Orthodox «mental prayer» and yogic meditation

Yogic meditation, as a combination of a theoretical teaching and various psychophysiological practices, has been thoroughly studied from the point of view of its ardent admirers. This phenomenon has also received an unequivocal emotional and value assessment from the Orthodox Church position, which speaks of the unacceptability of using such practices in Christian life. However, scientific research on this topic from the point of view of Orthodox theology is few in number and does not have a systemic character, which sets the task of replenishing research in this direction. In the article brought to your attention, the author substantiates the above Church assessment and concludes that, along with some external similarities, there are cardinal contradictions between yogic meditation and the Christian ascetic practice of the “Noetic Prayer”, both in the field of goals set and in techniques used to achieve them.