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Is there any purpose to prayer? Are prayers heard?
- Thread starter Rex
- Start date
Runt
Well-Known Member
When we pray to God we are focusing our mind on a task or goal at hand. Since we are part of God, our prayers are heard and often answered if they work out with the rest of the spiritual reality. However, the answer might not come on the terms we expected. For example, if I asked for a little orange kitten right now, I might expect to get it sometime within the next few weeks. But God might chose to give it to me when I am 80, lonely, and need a companion.
Truthseeker5
Member
If we pray for tings like a cat, money, a car, a house, a shag with the best looking person you know. The prayer will fall on deaf ears. If we pray for spiritual change even though we have absolutely no idea of what that is then we are conducting a far more effective prayer.
I remember Rabbi Laitman told us a story of man who drags his child through the streets and the child is begging his father to stop so that he can rub his eyes but the father doesn't let him. The people in the street see this and say: " Why don't you let your son rub his eyes ?" The father replies "Do you want me to let my son rub his eyes with needles ?"
What this means is that the things we ask for usually bring us away from spirituality, they divert us from the true goal and that is why these prayers are not answered. We may think that these things are good for us and will bring us comfort but the fact of the matter is they won't and are only false carriers of pleasure.
I remember Rabbi Laitman told us a story of man who drags his child through the streets and the child is begging his father to stop so that he can rub his eyes but the father doesn't let him. The people in the street see this and say: " Why don't you let your son rub his eyes ?" The father replies "Do you want me to let my son rub his eyes with needles ?"
What this means is that the things we ask for usually bring us away from spirituality, they divert us from the true goal and that is why these prayers are not answered. We may think that these things are good for us and will bring us comfort but the fact of the matter is they won't and are only false carriers of pleasure.
Green Gaia
Veteran Member
Prayer too often takes on the form of asking for things. I prefer to think of this "communication with God" as mediatating. Not asking for anything, just connecting with the Spirit.
Truthseeker5
Member
Maize don't kid yourself.
This world of ours is worse than hell you know why ? In hell you can ask whoever put you there to also take you out of it. In this world you are
f**ked you know why ? We can't feel God ? we have no connection with him. We don't see who he is ? We say our prayers shouting out into space wondering if anybody hears them or gives a f**k as to what we are saying. (I swear when I am worked up)
I apologise to you all I really do. Kabbalist's should have put this knowledge out into the masses a long time ago. The Baal Hasulam told us that we need to put schools and spread Kabbalah all over the world. Anyone who feels the necessity to come back to The Creator whilst on this planet has a job to do and they must do it and if they don't ? - well they will be forced to do it. The good times are coming but there needs to be a rapid change around in the way we are currently going. As I will continuallly repeat if we do not start to realise that our egoism is the root cause of what will actually destroy us then we are in trouble.
www.kabbalah.info
This world of ours is worse than hell you know why ? In hell you can ask whoever put you there to also take you out of it. In this world you are
f**ked you know why ? We can't feel God ? we have no connection with him. We don't see who he is ? We say our prayers shouting out into space wondering if anybody hears them or gives a f**k as to what we are saying. (I swear when I am worked up)
I apologise to you all I really do. Kabbalist's should have put this knowledge out into the masses a long time ago. The Baal Hasulam told us that we need to put schools and spread Kabbalah all over the world. Anyone who feels the necessity to come back to The Creator whilst on this planet has a job to do and they must do it and if they don't ? - well they will be forced to do it. The good times are coming but there needs to be a rapid change around in the way we are currently going. As I will continuallly repeat if we do not start to realise that our egoism is the root cause of what will actually destroy us then we are in trouble.
www.kabbalah.info
Green Gaia
Veteran Member
Truthseeker, please do not reply to any more of my posts until you can be a little more tolerant of others beliefs. Thank you.
Engyo
Prince of Dorkness!
Prayer in Buddhism is a bit different - it is more of a statement of intent or a wish formally expressed than a petition to something outside ones self (who/what "hears"?).
The purpose is found in the Buddhist concept of karma - that every thought, word or action an individual makes has consequences; that a prayer, especially for relief of another's suffering, makes positive consequences both in my life and in the cosmos as a whole.
One of our daily prayers begins with:
With reverence, we offer the merits we have accumulated through [our daily practice] so that everywhere under the heavens may equally become a tranquil land and may all the people in those lands enjoy happy lives.
Another ends with:
With this prayer, we endeavor to increase our understanding and appreciation of what others have given and contributed to us, and to develop constant, mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will beneficially contribute to others.
Hopefully this illustrates that these are more statements of intent, or formal expressions of wishes than they are prayers to some external force or entity for answers.
The purpose is found in the Buddhist concept of karma - that every thought, word or action an individual makes has consequences; that a prayer, especially for relief of another's suffering, makes positive consequences both in my life and in the cosmos as a whole.
One of our daily prayers begins with:
With reverence, we offer the merits we have accumulated through [our daily practice] so that everywhere under the heavens may equally become a tranquil land and may all the people in those lands enjoy happy lives.
Another ends with:
With this prayer, we endeavor to increase our understanding and appreciation of what others have given and contributed to us, and to develop constant, mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will beneficially contribute to others.
Hopefully this illustrates that these are more statements of intent, or formal expressions of wishes than they are prayers to some external force or entity for answers.
Lightkeeper
Well-Known Member
Maize said:
I agree with this. Prayer is our connection to God. I mainly remain in a state of gratitude.
Lightkeeper
Well-Known Member
[
With this prayer, we endeavor to increase our understanding and appreciation of what others have given and contributed to us, and to develop constant, mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will beneficially contribute to others.
Hopefully this illustrates that these are more statements of intent, or formal expressions of wishes than they are prayers to some external force or entity for answers.[/quote]
Your entire post was beautiful. They way I read it is we manifest what we think, we are what we think.
With this prayer, we endeavor to increase our understanding and appreciation of what others have given and contributed to us, and to develop constant, mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will beneficially contribute to others.
Hopefully this illustrates that these are more statements of intent, or formal expressions of wishes than they are prayers to some external force or entity for answers.[/quote]
Your entire post was beautiful. They way I read it is we manifest what we think, we are what we think.
nawab
Active Member
Dear All,
I think that prayers are answered but most of the time we ask for things which is not the best for us. God Al mighty know what is best for us. sometimes we ask for Money but maybe at that time it was not best for us to have money as we might be deluded away so God doesnt gives at that time.
Just like what the brother said about the Cat (Beautiful example I liked it very much) maybe at this point we would not be able to care for the cat that much so, God gives us later when we are 80 more free more time to play with the cat.
If we do not get what we asked for, it is because that
we are not sincere enough and we will get the thing what we asked for. If we dont get that thing in this Life, we shall get it in the next life.
This is the best way to releive stress because we Muslims have a habit of saying Inshallah (if God wills it) Thats why the stress rate is very low in Muslim countries. God al mighty is also the best doctor for us. He knows best. The point to be noted is that there is no cure for stress even today but by submitting your will to God almighty you are releived of the misery.
According to the traditions of our prophet, if we suspect our prayers that will it happen or not then it wont happen. so, i take it easy, I say if God wills it please give XXX to me, but yet God will still give me good deeds because i asked him and not anyone else.
May Allah Provide us all with Guidiance
I think that prayers are answered but most of the time we ask for things which is not the best for us. God Al mighty know what is best for us. sometimes we ask for Money but maybe at that time it was not best for us to have money as we might be deluded away so God doesnt gives at that time.
Just like what the brother said about the Cat (Beautiful example I liked it very much) maybe at this point we would not be able to care for the cat that much so, God gives us later when we are 80 more free more time to play with the cat.
If we do not get what we asked for, it is because that
we are not sincere enough and we will get the thing what we asked for. If we dont get that thing in this Life, we shall get it in the next life.
This is the best way to releive stress because we Muslims have a habit of saying Inshallah (if God wills it) Thats why the stress rate is very low in Muslim countries. God al mighty is also the best doctor for us. He knows best. The point to be noted is that there is no cure for stress even today but by submitting your will to God almighty you are releived of the misery.
According to the traditions of our prophet, if we suspect our prayers that will it happen or not then it wont happen. so, i take it easy, I say if God wills it please give XXX to me, but yet God will still give me good deeds because i asked him and not anyone else.
May Allah Provide us all with Guidiance