#fala

Allow me the utilitarian simplicity of saying: Prayer is talking to God. However you may define each of those five words, I'm comfortable. I'll make my circle of understanding as large as need be in order to keep the conversation going. We can get into semantics some other time.

Why do we do this thing we call "praying"?

To worship--to connect in a positive way with the ultimate ground of being.

To confess--to cleanse ourselves of shame, guilt, or remorse.

To thank--to express appreciation for comfort and sustenance.

To petition--to ask for something.

Interestingly, there's not a lot of modern evidence of direct divine response to prayer. Holy books record that God literally spoke in ancient times on many occasions for many reasons. Only about ten percent of those who acknowledge praying say that God has spoken to them. Athletic teams and television evangelists seem to have the most consistent response.

Is there something wrong here? Is this a problem? No.

The responsibility and the opportunity for the relationship belong to the one who prays. God is always there. To put it into scriptural language, "The Kingdom of God is within you."

And the work of that Kingdom is carried out in the human heart.

Prayer is its own reward.

In the ritual of reaching in and in the reaching out.

* * *

Another view.

In the realm of Buddhism, prayer takes two complementary forms.

Meditation--the process of inner focusing--of sitting so quietly and silently that the mind is slowly emptied of thoughts and one is not only at the center of one's being but at the center of Being itself.

Action--the achievement of merit by acting in harmony with the best intentions of human community and divine values.

I noticed the intersection of meditation and action in Thailand.

Homage is paid to an image of Buddha by lighting a candle or stick of incense, putting flowers in front of the image, and daily, consciously committing an act of charity to someone in need.

Thais frequently purchase a tiny square of gold leaf and attach it to the image of the Buddha where it will affect the worshiper in a specific way. This is called "pid tong lung pra." It is believed that gold leaf pressed on the Buddha's lips will bring the worshiper the gift of eloquence. On the head--wisdom. On the heart--a loving spirit. If the petitioner is ill, the gold leaf is placed on the corresponding area of pain.

It is said that those who have reached a higher level of understanding place the gold leaf on the backside or underneath the image--not for themselves, but for the common good of humanity.

And there are those who say that when one really understands the idea of merit most fully, the money used to purchase gold leaf is instead given directly to someone in need, or placed in an alms box for the temple to disburse.

It is said there is no limit to the amount of good a person can do if he does not mind who gets the credit. This is Enlightenment.

This is seeing one's self as an integrated part of the creative forces of life and not just an occasional contributor. The Thais say this is ritual prayer in its highest form--one prays by Being and Doing that which is in harmony with the best interests of all living things.