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No matter how difficult your problem,
you can release spiritual power to solve it. Here's how:
There are generally speaking, three ways
to get what you want and need:
- by work
- by thought
- by prayer.
The first two are used everyday. The third
is greatly neglected.
Why? Probably because work and thought
are common, everyday things, while prayer is associated with
something different. It has been made a sort of Sunday-go-to-gurudwara
thing, remote from our daily lives. This elimination of prayer
factor from man's experience is a tragic omission. Greater strength
may be generated by prayers than by the thoughts of brain or
the work of the hands. Alexis Carrel, a leading scientist, pointed
out that the powerful form of energy one can generate is not
mechanical, electronic, or even atomic, but prayer.
To be efficient in prayer, you must learn
the art of praying. The first step is JUST TO PRAY. You can
read every book ever written about prayer, and you can attend
innumerable discussions on prayers, but the only way to learn
to pray is TO PRAY. It is the general rule to learning; that
is, if you want to learn something, if you really want to master
something, you have to practice. Similarly, if you want to analyze
praying, first start praying.
How much time each day do you spend in
prayer? I have asked that question of many people and have arrived
at the conclusion that about five minutes per day is the probable
average. Some pray more than that; some less-most people probably
less.
Here is a little exercise in arithmetic.
The average person is awake about 16 hours a day. That means
he has 960 minutes at his disposal. If he uses only five minutes
to pray, it means that he is praying only one-half or one percent
of his waking hours. Raise the daily percentage of time you
spend in prayer if you expect to experience its power.
Alex Carrel also stated: "When we
pray, we link ourselves with the inexhaustible power that binds
the universe. Pray everywhere; in the street, in the subway,
in the office, the shop, the school, as well as in the solitude
of one's own room. TRUE PRAYER IS A WAY OF LIFE.
A practical plan is to utilize spare moments
that would otherwise be aimless. Make your prayers simple. If
you are sitting at your desk and you do not know what to do
about some matter, do not ask your co-worker for help, because
he or she may know, either; but call in a greater partner. Merely
say, "Waheguru, I am stuck with this problem. You know
more about this business than I do; tell me what to do."
If your fears and anxieties are heavy, talk to God about them
in simple fashion. Then do your best and leave the rest to God.
Quit worrying. God's love will protect and defend you. Trust
God, work hard, think straight, and things will come out right.
We need to recognize that prayer is a simple thing. People who
practice the simple techniques of prayer secure guidance to
an unusual degree. They are directed in their activities by
an invisible but definite power. In meeting situations and in
dealing with people, they acquire remarkable skill. There is
not anything magical in prayer, but it is certain that insights
and illuminations are given to people who habitually practice
an attitude in prayer, through which they receive divine guidance.
Yield your mind with its problems to an attitude of prayer.
Be willing to accept, not what you want or what you think ought
to be, but affirm that you will be led in the solution of your
problem. The result will be that, over time, you will see a
pattern that you, yourself, did not conceive.
Whatever your problem, no matter how difficult,
you can release spiritual power sufficient to solve it. The
secret is, pray and believe. This may be difficult, but do it
nevertheless. Simply believe in that Waheguru will give His
power to you and mentally yield yourself to it. The secret is
faith. The only struggle it urges you to exert is the effort
to believe. When you have done so, you become a channel through
which power flows. You then have all the strength you will need.
Here are ten rules for saying your prayers.
They have proved to be an effective discipline.
- Set aside a few minutes to be alone
and quiet. Relax body, mind, and spirit by turning the thoughts
away from problems and fixing the mind on Waheguru. Think
about Waheguru in the way that is most natural.
- Talk to Waheguru in a simple manner,
telling how anything is on your mind. Do not use formal words
or phrases. Talk to Waheguru in your own language. He will
understand.
- Practice talking to Waheguru as you
go about the business of the day. On the subway or bus, or
at your desk, close your eyes for a moment to shut out the
world and have a word or two with Waheguru. This will give
you a sense of Waheguru's nearness.
- Affirm that Waheguru is with you and
helping you. Affirm that He is blessing you.
- Pray with the thought that your prayers
surround your loved ones with Waheguru's love and care.
- Think only positive thoughts when you
pray.
- State in your prayer that you are ready
to accept Waheguru's will. Ask for what you want, but express
your willingness to take what Waheguru wants.
- Put everything into Waheguru's hands.
Pray for strength to do your best, and confidently leave the
rest to Waheguru.
- Say a word of prayer for people who
do not like you or have treated you badly. This will help
them and release tremendous power in you.
- Daily, pray for this troubled world,
and for lasting peace. Then believe that your prayers will
be answered.
Let Us Pray Together.
What an amazing thing it is when someone
says, "let us pray." It is not just an invitation
or a formal exercise of devotion, it is the suggestion that
we can actually make contact with Waheguru. It means we can
put aside all distressing thoughts and get into harmony with
the eternal Waheguru. If you have any problem, a need, or a
difficulty, open your mind with intensity, for your situation
can be healed, handled, corrected, and empowered.
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