"Buddhadharma is so abundant, it's so rich, vast and deep, and if you insist that meditation is sitting on a cushion, you're making it so limited".

~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Meditation: Introduction to Buddhism

In Buddhist sources, the word bhāvanā (lit. cultivation) is used to describe those activities that lead to the development of meditative absorption.

Spiritual cultivation (bhāvanā) is the third of the three grounds for meritorious actions, alongside dāna (generosity) and sīla (ethical behaviour).

Contrary to the popular idea of meditation as simply sitting and observing the breath, bhāvanā delineates a wide array of activities: Praying, making offerings, ritual, studying scripture, debating, chanting, etc, it's all considered within the realm of spiritual cultivation.