When we go through trying times people say, "You're in my prayers," or the more secular, "in my thoughts," or, "I'm sending you good vibes." Especially today, with the news of an 8.9 earthquake off the coast of Japan, followed by tsunamis throughout the Pacific, many people will do more than send thoughts and prayers, they will send money (or Text 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross). It's all energy or representations of it, and it allows us to act on, and cultivate, empathy.
It's in these moments that people who doubt the efficacy of prayer, or good thoughts, are perhaps more open to understanding how they work. In the face of tragedy and tremendous shifts, not only in nature but in society, our thoughts and prayers may be all we have to offer, so we want to know they work. We practice, praying or meditating daily, to remove doubt, to strengthen our connection to something greater than ourselves.
We constantly hear how globally connected we are in trade, finance, politics, communications. When disaster strikes, we feel it, "our heart goes out to people," who lost lives, loved ones, homes, livelihood. We are connected. People who are more sensitive to energies will literally feel out of sorts, a little depressed or anxious, immediately before or after a catastrophic event; like our animal friends, sensing within, significant changes in nature, loss of life, or destruction. We are connected.
If you accept this premise on any level, or if you've ever heard the phrase, "It starts within," or loved Michael Jackson's song, "Man in the Mirror," because that phrase or song resonated within you, you understand how prayer works.
Buddhists practice meditation to bring calm and notice that all thoughts are transient. Fear, love, anger, hope, anxiety, joy: all transient. All we have is this moment and our reaction to it. Calm begets calm, fear begets fear. Recognizing both are transient, we can also recognize which we'd rather experience more of, and which less, and walk the middle path as best we can. Practice allows us to stay calm in the face of tragedy, thus not compounding it. Christians pray knowing the Christ within, the promise as Jesus taught that by connecting our hearts to our highest and best self in God, we can walk with the same compassion, healing, love and forgiveness He lived. By relinquishing our illusion of control, we release worry, fear, doubt, and find our way to calm, peace, faith.
What are we thinking as we see the devastation? Fear? Worry? Troubled times? What next?
Native Americans and other indigenous peoples teach not to pray "for peace" because that puts peace outside of us when the purpose of prayer is to recognize our connection within.
Instead, pray peace, knowing it within; pray healing, feeling it within; pray comfort and thanksgiving, recalling how they make you feel within. Then know, in your heart, that what you feel resonates to those in need, because we are connected.
Pray thanksgiving? What is there to be thankful for in the face of such tragedy?
First responders, relief agencies, governments and non-governmental organizations able to move resources quickly, building codes that lessened the loss of life (compare Japan to Haiti, then be thankful for another opportunity for humanity to learn from the impact of the maldistribution of wealth on all God's children). Be grateful even for the lives that are lost, who in their passing offer another opportunity to evaluate what is important, to realize the transient nature of all things.
As devastating as today is, every day brings untold desperation to people without homes, food, health care. Violence wreaks havoc in families and communities the world over as individuals and entire classes of people seek to be free from oppression in any form. The singular goal of profit-above-all-else cause a very few to deprive others -- entire communities -- of jobs, good schools, clean water, clean air, self-determination. Dogma and those who use religion as a means of control, force many people to live in fear. While we pray for people whose tragedies are in the headlines today, we also remember people whose challenges barely warrant mention in the media, compassion and journalism pushed aside by consumerism, celebrity culture, and trumped-up political fights that distract us from remembering on Earth, God's work is truly our own.
Perhaps we have to experience tragedy to remember how connected we are. Maybe that's what these turbulent times are teaching.
When you say Amen, Amin, Shalom, or whatever you say; let go, let God. Then if you can, help someone else today with your own good works. See someone you think you disagree with differently today, and know each small act of good sends ripples through the universe.
Originally posted at Progressive Spirit.
Follow Scott Swenson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SBSwenson
Magnitude 8.9 - NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
2011 Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami
Earthquake Information - 気象庁 Japan Meteorological Agency
Earthquake Near Japan Triggers Tsunami Warning : NPR
Japan earthquake | Page 20 | Liveblog live blogging | Reuters.com
Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; give him a religion, and
he'll starve to death while praying for a fish. ~Author Unknown
Most people do not pray; they only beg. ~George Bernard Shaw
I love these quotes about prayer the best. they make more sense than the others.
I disagree with this statement. While I I don't doubt for you this is not what it's about, I think for most people prayer is seen as a direct conversation with God, and it usually involves asking God to solve a problem, alleviate suffering, or provide personal gain.
This is where the cynical side of me kicks in, because as I mentioned in my post below, why pray to a supposedly omnipotent God to help the victims of a disaster when he could have just prevented it from happening in the first place? Or perhaps he doesn't have the power to prevent such a disaster, which would mean he isn't omnipotent. Or if he does have the power to have stopped it, he chose not to?
Anyways, I'm certainly not bashing your attitude toward prayer Mr. Swenson. You seem very genuine and well meaning in your approach. But in my opinion, it doesn't really jive with the traditional idea of prayer that I think most people have.
Just my opinion of course. If one feels like their prayers actually help, then more power to them. As long as their prayers are accompanied by a donation.
Thanks for this great reminder. I am a HUGE proponent of prayer. Through intercessory prayer, we share in an intention of healing, release, comfort, help, etc. for those in need. I believe that joining in this intention helps to bring it about by raising the vibration of goodness....of course, always surrendering to what God knows to be in their highest good. I have also found prayer, in the form of contemplation and/or meditation to be helpful for me personally and for clients and students with whom I have worked. Through contemplation and meditation, we are able to tap into the source of insight, peace, contentment, joy and love (GOD). Then there is Active Contemplation that allows me to be open to the Presence and Action of God in my life. I agree with Paul's invitation, "Pray without ceasing."
Lauri Lumby
Authentic Freedom Ministries
http://yourspiritualtruth.com
This is belief interpreted on delusion, guesswork and wishful thinking.
God's plan? If he is omniscient he knew it was going to happen so it must be planned. This is sadistic and psychopathic behavior.
No building in earthquake zones? What never seems to occur to people is that if God is the creator of it all then he either built in the flaws deliberately or he is a bungling designer/builder.
Greater joy in heaven? So those that don't suffer and go to heaven get less joy? First class and coach?
This is the beginning of the end? "When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes." (Matthew 10:23) It is evident that even Jesus (supposedly the son of God, omnipotent, omniscient) didn't know. So how do these guys? More wishful thinking?
It was the great earthquake of 1755 in Lisbon, Portugal, and the 100-ft tsunami that followed that caused many to begin to doubt God. How could an all-powerful and purely good god allow so many tens of thousands of His loyal faithful die in His houses (the churches) on that Sunday morning? Surely God could not have willed that!
And yet it did. Voltaire and Rousseau and many others were moved to doubt or agnosticism by that event, not unlike the recent event in Japan. No, historically such events do not deepen faith, they weaken it as they discredit the dogmas of the priests and kings.
So in that sense, yes. Prayer works.
The only thing being lifted by your prayers is your sense of self-righteousness. The Japanese have other things on there minds just now.
My suggestion would be to keep god out of it.
Ya know, it's not prudent to involve the arsonist in fighting a fire that he started. Who knows what he's gonna do.
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I would posit that having (science-based) better emergency systems, remedies, antidotes to radiation, etc. are better ways than prayer and meditation.