Pardon the repetition of a post from the thread How Should We Worship and Adore Him.
Prayer is talking to God. Actually a conversation, because He listens and He answers us. We talk to Him at many levels. Depending on our need, depending on our level of spiritual development, depending on His blessing and mercy. This is the view that I share because it is simple and straightforward. It is also backed up by Gurbani. I am not sophisticated about these things and leave metaphysics to others.
Chapter 5
Prayer
from Bandginama by Raghbir Singh.
The prayer of a man of God is never fruitless.
birthi kade na havoi jan ki ardas
Guru Arjan - Bilawal.
What God’s servant desires of his Master, is complied forthwith.
jo jo kahai thakur pahi sevak tat kal hoi avai
Guru Arjan - Asa.
Prayer is a personal talk with God, and it is a talk that may be of diverse
kinds:
in God’s existence, in His power to grant the prayer, and in the soundness,
propriety and efficacy of our prayer; love and reverence for God during prayer;
and a pure, receptive heart.
In retrospect, I find that on account of my lurking doubts, some of my
prayers remained unanswered, other received a delayed response, but I do
not remember any time when the above conditions were fulfilled and yet
the prayer remained unanswered. A prayer, offered with a firm faith and a
humble heart is so readily granted that it leaves us astounded.
Prayers may be of two kinds congregational and individual. The former
has been in vogue amongst the Sikhs since the times of the Gurus. Its uses
are countless. It has played a mighty role in sustaining the Sikhs. The daily
congregations, with psalm-singing, singing God’s praises, and the collective,
congregational prayer to Heaven, remembering the Gurus, the heroic sons of
Guru Gobind Singh, the Sikh martyrs, both male and female, praying for
the preservation of sacred shrines, sacred places, choirs, Sikh banners, Sikh
resting places- the daily congregational prayer has been a splendid routine
for keeping alive the Sikh way of life. The history of the Panth thus daily
recapitulated, reviving old memories and traditions keeps alive the spark of
Sikh fellow-feeling, the Sikh sense of self-respect and the Sikh traditions of
self-sacrifice.
The second type of Ardas or prayer-that is, individual or personal prayerof
a Sikh may be elaborate, as is the congregational or Sikh prayer, or it may
be short, couched in our own words, according to our individual needs and
feelings. In this case, no special form, prescribed words, special technique
or rhythm are needed. Only the mind must be shaped in a humble mould
answering to the spirit of the sacred verse:
I do not come into the picture, I am nowhere,
I have nothing that I can call mine own.
mai nahi kachh hao nahi
kichh ahe na mora
Sadhna - Bilawal.
Such a prayer poured forth by the soul flies Heavenward. The language of
the soul is not garbed in sonorous, high-pitched phrases. It is a language of
thoughts.
When we learn how to pray correctly, the response is instantaneous. We
have an ecstatic feeling. There is wonder, mixed with delight, at the actual
materialization or fulfilment of the prayer.
by S. Raghbir Singh
As for what is the need to pray? This one little part of sriraag on Ang 25 gets us started in the direction of answering that question for ourselves. If we don't feel the need to prayer, then we don't pray. If we know we need to pray, then we do pray.
ਬਿਆ ਦਰੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੈ ਦਰਿ ਜਾਉ ॥ biaa dhar naahee kai dhar jaao ||
There is no other door-unto which door should I go?
Prayer is talking to God. Actually a conversation, because He listens and He answers us. We talk to Him at many levels. Depending on our need, depending on our level of spiritual development, depending on His blessing and mercy. This is the view that I share because it is simple and straightforward. It is also backed up by Gurbani. I am not sophisticated about these things and leave metaphysics to others.
Chapter 5
Prayer
from Bandginama by Raghbir Singh.
The prayer of a man of God is never fruitless.
birthi kade na havoi jan ki ardas
Guru Arjan - Bilawal.
What God’s servant desires of his Master, is complied forthwith.
jo jo kahai thakur pahi sevak tat kal hoi avai
Guru Arjan - Asa.
Prayer is a personal talk with God, and it is a talk that may be of diverse
kinds:
- for physical or material needs, or for spiritual uplift
- to seek God’s help in our hours of trial and tribulation, in sickness and pain;
- to thank Him for His gifts and boons, and to seek their continuance; believing that our abiding gain lies in resigning ourselves to His Will
- and to implore Him to grant that we may submit to His pleasure; for the good and comfort of others.
in God’s existence, in His power to grant the prayer, and in the soundness,
propriety and efficacy of our prayer; love and reverence for God during prayer;
and a pure, receptive heart.
In retrospect, I find that on account of my lurking doubts, some of my
prayers remained unanswered, other received a delayed response, but I do
not remember any time when the above conditions were fulfilled and yet
the prayer remained unanswered. A prayer, offered with a firm faith and a
humble heart is so readily granted that it leaves us astounded.
Prayers may be of two kinds congregational and individual. The former
has been in vogue amongst the Sikhs since the times of the Gurus. Its uses
are countless. It has played a mighty role in sustaining the Sikhs. The daily
congregations, with psalm-singing, singing God’s praises, and the collective,
congregational prayer to Heaven, remembering the Gurus, the heroic sons of
Guru Gobind Singh, the Sikh martyrs, both male and female, praying for
the preservation of sacred shrines, sacred places, choirs, Sikh banners, Sikh
resting places- the daily congregational prayer has been a splendid routine
for keeping alive the Sikh way of life. The history of the Panth thus daily
recapitulated, reviving old memories and traditions keeps alive the spark of
Sikh fellow-feeling, the Sikh sense of self-respect and the Sikh traditions of
self-sacrifice.
The second type of Ardas or prayer-that is, individual or personal prayerof
a Sikh may be elaborate, as is the congregational or Sikh prayer, or it may
be short, couched in our own words, according to our individual needs and
feelings. In this case, no special form, prescribed words, special technique
or rhythm are needed. Only the mind must be shaped in a humble mould
answering to the spirit of the sacred verse:
I do not come into the picture, I am nowhere,
I have nothing that I can call mine own.
mai nahi kachh hao nahi
kichh ahe na mora
Sadhna - Bilawal.
Such a prayer poured forth by the soul flies Heavenward. The language of
the soul is not garbed in sonorous, high-pitched phrases. It is a language of
thoughts.
When we learn how to pray correctly, the response is instantaneous. We
have an ecstatic feeling. There is wonder, mixed with delight, at the actual
materialization or fulfilment of the prayer.
by S. Raghbir Singh
As for what is the need to pray? This one little part of sriraag on Ang 25 gets us started in the direction of answering that question for ourselves. If we don't feel the need to prayer, then we don't pray. If we know we need to pray, then we do pray.
ਬਿਆ ਦਰੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੈ ਦਰਿ ਜਾਉ ॥ biaa dhar naahee kai dhar jaao ||
There is no other door-unto which door should I go?
