The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1523 page)

see
MAD
NA, AL-
.

 
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Meditation
.

A form of mental prayer. In Christianity, the term has been used since 16th cent., in distinction from
contemplation
, as a discursive activity, which involves thinking about passages from scripture and mysteries of the faith with a view to deeper understanding and a loving response. Many methods of meditation were taught, especially by the
Jesuits
. Outside this historical context, the term meditation is used more widely, embracing contemplation; and in this wider sense, is applied to practices of many different kinds in virtually all religions.
Judaism
The Heb. terms
hitbonenut
,
kavvanah
, and
devekut
all refer to concentration on the spiritual world; they were much used by the
kabbalists
. The
merkabah mystics
strove for a contemplative vision of the merkabah, and the later kabbalists attempted to commune with the world of the
sefirot
(emanations from God). The meditative practices of the
asidim
were influenced by the kabbalists of Safed, whose doctrines were largely handed down orally.
Hinduism
See
DHY
NA
.
Buddhism
Meditation in Buddhism is the process of training, developing, and purifying the mind, which is likened to an animal (especially an elephant or an ox) which is dangerously destructive when wild, but supremely useful when tamed. It is the third element in the triple training
(Skt.,
tri
ik
) along with conduct or ethics
(Skt.,
la
) and knowledge or wisdom
(Skt.,
prajñ
), and as such is essential to Buddhist practice. General terms for it include
dhy
na
/jh
na
(Skt., P
li, ‘thinking’), concentration
(Skt.,
sam
dhi
), and mindfulness
(Skt.,
sm
ti