Why Pray?

Sudhakar V.Rao
If ones destiny is predetermined by karma, what good does prayer do?

This was a question raised by one of the devotees during one of the Sunday discourses. We spent sometime discussing this aspect. For the benefit of interested devotees, here is a short discussion addressing this issue. The keen minded, enormously intelligent ancient sages experienced and stated in Vedas that absolute unconditional surrender to God is the only way to reach Him, possibly undo some evil effects of karma and enhance the benefits of good karma. This is best done through sincere prayer. To understand this subject, we have to first acknowledge some basic tenets of Hindu belief. Hindus believe in: 1) Karma and reincarnation. In fact, among the many great contributions of Hinduism to the mankind, the twin beliefs of karma and reincarnation are perhaps the most significant. They can be considered as the jewels of knowledge about Hinduism. 2) We also believe in dharma or our pattern of religious conduct, 3) Worshipful communion with God (and/or His innumerable manifestations, often known as Gods,) 4) The necessary guidance of the Sat Guru (Enlightened teacher) 5) Enlightenment through personal realization of our identity in and with God. What is sincere prayer? In today's rushed world, not many people find the time to pray. Even those who do pray are in a terrible hurry. Or the mind wanders while looking at God. Words come out nicely in good tune and often very melodiously, but the prayer is not effective because it is not sincere. If the prayer is offered to impress other devotees standing with you in the temple, or you have a lucrative/ulterior motive, the prayer is not sincere and not effective. Naturally then, the heart and mind are often disconnected from the words of prayer, which are uttered as a matter of routine. Instead of having a heart-to-heart talk with God, we end up merely reciting the manthras, often not understanding their meaning. So prayer tends to become a superficial and mechanical task that's not particularly pleasing. A person reciting manthras without understanding them is like a donkey carrying a load without knowing its contents. Unsurprisingly, one often prays grudgingly always asking for something. We must remember, that God gives you what you need and not always what you want. A sincere prayer is when total concentration is on God, without envy, malice, or hatred whatsoever against anyone. In Indian, villages we often see poor women working in fields, and often carrying several pots of water on their heads with amazing balance and grace. But their mind is always on their baby sleeping under the tree. If the mother hears the baby cry, she runs to him immediately. Sages have often compared the love of a devotee to God as pointed and concentrated as the love of the mother towards her baby.

If karma decides our life and nothing changes, why pray? Karma philosophy is a complicated subject and cannot be totally addressed in this short article. But basically the belief is what you sow, you reap. No one can escape the consequences of karma. Karma is of three types: Sanchita karma is what has been done in the past several births. Praarabda karma is when the results of this karma begin to bear fruit. This determines the family you are born in, your environment and conditions beyond your control. Things that come your way without much effort come into this category and are often designated as luck. Kriyamana karma consists of the consequences of the deeds you do now. They bear fruit in future (of this life or future births).

How can prayer change our karma? The power of everyday prayer is

boundless: It is a documented fact that community prayers have worked miracles, especially in healing the sick. The positive vibrations set up by the psychic energy (praanic energy) of the devotees; with sincere prayers have done wonders as seen in all religions. It is the faith that binds people and gives the strength to the prayer. Similarly, individual prayers rendered on a daily basis have a positive effect because of mobilization of the psychic (praanic) energy. It is well known that prayer offered daily and sincerely, conditions ones mind and guides him to the right behavior so that he/she will not accumulate bad kriyamana karma. It is true that one cannot escape the effects of past bad karma, but prayer will certainly soften the blow. The severity of the evil effect is minimized and the beneficial effects will be enhanced. That is where prayer comes in. What is importance of imagery? Having an image of God for worship is called sagunopasana. This is easier than Nirgunopasana(worship without image of God) and cultivates concentration of the mind. The images are based on the Truths enshrined in Puranas and ancient Vedic texts and are very auspicious. =000=