Do you prey ?

[xexon]

I am more oriented towards eastern thought than I am western.

To me, meditation is the path.

When you prey, you speak to God. When you meditate, you listen.

How can you listen and talk at the same time ?

Seems to me, we need to listen. God already knows what is in your heart, and on your mind.

Comments?


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[davidcasey2]

First of all (and I really don't mean this to sound ignorant, I'm just letting you know) it's spelled "pray". The wonderful thing about prayer is that it involves both talking and listening. When you pray, you praise God for what He has done for you and pray for His will to be done. Certainly, he does know what is on your mind even before you pray it, but prayer is nonetheless important because it draws the believer closer to Christ. Hope that helps.

[xexon]

Oops. My bad. :)


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[xexon]

The purpose of prayer is to keep the mind centered on God.

We have to be careful however, not to pray for worldly things. It is a strong temptation.

The only prayer should be for illumination of the path to God. Nothing else really matters.



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[davidcasey2]

Exactly. That's why when I pray, I always ask that God's will be done, and not my own, because God is eternal and knows all things - I am not God!

[painesadvocate]

i personally do not belive in god
but mediation and prayer as a centering device
a time where you come upon the true self and you become more prepared and calm for the endless pile of steaming **** life heaps on you

[nilz263]

I pray when i need help getting through life and to thank jehovah for all he's given me. I put my will in him and in due time he will answer my prayers. I also like to meditate.
But that is more for my inner self. I like to try to find myself and meditation helps me.

[gopman]

Catholics believe that prayer is inspired by the Holy Spirit and carried out by the freewill of man. I pray at least once a day for various reasons.

[Voice Of Reason]

I think I would be a very sad person if I did not believe in God..........That is just me though..........

[xexon]

The ancient seers of India believe man has three bodies, or sheaths, that surround the soul.

The first is the physical body,. The second is the mind. The third is the spiritual self.
Each requires it's own health to support our journey here on earth. Its alot like a diver who has to wear protective gear to enter the great depths of the ocean.

Any compromise in our three layers, and we find ourselves in trouble. We dwell mostly on the mental and physical in our modern culture. The work we do on our spiritual self is often illusion, because it takes a pure mind to distinguish the difference between the mental and true spiritual realms.

The "ego", is what we believe ourselves to be. It is a mental process, and belongs in that realm. Religions are primarily training methods for the mind, not the spirit.

At some point in your own evolution, you will move beyond all religions. You will find that you no longer need the training wheels they provided.

Until you reach that point, your spiritual self is somewhat starved and weak.

We can look at the earth and all it's problems, and clearly see the spiritual dark ages in which we live.

Prayer helps dispell the darkness. It is the only source of illumination most will ever have as they journey through life.

And if you like the rosy glow of prayer, wait till you see the shining radiance of good meditation.

I cannot conceive of life without inner light. I cannot help but feel compassion for those that don't allow it in themselves or others.

Even a great mind is but a mere candle next to a great spirit.




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[mahayana]

I meditate as well. OM (the name of God) is my mantra. I have several koans (questions without answers) to remind me of the limits of knowing. My favorite meditation is zazen, which is just walking (with the internal chatter turned off). The kingdom of God is WITHIN!

[SantaMonica]

child molestors "prey."

I "pray" occasionally.

[uglybastard]

do any of you fast?

I have not fasted for religious reasons but I've tried it.

It makes you appreciated the basics very much.

After a fast, a cracker can be the best meal in the world...

[EvilTwinFelicia]

Originally posted by uglybastard
do any of you fast?

I have not fasted for religious reasons but I've tried it.

It makes you appreciated the basics very much.

After a fast, a cracker can be the best meal in the world...

I do it. And yes-- after fasting-- a crumb from a cracker is the best thing!

I must admit--when I worked a graveyard shift-- fasting from sunup to sundown was much easier. I was asleep! Now that I'm a semi-normal worker, fasting can be challenging!

[xexon]

Gluttoney is one of the 7 deadly sins.

We need to watch ourselves.




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[EvilTwinFelicia]

Originally posted by xexon
Gluttoney is one of the 7 deadly sins.

We need to watch ourselves.




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Who is going to watch McDonald's? Here, no one is responsible for their own obesity. . .

[xexon]

I'm responsible for myself.

Been a vegetarian for 20+ years now.

No meat, no fish, no eggs.

It can be done. Can't allow your tastebuds to rule your life. Despite my advanced age, I'm healthy as a horse. Bike almost everyday.

Must be doing something right.

If you seek the path...it will find you.



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[FOUST]

Originally posted by EvilTwinFelicia
Here, no one is responsible for their own obesity. . .

Is that alot like saying no one is responsible for their own actoins? - and yes I pray

[mahayana]

I appreciate the wanderings here.

"If you pray, what do you pray for?" might be interesting.

Peace and an end to hunger and starvation are two of mine.

My brother is a Christian, and he fasts one day a week to remember those without food.

America is blessed with most of the World's best farmland. Half of the children in the World go to bed hungry every night. Why does the US not export more food, give more food as foreign aid?

[FOUST]

I generally just pray for guidance- for myself and those in power-

[Cornelius]

I look to the stars, I'm one with the universe.

[Captain America]

Hmmmmm...

Seeing that "God" supposed to know everything, what could one possibly "tell" him/her/it/whatever?

It would seem to me that the best "prayer" would be to listen and not talk (think) at all.

It is very difficult to listen and talk at the same time.

[TomAZ]

I enjoy it so much when people pray for me. It's just how that particular person deals with their own inner anguish, the way they soothe that troubled feeling. Everyone's got a way to do that, and "praying" is the make-believe way a religious person helps others, thus pacifying the need to do good without actually doing anything at all.

Manifesting some useless accomplishment to make ourselves feel like we've done something of worth is normal. I know that I personally can do something as silly as misplacing my keys, then finding them, thus having a sense of accomplishment when in fact I am no better off than I was before misplacing them. It's fascinating how simple we are at times.