Most in the West who study and practice Dharma come from an experiential background of Judeo-Christian beliefs and experiences, all of which are rooted in a firm concept of a divine, creator God.
Commonly, direct communication with God occurs through prayer.
But what if one no longer — or never has — believes in the existence of a God?
And popular messaging says, in this era of hatred and random violence, prayer is necessary because our world depends on it.
Is authentic prayer futile, or even possible?
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Consider the following:
When you hear someone say “we must pray” translate that to
“we must go out and, one by one, make the changes that need to be made.”
When you hear “praise God” ask yourself if you can believe in a God who wants or needs to be praised.
If you are driven to pray but are unsure of how or what to say, quiet down, consider your parents and all the beings who have played a
role in your presence here today, and simply say, over and over, “Thank You.” Don’t limit yourself to timeframe, geography, or direct connections.
Do this until the words “Thank you” are mere shadows of the profound gratitude from which they emerge.
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Perhaps the following will be useful . . . when and if the urge to pray arises, don’t feel you need to be in a church or temple, or even in a kneeling position.
Go out to a beach or a huge field, into a forest or along a rushing river.
Look up into the sky . . . the sky to which there is no end.
In that vastness, allow your prayer – your authentic prayer – to emerge.
This might take some time . . . be patient.
With the perspectives and fearlessness Dharma makes available, and the purpose toward which your prayer guides you,
allow the entire world to fall into the fullness of your mind . . .
. . . and then do what you do.
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-Neither grief or a broken heart, or fear, precludes you from doing this.