Prayer, if considered a form of meditation, can work wonders

Why do we pray? There can be many answers, but I would like to say that there is only one answer I am comfortable with, and I think that will satisfy most of you

Why do we pray? There can be many answers, but I would like to say that there is only one answer I am comfortable with, and I think that will satisfy most of you too: We use prayer as a form of meditation to seek peace and tranquillity of mind.

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Of late, I have taken to prayer very seriously, and besides going for it during set schedules, all free times are used for prayer. It gives me great satisfaction and a feeling of buoyancy. I forget the worldly swings of life.

Prayer is as essential as any other input that goes into your daily well-being. For instance, good food, good dress, good friends, and a good environment are needed to live in peacefully. Prayer has the power to humble you and give you positive vibes. And that keeps you free from any kind of negative thoughts and activities that go to harm your well-being.

What is prayer? To quote German philosopher Meister Eckhart: “If the only prayer you said was thank you, it would be enough.” That means prayer is not only chanting of religious mantras. It is the cry of your soul, just making you free of negative and suppressive feelings.

That is why Mahatma Gandhi used to say, “Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one’s weaknesses.”

I am asked repeatedly at religious gatherings whether I believe in god or not? To be frank, I have no honest answer. Since I can’t prove or deny it, I merely say, I don’t know. For me, it is good either way: If god is there, I will be happy; if He is not there, I will still be happy.

(Inner Voice comprises contributions from our readers. The views expressed are personal.)