PRAYER ENHANCES GOODNESS
Recently one of my friends told me, “It doesn’t matter whether you pray to God or not, being a good person is more important”.
Definitely being a good person is important. God does not need man’s prayer. God is free of all needs. Prayers are necessary means of helping us in being good human beings. The benefits that we derive from prayer are immeasurable and the blessings beyond imagination.
In ‘Contemplation Before Sleep’, Osho explains what real prayer is, “ Prayer does not mean saying something to God, asking for something. Prayer means listening to God. If you have to say something it can only be a Thank You. A simple yes is enough. But organized religions all over the world have been teaching people unnecessary prayers. And people are repeating those prayers, parrot like. They have lost all meaning, they have become pure ritual and they are only formal.
You have to learn the true prayer. It consists of silence, it consists of deep listening. God wants to convey something to you. He is searching for you but never finds you because you are always so busy.
Be silent, more and more unoccupied, more and more available and you will soon start hearing the still, small voice within. God does not speak from outside, he speaks from your innermost core, he is already there. And to be connected with your innermost core is true prayer. The moment you are connected it is so blissful, that you can only bow down in deep gratitude.” The most important function of prayer is to enable us to focus more clearly on the blessings we already have and this will support us during misery, to acknowledge the presence of God in all places, at all times.
Prayer means diving deep within yourself. Polybius (208 – 126 B.C.) said, “There is no witness so dreadful, no accuser so terrible as the conscience that dwells in the heart of every man.” God speaks and directs through our conscience. This is where real life happens. This is where real battle is fought. By constant prayer, by openness to the movement of god in our lives, we can lift ourselves out of the pit of materialism. While praying we may judge and determine if our actions are correct, whether they are appropriate before the Lord who has granted us life and who is gracious to our every moment. This will make us conscious of our misdeeds and give us a chance to correct ourselves.
God is the source of goodness. Present your good efforts before God and you will see what help he will give you to accomplish your virtuous deeds. Just as shadow follow the body, same way wrong temptations follow good deeds. Sri Ramakrishna said, “ Some spiritual exercise is needed. As one progresses in it one gets joy, by degrees. If there be a jar full of treasures buried deep in the earth, and if anyone wants it, he must take the trouble of digging on. The brow sweats, and it is only when after much excavation the spade strikes against the jar and produces the metallic sound, that one gets delighted. The clearer the sound, the more is his delight. So go on calling upon the Lord, think on him, he himself will arrange everything. “ God helps those who are rising on the ladder of goodness and rewards for their diligence and patience.
Prayer is a type of confession. An effective means of washing out all impurities, strains, stresses, disabilities and mental diseases. The pious thoughts and divine thinking that is created during the course of prayer spreads a spiritual force within and around the person. As a result the whole environment is filled with pious thoughts, peace and love. Such pious thoughts, daily, become the innermost recesses of man’s heart. He enlivens this belief and makes it constructive in the practical course of life.
Prayer leads to systematic development of will power, self-confidence, mental capabilities, psychic powers and creates a sound spiritual foundation. It purifies the heart, cultivates the conscience and comforts the soul. Prayer is a guide to the most upright way of life. A safeguard against indecency and evil, against deviation and stray. Prayer helps to develop a fully organized thought system, concentration of mind, sharpening of intellect and imports astonishing developments in the decisive faculties that together helps to deal with the complex situation rightly.
Tennyson, an English poet, said, “Human life without prayer is an empty vessel and unconscious like animal. ”
Definitely being a good person is important. God does not need man’s prayer. God is free of all needs. Prayers are necessary means of helping us in being good human beings. The benefits that we derive from prayer are immeasurable and the blessings beyond imagination.
In ‘Contemplation Before Sleep’, Osho explains what real prayer is, “ Prayer does not mean saying something to God, asking for something. Prayer means listening to God. If you have to say something it can only be a Thank You. A simple yes is enough. But organized religions all over the world have been teaching people unnecessary prayers. And people are repeating those prayers, parrot like. They have lost all meaning, they have become pure ritual and they are only formal.
You have to learn the true prayer. It consists of silence, it consists of deep listening. God wants to convey something to you. He is searching for you but never finds you because you are always so busy.
Be silent, more and more unoccupied, more and more available and you will soon start hearing the still, small voice within. God does not speak from outside, he speaks from your innermost core, he is already there. And to be connected with your innermost core is true prayer. The moment you are connected it is so blissful, that you can only bow down in deep gratitude.” The most important function of prayer is to enable us to focus more clearly on the blessings we already have and this will support us during misery, to acknowledge the presence of God in all places, at all times.
Prayer means diving deep within yourself. Polybius (208 – 126 B.C.) said, “There is no witness so dreadful, no accuser so terrible as the conscience that dwells in the heart of every man.” God speaks and directs through our conscience. This is where real life happens. This is where real battle is fought. By constant prayer, by openness to the movement of god in our lives, we can lift ourselves out of the pit of materialism. While praying we may judge and determine if our actions are correct, whether they are appropriate before the Lord who has granted us life and who is gracious to our every moment. This will make us conscious of our misdeeds and give us a chance to correct ourselves.
God is the source of goodness. Present your good efforts before God and you will see what help he will give you to accomplish your virtuous deeds. Just as shadow follow the body, same way wrong temptations follow good deeds. Sri Ramakrishna said, “ Some spiritual exercise is needed. As one progresses in it one gets joy, by degrees. If there be a jar full of treasures buried deep in the earth, and if anyone wants it, he must take the trouble of digging on. The brow sweats, and it is only when after much excavation the spade strikes against the jar and produces the metallic sound, that one gets delighted. The clearer the sound, the more is his delight. So go on calling upon the Lord, think on him, he himself will arrange everything. “ God helps those who are rising on the ladder of goodness and rewards for their diligence and patience.
Prayer is a type of confession. An effective means of washing out all impurities, strains, stresses, disabilities and mental diseases. The pious thoughts and divine thinking that is created during the course of prayer spreads a spiritual force within and around the person. As a result the whole environment is filled with pious thoughts, peace and love. Such pious thoughts, daily, become the innermost recesses of man’s heart. He enlivens this belief and makes it constructive in the practical course of life.
Prayer leads to systematic development of will power, self-confidence, mental capabilities, psychic powers and creates a sound spiritual foundation. It purifies the heart, cultivates the conscience and comforts the soul. Prayer is a guide to the most upright way of life. A safeguard against indecency and evil, against deviation and stray. Prayer helps to develop a fully organized thought system, concentration of mind, sharpening of intellect and imports astonishing developments in the decisive faculties that together helps to deal with the complex situation rightly.
Tennyson, an English poet, said, “Human life without prayer is an empty vessel and unconscious like animal. ”
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home