"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 generosity (dāna) and ethical behaviour (sīla).

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.

The Four-line Exercise Dedication Prayer

May this training be conductive,
To realize the unsurpassable state of Buddhahood,
And, having done so through my effort,
May I establish all beings into that very state.

Lord Indra

Dharmakāya

Mucalinda

Rudra-Durga

Yama Deva

"Lama Dawa Rinpoche used to say Santa [Claus] is none other than Vaishravana, the king of the northern direction, who is known as the god of wealth, surrounded by his retinue of yakshas (dwarves), and living in the northernmost realm.

Offerings used to be placed at trees associated with Vaishravana in hopes he would grant wishes and bestow wealth (now we make offerings of cookies and milk to Santa). The christmas tree is the 'Wish-fulfilling tree' and Santa's seed syllable is HO."

~ Kunzang Dechen Chodron

Vaiśravaṇa
毘沙門天 (Bishamonten)
One of the 4 Heavenly Kings who serve under Indra.