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The Nature of Prayer A
question on modem-day churches prompted an explanation of the nature of
prayer. Prayer, Richard said, is a mental energy or a telepathic thought wave,
made powerful by the emotion with which it is evinced. Whether a prayer is
answered or not is usually determined by the state of one’s karmic account,
although in some cases of extreme need, an exceptionally powerful prayer may
be answered immediately while karmic accounting is held in abeyance. The
emission of prayer energy brings us in contact with those higher forces
nearest our environment. These decarnate Egos have the power of answering
prayers and also the responsibility to help others. Thus, most of cur
prayers, even those directed to the highest of beings, are usually
intercepted on the fourth plane of existence by Egos among those 100 million
Egos from our life wave who have already achieved Mastership. (08-1968) How Prayer Works What
is the proper way to pray?” a young girl asked Richard. The following
outlines his reply: Christ said, “Pray in the privacy of your closet,”
meaning that the purpose of prayer is not to show others how pious we are.
Our prayers needn’t be heard by anyone other than the Higher Beings and can
be conveyed silently. However, forging our thoughts into actual spoken words
and phrases as we pray crystallizes our meaning and strengthens the
transmittal of our message. Our own mental precipitation and mental attraction
bring many things we have prayed for into our environment according to
Natural Law without intervention by Higher Beings. Some kinds of prayers are
never answered. For example, a prayer for an automobile by an envious youth
whose friends have all acquired cars will not be fulfilled by Higher Beings.
The strongest prayers are those said when one is in great difficulty, because
they are charged with emotion—usually fear. Any strong emotion greatly steps
up the power of a prayer, in much the same way that additional wattage
increases the strength of a radio signal. Richard illustrated this with the
image of a mountain climber who lost his footing and began to slide down a
steep cliff. In the panic of realizing that his death was likely, the falling
man cried, “Christ, save me!” whereupon his fall was stopped by a shrub or a
jutting rock, and he was saved to live out his lifetime. This is probably the
only kind of instance when fear is useful. (07-1970) What Is Prayer? Question: What
is prayer? Answer: Prayer
is a request which you make of the Higher Beings. If you ask for something
which you can accomplish by your own efforts, your prayer will not be
answered. A prayer for a better automobile will never be answered, because
you can precipitate and work for one for yourself. By concentrating on your
goal, visualizing yourself driving the car you want, and by doing everything
of which you are capable to earn the money necessary for it, you will soon
have the object of your desire. But, this is precipitation, not prayer. And
how could a prayer for knowledge or for wisdom be answered by the Higher Beings,
when it is wholly the task of each individual to achieve these things for
himself by meeting the daily tests and using the opportunities provided for
all of us by the Brothers? There are ways in which you can infuse positive
energy into the Universe in your desire for the advancement of human beings.
Such positive thought energy is gathered and held in reserve by the Brothers
to be used when it is needed for Mankind’s betterment. Good thoughts toward
Humanity, thoughts of love, and of all that is necessary for the tools of
advancement to come to mankind, are modified and molded by the Higher Beings
for Mankind’s better use. I visualize these thoughts as bundles of energy
streaking into space like bright blue tracer-bullets, to be caught by Those
capable of using tern. I cannot say that I know what is best for Humanity.
Even a prayer for peace could conceivably work to hold in abeyance a war
which might serve to cleanse mankind (this is only a hypothetical
possibility; I do not wish to say that I believe war is for the greatest good
of humankind.) Therefore, a prayer for Man’s uplift in some specific area
must always be followed by the proviso, “If it be for the greatest good of
all concerned.” In this way, you allow Those who have a true insight into the
overall plan for Humanity to make proper use of your thought energy according
to Their greater light. (01-1972) |
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