| The question as it was presented; | | | | about who and what God really is, even though you |
| I wanted to know your thoughts about -Prayer. | | | | may not be consciously aware of this submerged |
| Meditating on or Chanting 'God' or 'All that is' or 'the | | | | confusion. Unconsciously, you are led astray by |
| divine source's' name. Or simply being aware of 'Him', | | | | misconceptions that have been handed down for |
| and remembering. | | | | centuries by gross misinterpretations of Biblical |
| I like this question because prayer is something that | | | | verses. I speak here of one religious belief only, and I |
| mankind has been doing in one form or another since | | | | know that mankind holds dearly its beliefs that God |
| the beginning of time. The true nature of reality is | | | | created man in His image, thereby inferring that All |
| not a simple thing, and often the real truths are to | | | | That Is (God), is somehow a kind of divine humanoid |
| be found in what you could call contradictions, but | | | | living somewhere UP in Heaven. No one will every |
| since we tackle difficult concepts here, lets get | | | | know exactly who or what God is in totality because |
| started by saying that Prayer does work and on the | | | | God is ever changing and ever renewing Itself, but |
| other hand it doesn't work, it depends on how you | | | | you can come to a closer understanding if you can |
| look at it, so it's a two edged sword in that respect. | | | | divest yourself of thinking of God in human terms. |
| Almost everyone prays in one form or another, even | | | | We have talked about what God really is in articles |
| though some would not consider their almost | | | | on the "God Concept", so no need to cover the |
| sub-conscious thoughts, yearnings and desires as a | | | | same ground here. |
| form of prayer. | | | | So, if you don't have an inner feeling of confidence |
| I can confidently say that prayer doesn't work for | | | | of what God is, then how can you expect prayers to |
| most people in practical terms. If I were to ask; | | | | be answered when you don't know the "Prayer |
| how's it working for you, almost everyone, if they | | | | Rules". And here they are: |
| were completely honest, would say that they know | | | | Understand that God is real and exists now, has |
| it works, but when asked to describe examples in | | | | always existed and will always exist and if there was |
| their lives, they would be hard pressed to name one | | | | nothing but God in the beginning, you can then |
| instance where a definite prayer was answered by | | | | extrapolate, that everything that exists here and |
| God with a definite positive result. Not many people | | | | now and everything to come, emanates from the |
| would be honest enough to say that it simply doesn't | | | | one true Source of everything. Just as the God you |
| work for them, since in their minds, in denying prayer, | | | | pray to is more a Divine Energy Process than He is a |
| they would be denying God, and few would venture | | | | person, the answering of prayers is also a process, |
| there, since God is the guy who watches, judges and | | | | and there are rules for success in this creative |
| administers appropriate punishments to disbelievers. | | | | process. |
| How many would deny a God who sends | | | | So, if your answer to; Prayer, how's it working for |
| unrepentant sinners to eternal damnation or doubters | | | | you, is "not very well", try the following. |
| to the lake of fire. Many peoples belief that prayer | | | | 1. Know what you want, keep it in focus. |
| does work is the result of irrational rationalization, | | | | 2. Know that if it is "Possible within your frame of |
| wanting so badly to believe in prayer, they grope for | | | | reference", it automatically becomes probable, |
| anything that would prove a prayer answered. | | | | meaning it CAN manifest in the physical world.. |
| There are others who will tell you that prayer | | | | 3. Pray, ask, chant, meditate but whatever you do, |
| definitely does work for them and can allude to | | | | concentrate intensely on what you want, believing |
| many instances where their prayers have been | | | | that the Divine Process of creation lies within the |
| answered, and to them, there never was any doubt | | | | scope of your beliefs, your desires and intent. The |
| about the matter. Of course, if it works for them, | | | | key here is "Intensity" of that intent. |
| they will believe that God heard their requests and | | | | 4. Don't overdue it, five minutes a day is sufficient, |
| decided to answer their prayers.. I guess, that it | | | | lest you begin to doubt that the prayer process is |
| really doesn't make any difference in how it works, if | | | | working. |
| the results of your prayers are positive. Of course, | | | | 5. You exist and operate in a time oriented system, |
| there is a lot of rationalization going on here too, and | | | | so creation of objects and events manifest in slow |
| many want to give credit to God for even the | | | | motion, so to speak. Actually, in a way that will not |
| slightest evidence that may show that a prayer has | | | | be explained here, your first thought actually creates |
| been answered. The misunderstanding of prayer is as | | | | what you pray for, it just doesn't become available |
| varied as is the misunderstanding of the Prime Source | | | | to your field of perceptions until you bring it into |
| that you call God. | | | | focus, and that takes time. |
| Prayer is a perceived method of connecting with that | | | | 6. Know that the creation of objects and events on |
| Prime Source and I have inferred in the article on | | | | the physical plane is the result of preliminary work |
| the:"McDonald's Concept", it doesn't really make any | | | | done in the inner universe, projected outward into |
| difference if your prayer works through God directly | | | | the land of physical effects, and follows certain inner |
| or through intermediaries or through inner creative | | | | laws that are not arbitrary. In other words, if you do |
| processes. What matters to most people is that their | | | | it right, if you pray for what is beneficial to your |
| prayers are heard and answered directly or indirectly | | | | being and others being, the result is not questionable, |
| by some arbitrary god on high. Most people with any | | | | it MUST happen. |
| sense at all understand that there is no god on high, | | | | 7. The process takes time, so don't expect results |
| sitting on a cloud in the sky, watching over | | | | overnight. The other secret here is "Duration". Do not |
| everyone, scrutinizing every move of every person, | | | | be discouraged if what you pray for does not |
| ready to administer rewards or punishments | | | | happen immediately. The actual time for actualization |
| depending on your obedient behavior to His rules. Of | | | | or manifestation of your prayer can range from |
| course, there is a God, but when you start assigning | | | | immediately to months, depending on the factors |
| human characteristics to Him/Her/It, you are far off | | | | mentioned above. |
| base. You are more likely to get what you ask for if | | | | 8. You must expect your prayers to be answered, |
| you understand the creative process and your | | | | since "Expectation" is the most important aspect of |
| necessary part it. | | | | the "Rules of Prayer." |
| Prayer does work for some, but not because God. | | | | Remember this; religion, religious affiliation, your |
| All That Is, sitting on His throne decides to bestow | | | | worthiness, sin, etc. has nothing to do with whether |
| His blessings on the few deserving beings for their | | | | or not your prayers are answered. Answering of |
| obedience. Prayer, my friends, is a form of extreme | | | | prayers is depends on understanding the creative |
| concentrated thought and thought is the catalyst | | | | process of the universe and utilizing them consciously. |
| that propels energy into physical objects and events. | | | | You do it now unconsciously, as you create your |
| Actually, I should have said, prayer in its most intense | | | | personal image, your environment and your reality. |
| form, founded in a strong belief that it does work is | | | | What you have to learn is how to do what you now |
| the key. If you believe, your thoughts will be intense | | | | do unconsciously, consciously. |
| and following those beliefs, you will expect positive | | | | You are on a journey, and you are the co-creator of |
| results and expectation is the key word here. Desire | | | | this journey and all of its effects and you learn from |
| is important, duration is important, but you will only | | | | encountering those effects. |
| get what you expect to get. Meditation is a good | | | | First, you create your reality, then you bump up |
| thing and there is nothing inherently wrong with | | | | against what you have created, scratch your head |
| chanting, repeating mantras or anything else that | | | | and wonder why the hell this has happened to you, |
| centers your attention on what you pray for and | | | | not realizing that unconsciously, you have created it, |
| reinforces the belief that positive results will be | | | | in order to learn from the experience. Nothing is |
| achieved. | | | | thrust on you that you did not create. |
| One reason why prayer doesn't seem to work for | | | | Intense thought, Belief, Desire, Duration and |
| anyone on a regular basis is that you harbor doubts | | | | Expectation = The stuff you want. |