"Meditation is a state when God talks to a person. Prayer is when a person talks to God! That is why in meditation one feels Oneness with God or being Him. Without being humble, this might create a superiority feeling in the person who meditates.
This is the reason why selfless service is recommended for the disciples, to bring a balance between a great feeling of being One with God and the humbleness of being selfless (His servant). Prayer also does the same thing. In order for a person to kneel down and pray to God, he or she should humble the self to do so.
Therefore, meditation and prayer go hand-in-hand. They bring a balance to a person. Meditation makes a person to be with God; prayer makes him humble. Prayer in fact is a spiritual service (not being self-centered) to the Self."
Maitreya
