While in Haifa, the beloved Guardian of the Cause (Shoghi Effendi) gave to the writer (Mrs Ruth Moffat), the most concise, complete, and effective formula she has ever seen, for the Dynamics of Prayer. After saying to stress the need of more prayers and meditation among the friends, he said to use these five steps if we had a problem of any kind for which we desired a solution or wished help.
· First Step. - Pray and meditate about it. Use the prayers of the Manifestations as they have the greatest power. Then remain in the silence Of contemplation for a few minutes.
· Second Step. - Arrive at a decision and hold this. This decision is usually born during the contemplation. It may seem almost impossible of accomplishment but if it seems to be as answer to a prayer or a way of solving the problem, then immediately take the next step.
· Third Step. - Have determination to carry the decision through. Many fail here. The decision, budding into determination, is blighted and instead becomes a wish or a vague longing. When determination is born, immediately take the next step.
· Fourth Step. - Have faith and confidence that the power will flow through you, the right way will appear, the door will open, the right thought, the right message, the right principle or the right book will be given you. Have confidence, and the right thing will come to your need. Then, as you rise from prayer, take at once the fifth step.
· Fifth Step. - Then, he said, lastly, ACT; Act as though it had all been answered. Then act with tireless, ceaseless energy. And as you act, you, yourself, will become a magnet, which will attract more power to your being, until you become an unobstructed channel for the Divine power to flow through you. Many pray but do not remain for the last half of the first step. Some who meditate arrive at a decision, but fail to hold it. Few have the determination to carry the decision through, still fewer have the confidence that the right thing will come to their need. But how many remember to act as though it had all been answered? How true are those words - "Greater than the prayer is the spirit in which it is uttered" and greater than the way it is uttered is the spirit in which it is carried out.
The above statement belongs properly to the class of statement known as "pilgrim's notes" and as such as no authority but, since it seems to be particularly helpful and clear, it was felt that believers should not be deprived of it.
Geoff... thank you for pulling all of these intriguing thoughts and Writings on prayer, together, in one place... where I can find them! A few, once again, very simple thoughts to share...
ReplyDeleteInterestingly enough, a fairly recent discussion on this topic was brought about by another question from my 5 year-old... actually maybe it started with my 9 year-old... Doesnt matter, the point is that when the question was asked, it prompted me to think hard about the answer.
We were recently visiting my family and staying with my parents in their home where I grew up. As he has done for most of his eighty years, my father, ends his day, very quietly and simply, kneeling at the side of his bed, in prayer.....
This is something that for many years I never gave much thought, it was just what my father does... like brushing his teeth. I will try in a few short sentences to describe my father, or better yet, his quiet, strong, unerring demonstration of faith.
My dad, has spent his life building and running a ranch that was initially homesteaded by my Irish Catholic grandfather 100 years ago this summer. He is a very smart businessman, a true environmentalist, and a believer in simplicity... Over the years he has relied on his faith to carry him through droughts, blizzards, economic downturns, forest fires, plagues of grasshoppers etc. All circumstances that impacted him greatly but remained out of his control. Although, for many years I saw the worry in his face, I now realize what was stronger, much stronger was the faith in his heart...
Okay, I know thats an nice story and all but I really do have a relevant point to your post ... Since we were sleeping in the room across the hallway (a very narrow hallway) from my parents, my children witnessed their grandfather kneeling down in the dark, for a minute or two, before sleep, in prayer... What followed was a discussion that made me think about how, when, where, what, if, we pray...
We talked about different religions, people and beliefs about "how to pray".. sit, stand, kneel, bow, face this direction, face covered, etc.... Although respect for all customs and ideals is absolutely crucial... Does any of it really matter more than that "condition of heart"? Yes, those customs, rules and traditions exist I hope, to foster that "condition of heart", but again simplicity comes to mind...
O Son of Being! Make mention of Me on My earth, that in My heaven I may remember thee, thus Mine eyes and thine be solaced."
~ Baha'u'llah
Also, I recently once again came across a quote that I love by Thomas Merton, a Trappist Monk.. "Prayer is the desire to pray".
So it seems that the dynamic of intention is the foundation of our prayer? "Make mention of Me"....... All else, may assist, guide, inhibit or intimidate us, but cant create the beautiful intention and desire within us that is our individual endowment from God.
Monica,
ReplyDeleteWhat an experience for your kids! I think those short small conversations along with witnessing somebody you respect a great deal as a child, i.e. Grandpa, engaging in private communion with God can have more of an impact on a child's view of life than many hours of talk and study years later.
My mother used to pray about everything it seems as I was growing up and when the going got tough she would call on me. lol Made me feel special...like I had a connection I could call on, which we all do. She just continuously had me working it. Looking back I think she just pretended the car wouldn't start and then asked me to say a "special" prayer and then of course ... wa-la! the car started.
Is this really any different than playing the choo-choo or bee game trying to get your kid to eat physical food? You do what you can to feed them both physically and spiritually and then ... someday when they are older they begin to enjoy it and do it on their own. For the joy of it! Mom...do I have to eat this Banana Split? lol
You made a great case for intention as the foundation of prayer. Perhaps the following prayer would go with it as well on the basis that we were created to worship Thee (God).
When our intention is aligned and true we are doing what we were created to do in its purest form.
SHORT OBLIGATORY PRAYER
TO BE RECITED ONCE IN TWENTY-FOUR
HOURS, AT NOON
I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship Thee. I testify, at this moment, to my powerlessness and to Thy might, to my poverty and to Thy wealth. There is none other God but Thee, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.
(Prayers and Meditations by Bahá'u'lláh, CLXXXI)