
| Method | Stillness, visualization, concentration | Affirmation, thanksgiving, petition |
| Outcome | Expanded consciousness and realization | Demonstration and answered prayer |
Etymology
The term "meditation" originates from the Latin word "meditatio," meaning "to think about, contemplate, or ponder." This root is closely related to "mederi," which means "to heal." Over time, the term evolved to describe a range of mental and spiritual exercises aimed at achieving a state of heightened awareness or inner peace, reflecting its original sense of deep reflection and mental engagement.
How to Practice This
Practitioners of New Thought meditation often begin with focused breathing exercises to quiet the mind and center attention. This is typically followed by affirmations or visualizations, where individuals mentally rehearse desired outcomes or embody positive states of being. A common technique involves silently repeating empowering statements, such as "I am one with the Universal Mind," to impress these truths upon the subconscious. The goal is to consciously direct thought, thereby aligning with the creative power of the universe to manifest personal and spiritual growth.
Connection to Manifestation
Meditation serves as the foundation for all manifestation work in New Thought by establishing conscious contact with the Universal Mind from which all creation flows. Through regular meditation practice, individuals develop the mental discipline and spiritual awareness necessary to effectively use the Law of Attraction. The visualization and concentration techniques learned in meditation directly translate to manifestation work, as both require the ability to hold clear mental images and maintain focused attention on desired outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Haanel recommends starting with 15 minutes daily, focusing first on simply sitting still without moving. As mental discipline develops, the quality of meditation becomes more important than duration, with advanced practitioners maintaining meditative consciousness throughout daily activities.
New Thought meditation emphasizes recognition of God within and conscious communion with Divine Mind, rather than emptying the mind. The goal is expanded spiritual consciousness and practical demonstration, not detachment from the world or cessation of thought.
Yes, meditation develops the mental discipline and spiritual consciousness necessary for effective manifestation. Through meditation, practitioners learn to visualize clearly, concentrate steadily, and align their consciousness with abundance and divine supply.
The stages typically progress from physical stillness and thought-inhibition to complete relaxation, then advance to visualization, concentration, and ultimately conscious unity with Divine Mind. Each stage builds the mental faculties needed for the next level of development.
Through meditation, practitioners move beyond intellectual understanding to direct experience of divine truth. This shift from knowing about God to knowing God directly transforms consciousness and enables the practical demonstration of spiritual principles in daily life.
In the Source Texts (3)
The ancient Hermetists use the word "Meditation" in describing the process of the mental creation of the Universe in the Mind of THE ALL, the word "Contemplation" also being frequently em…
…the principles of the law are not limited by local conditions, and so habitual meditation on them sets our intuition free to range in an infinitude where the conception of antecedent conditions does not limit it. Anyway, whatever…
…s, its Powers, its life, its Phenomena, are as things witnessed in the state of Meditation or Dream; yet to all that is Finite, the Universe must be treated as Real, and life, and action, and thought, must be based thereupon, acco…
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Used by: Haanel, Case, Vivekananda, Yogananda