~Prayer…Is Not The Words

“Dao” is the / a word Taoists use for the concept of Prayer. I believe that Prayer is essential in / to our lives in general, not only when situations manifest , and that is regardless of what Tradition one follows.

One interesting point that arises when dealing with Asian beliefs (as Asian beliefs tend not to be Deistically based.) is “to whom do you Pray ?” Prayer is many things to many people; a state of Communion, an act of Meditation, a feeling of connectedness, and an act of reflection…as it is an inquiry into some deep part of yourself.

Those who follow the Judeo / Christian Path feel that Prayer is conversing with God (The Creative and Sustaining Power of the Universe).

 When we Pray to another we practice selflessness, as daily prayer strengthens our spirit, as it is an act of devotion…

Interestingly, Taoists (whoever they are in these modern times) do not Pray for divine intervention, because Tao does not change its course for any human being…

However, Prayer does change us !

Prayer also becomes a way for each of us to see and feel Tao; for we are moved to Prayer not because we want something, but because we are moved to devotion over the presence of Tao.

  Again, Prayer is not the words, but the feeling, the intent…a reflection from deep within. Dwelling, Meditating and Connecting with Tao / Dharma.

Time and again throughout my life, and more especially as of late, I have realized that life’s tests push us to and through the very depths of our greatest sufferings; yet, these tests and hurts / pain also reveals our greatest strengths.

I QUIT; I DON’T SEE THE SENSE IN CONTINUING; BURNED ONCE SHAME ON YOU, BURNED TWICE…; WHY BOTHER;…WHY ME ?...I’M DONE WITH IT !

I have come to understand anew that if we allow, (and as much as we can), we must openly and honestly immerse ourselves in life’s challenges…without becoming lost in the experience; this experience that perhaps shakes the foundations of who we believe ourselves to be, testing the limits of our sensibilities and challenging us to rise above that which hurts us and causes us pain.

I am reminded over and over of the inter-connectedness between our inner world and our outer world. As my meditation Master Bruce Frantzis has said many times, “everything within is connected to everything else within, and everything without (externally) is connected to everything else without.” Prayer centers me and helps me come to grips with the question of how we survive life’s hurts. As many of you know, I have never been one to play-it-safe ! This is true for me even now,especially now that I understand that any hurts I suffer are only temporary, even sickness and disease!         HEY : “SITUATIONS HAPPEN” !

The Ancient Taoist Sage tells me that ‘wisdom and hurt are two extremes of the same experience, as they are the beginning and completion of the same cycle' !

Wisdom has been called the ‘healed expression of our hurt’; and our hurt can transform into wisdom as we find meaning in the painful experiences we are confronted with. Prayer is one tool that helps in our becoming, as prayer facilitates change in us as we walk our respective Paths….or in some situations as we sit and still ourselves, listening… It allows a “softening”, an ensuing flexibility of mind and spirit…as this allows understanding to surface, and without understanding between wisdom and hurt, our endurance of pain may seem senseless, as the pain cycle remains open-ended.

Meditation / Prayer opens a doorway, a portal if you will, for each of us to begin our healing and move on down our respective Paths, as we actively deal with life, karma and whatever confronts us. It releases us from the hurt and pain long enough for another feeling to manifest, as we temporarily suspend the cycle of pain. We experience release from our hurt perhaps just long enough to let something else into out hearts and minds (Hsins) Then, perhaps Wisdom!

Prayer means many things to many people and its definitions are myriad. To me, Prayer is a pause, a rest if you will, allowing my spirit to catch up. It is also a state of communion, the very act of Meditation, a dynamic connectedness, as well as a true act of reflection…and yes, an inquiry into some deep part of myself…allowing the possibility of excavating my authentic self…and Healing.

Blessings

Fred

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