A couple of years back, I was travelling for work and in the early hours of night, the sleep was illusive and I really couldn’t figure out anything else to do. In those moments of indecisiveness, I opened the adjoining chest of drawers in the hotel room and picked up the Holy Bible for a quick dekho. Since, I was not specifically looking for anything in particular; I unintentionally shuffled the pages but eventually engrossed myself in some chapters for a casual read. This piece of writing further details out the answers to some questions roaming for long in my mind. I never realized that this would be a thought provoking writing session, months later during the pandemic.
My session with The Bible, landed me on some verses which mentioned something about silent prayers. The text was quite engrossing and elaborated that the silent prayers by an individual are as effective as the other modes of prayers and devotion we offer viz – visiting places of worship, group meditations, charity thru religious institutions, reading spiritual texts, fasting to please GOD etc.
My growing up years, and almost all my married life, I have seen my mother and my wife quite diligently offering (and enforcing) one or more mode of prayers. We have a designated mini room in our home which is called mandir room. I guess most homes in India have a designated corner if not a room in their homes for such Godly things. A post-shower worship is a must do by women in our home – time permitting or not. I must confess that I and others in the family have been silently submitting to the mandate without raising an eyebrow or asking a question. We even have a ritual at home to offer bhog to the God’s idols three meal times a day – a practice I remember from childhood. We saw no harm in it and if submitting to their wishes brought our home a little bit more of peace and prosperity, so be it.
I often wondered during the above submissions, if visiting a temple or any designated place of worship or bowing down to the deity’s idol’s at home were the ultimate and only available form of prayers which would please God and let Him bestow His blessings. The Bible had some strong references to it. The Bible mentions though not recommends about praying in private. I wonder, what is the difference between praying aloud or silently if you are by yourself? There are some circumstances where only silent prayer is appropriate, e.g., praying for something that needs to stay between you and God. And what could potentially be wrong with praying silently? Why do I have to fold my hands or kneel on my knees to form a physical gesture to be heard?
If you ask me - I prefer to pray silently without folding hands, reciting mantras or closing my eyes. I have my own connection with the supreme power and that connect needs to be strictly personal; irrespective of what I seek for myself or others around me. I feel secure if my prayers are not visible, heard or shared. I do not like to raise a hoopla around my moments of seek.
I am of the belief that it certainly does not mean that silent prayer is any less valid than praying out loud or in necessary vision of those around me in a crowd. God being omnipresent and omnipotent, can most certainly hear our thoughts just as easily as He can hear our words. Nothing we do, say, or think is hidden from God any which way, so He does not need to hear our words to know our thoughts. He has complete access to all our prayers or call-outs directed to Him, whether or not they are spoken. Haven’t we all been told as kids that God is watching us every moment and HE knows everything that we do or think? Then, why this shift of faith and belief system when we grow up? Why do we visit temples to offer prayers and do satsangs at home to purify and be heard to Him.
My session with The Bible, landed me on some verses which mentioned something about silent prayers. The text was quite engrossing and elaborated that the silent prayers by an individual are as effective as the other modes of prayers and devotion we offer viz – visiting places of worship, group meditations, charity thru religious institutions, reading spiritual texts, fasting to please GOD etc.
My growing up years, and almost all my married life, I have seen my mother and my wife quite diligently offering (and enforcing) one or more mode of prayers. We have a designated mini room in our home which is called mandir room. I guess most homes in India have a designated corner if not a room in their homes for such Godly things. A post-shower worship is a must do by women in our home – time permitting or not. I must confess that I and others in the family have been silently submitting to the mandate without raising an eyebrow or asking a question. We even have a ritual at home to offer bhog to the God’s idols three meal times a day – a practice I remember from childhood. We saw no harm in it and if submitting to their wishes brought our home a little bit more of peace and prosperity, so be it.
I often wondered during the above submissions, if visiting a temple or any designated place of worship or bowing down to the deity’s idol’s at home were the ultimate and only available form of prayers which would please God and let Him bestow His blessings. The Bible had some strong references to it. The Bible mentions though not recommends about praying in private. I wonder, what is the difference between praying aloud or silently if you are by yourself? There are some circumstances where only silent prayer is appropriate, e.g., praying for something that needs to stay between you and God. And what could potentially be wrong with praying silently? Why do I have to fold my hands or kneel on my knees to form a physical gesture to be heard?
If you ask me - I prefer to pray silently without folding hands, reciting mantras or closing my eyes. I have my own connection with the supreme power and that connect needs to be strictly personal; irrespective of what I seek for myself or others around me. I feel secure if my prayers are not visible, heard or shared. I do not like to raise a hoopla around my moments of seek.
I am of the belief that it certainly does not mean that silent prayer is any less valid than praying out loud or in necessary vision of those around me in a crowd. God being omnipresent and omnipotent, can most certainly hear our thoughts just as easily as He can hear our words. Nothing we do, say, or think is hidden from God any which way, so He does not need to hear our words to know our thoughts. He has complete access to all our prayers or call-outs directed to Him, whether or not they are spoken. Haven’t we all been told as kids that God is watching us every moment and HE knows everything that we do or think? Then, why this shift of faith and belief system when we grow up? Why do we visit temples to offer prayers and do satsangs at home to purify and be heard to Him.
I wonder and I am sure you all as well believe that we live in a world which is so evolved with science yet so engrossed with religion. The Pope, the Hindu mode of Idol worship, the temples, the churches, the mosques - the whole lot of wealth around these religious institutions is proof enough that societies are made to feel insecure and are hence asked to choose their religion; select their and GOD and then invited to pray and then pay. The entire system encourages us to visit a place of worship – pray and give our offerings in some form or the other. More specifically, in every country, religion is an agenda.. an agenda to power, to encourage networking, to amass wealth. It has been an orchestrated system which works like a well-oiled machinery to achieve political and economic designs around the world. History is testimony to many such political conquests invasions and takeover of businesses built around religion and God. You will be surprised to Google and discover how in Western economies, churches govern governments and also venture funds. However let’s leave this for now lest it ruffles some feathers.
The belief system are also shaken when I Encountered some friends, who were liberally giving offerings to religious trust, temples, churches priests and several other religiously inclined institutions which gives them a social standing, but not to a charity which genuinely works towards helping poor, downtrodden and needy. I deep dived into their thoughts and realised they found the former to be a gateway to associate with God and a gateway.to their moksha while giving to a charity is a thought that seldom crosses their mind, I believe, they raher trust a religious instruction which will open a few more temples, churches, mosques run unaudited accounting books as against a professional run genuine philanthropic initiative. Their gestures of funding religion is loud, pompous and visibility oriented. Funding a charity is silent, quieter way of reaching God.
I am abiding by my code. And if the Holy Bible mentions it, means it has been a thought to several others as well, ages back. In the light of these facts, I want my prayers to be pure and devoid of any material instincts of offerings to God. He doesn’t need them. Silent prayers are good for me. And they have worked as well.
I have understood and made my own interpretations about the distinct difference between religion and spirituality. I chose spirituality over religion. You may choose otherwise,
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