What is the True Purpose of Prayer?
Dear friends,
Most spiritual traditions make it quite clear that Spirit/God/The Divine knows better than we do what is best for us. That is why it pays to ask for Divine Guidance. But if that is the case, why bother to pray? Are we letting Spirit know something that is not already known? And if not, what’s the point of the attempted communication? Maybe we think Spirit might be having a memory lapse, so we are helping out? (I think that’s mostly me these days, actually…)
The answer is that we pray to change our own consciousness. It affirms that we are not in charge. It affirms that there is a power outside of ourselves. Asking, then, is a sign of strength, not weakness. It takes courage and great energy to accept the way things truly are rather than affirming an autonomy and wisdom that does not exist.
There is a reason why the standard greeting in a great one’s presence is a bowed head. Humility is required for progress in one’s spiritual life. We must put out maximum energy and not be passive, but the trick is to do that and remain open and receptive at the same time. When racing on skis downhill one needs to be working hard and putting out maximum energy, with a clear goal. But one is also very sensitive to what is happening at each moment and focused on the feedback the mountain is giving with its many twists, turns, and bumps. Arguing with or ignoring the mountain is a mistake! Determined, focused, and open all at the same time. Like anything else in life this takes practice and determination, but it absolutely can be done.
Praying creates that wonderful sense of both humility and openness. Meditation can be thought of as the listening component of prayer. Focus and broadcast your energy with deep concentration and then listen with just as much energy and focus for the inner response.
May we give our full, determined, and excellent energy to everything we do. But may we also maintain an attitude of openness and receptivity that what we do be guided by Spirit and not our own whims and desires.
Blessings,
David G., manager
For the staff at East West