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A successful prayer
Prayer is the most universal spiritual practice. It connects the spirit of human beings to the Divine, thus preventing them from forgetting Him. But it also enables one to revert back to oneself, to one’s true dimension, which is spiritual in nature.
Ostad Elahi practiced prayer in various forms since childhood and referred to the essential conditions of prayer many times in his works. Some of his recommendations regarding prayer can be found in Words of Faith: Prayers of Ostad Elahi, which was published on the occasion of the centennial of his birth.
Here are some excerpts from this book:
- Intention is the main thing in praying. No matter what your religion or what language you speak, as soon as your attention is focused on God, your prayer is accepted.
- To be effective, prayer must combine action, attention and recollection.
- The act of prayer is not limited to a particular time and place: wherever and whenever you are with God, God is with you.
- The effect of prayer depends on the time, the intention, the sincerity and the feelings of the person who is praying.
- Praying must not be motivated by fear, hypocrisy, or greed; it should spring from pure intention, aiming at nothing but God’s satisfaction.
- Why are there repetitions in prayers? Because repetition eventually results in concentrated attention which in turn strengthens the capacity for attention.
- Do not let yourself be deceived by the imperious self when it says “Now that you can’t pray as you should, you’d better not pray at all!” This is typical of the imperious self; it shouldn’t be listened to.
- Every intimate discourse with God is registered in the spiritual world and stays there forever. Likewise, every time your thoughts wander, it is reflected there.
- Praying for one’s parents and for people of faith is a service rendered to society, for it is like sowing the seeds of goodness.
- While praying, in order to achieve attention to God, think that you are addressing a large assembly: you must feel every word before you speak it, and concerning humility and submission, imagine that you stand before God and He is listening to you.
- Praying, even reluctantly, is better than not praying at all.
- You should all reach the level where praying, far from being an obligation, gives you joy and elation.
- A heartfelt prayer leaves a trace that lasts for a thousand years.
- Wherever you hear the Name of God, respect it, welcome it, and be blessed by it—never mind who speaks it or where it is spoken. Do not set yourself apart.
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