Does Prayer Really Work?

[Guest guest]

Does Prayer Really Work?

 

Yes, Prayer works - but not always in the manner we intend. We may not receive a particular benefit that we seek, but prayer draws us closer to God. It establishes a line of communication with the Lord and builds His presence in our minds. And yes, many times our specific prayers are granted - although not always as we expect.

 

Prayer is a key, which opens many doors. Whether we are giving thanks or seeking help for others, or ourselves we are working to understand our relationship with the Lord. Some prayers are affirmations of His glory, but in all prayers we seek to draw closer to God. "Prayer is the very breath of religion, for it brings man and God together and with every sigh, nearer and nearer†Baba

 

Prayer has been described in its sublimity as "an intimate friendship, a frequent conversation held alone with the Beloved". The most important part of any prayer, whether it be a prayer of petition, of thanksgiving, of praise of Lord, or of confession, is the introspection it provides, the moment that we spend looking inside ourselves, seeing our role in the universe and our relationship to God and emphasizes the One to whom prayer is directed. For an observant Sai devotee, prayer is not simply something that happens in temple once a week (or even four times a day). Prayer is an integral part of everyday life. Observant devotees are constantly reminded of Sai's presence and of our relationship with God, because we are continually praying to Him.

 

Our first thought in the morning, even before we get out of bed, is a prayer thanking Sai for returning our souls to us. Prayers are to be recited before enjoying any material pleasure, such as eating or wearing new clothes; before performing any acts; upon seeing anything unusual; at the site of a great tragedy; whenever some good or bad thing happens; and prayers to recite before going to bed at night. All of these prayers are in addition to formal prayer services, which are performed every weekday and at additional times on festivals and holy days.

 

Many people today do not see the need for regular, formal prayer. "I pray when I feel inspired to, when it is meaningful to me," they say. This attitude overlooks two important things: the purpose of prayer, and the need for practice.

 

One purpose of prayer is to increase awareness of God in one's life and the role that God plays in one's life. If one will only pray when one feels inspired (that is, when one is already aware of God), then one will not increase their awareness of God.

 

In addition, if one wants to do something well, one has to practice it continually, even when one doesn't feel like doing it. This is as true of prayer as it is of playing a sport, playing a musical instrument, or writing. The most important part of prayer is the introspection it provides. Accordingly, the proper frame of mind is vital to prayer.The mindset for prayer is referred to as "bhavah", which is generally translated as "approach", "intent" or "devotion".

The minimum level of bhavah is an awareness that one is speaking to God and an intention to fulfill the obligation to pray with devotion. If one does not have this minimal level of bhavah, then one is not praying; they are merely reading. In addition, it is preferred that one have a mind free from other thoughts, that one know and understand what one is praying about and that one think about the meaning of the prayer. Sai Satcharita details the prerequisites of prayer as explained by Baba generally referred to as nine forms of devotion.

 

Continued........Does Prayer Really Work? - How Do we Start?