|
Prayer
May 31, 2013 4:28:24 GMT 9.5
Post by stepnwolf on May 31, 2013 4:28:24 GMT 9.5
Masons are not unfamiliar with prayer. In Lodges, just, perfect and regular, we appeal to the deity through prayer to bless our assemblies and to guide the footsteps of an initiate. Brothers are not ashamed to place their reliance on God in moments of great difficulty. And yet we may forget this early lesson of the Craft. Instead of relying on God, we rely on our own wits, on our own knowledge and intelligence. Unlike magic, which attempts to force entities outside ourselves to do our bidding, prayer is a Masonic method of reaching a Higher Power from within. Reason may object to prayer because it cannot measure it, because reason cannot explain prayer in the usual way it explains things and yet we find prayer in our ceremonies. It is a given. I wonder what atheistic grand bodies do with the prayers found in the earliest workings of the Craft. Are they mere remnants of a superstitious age, which can be discarded? I am afraid that they have excised one of the elements of Freemasonry which has given power to the Craft. In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna advises Arjuna to act without being attached to the fruits of action. This seems to work with prayer also. Humans seem to need validation and we like to know that our prayers have been answered. I've found that it's better to pray and then release it completely. We will know (somehow) when the prayer has reached its target. We can pray for those who don't believe in that religious mumbo-jumbo. When I told a dear friend I was praying for him, he became very angry and shouted, “Don't you dare pray for me!” I did anyway! It's no secret that recent negative posts have disturbed me greatly. My first thought was to prayer for him because the poster seems so angry. Thinking it over, I want to pray instead for our group, that we may be forgiven for any offense we may have given him. The poster specified that we not asked him to love us and I won't. But I'll ask our forum to surround him with love and acceptance (this is for me particularly). He wrote, they ridiculed me for accepting scientific facts rather than seeing the "truth" of their pet conspiracy theories, ridiculous superstitions, bizarre speculations and purported special powers. If that is the case, real or perceived, our duty to a brother is clear.
|
|
|
Prayer
May 31, 2013 8:01:48 GMT 9.5
Post by LorrB on May 31, 2013 8:01:48 GMT 9.5
We must be on the same wave length stepnwolf .. (probably literally).
It is my usual habit upon retiring of 'having a chat with Him upstairs'. Can't remember not doing it even though I am not a church goer these days. However night before last after the chat, for just a few seconds, I did wonder if I am just talking to myself. I say seconds because that was all the time it took for previous prayer Q & A's to flash before my mind; previous dream answers to questions asked etc etc.
Whatever it is, Whomever it is .. . some Intelligence is aware of what we think. Rather reminded me of the Overseers in Mark.
Talking to my Self might also be the correct answer. In which case my Self knows a whole heap more than myself. When I have followed this advice it has never proved detrimental, quite the opposite.
|
|
|
Prayer
May 31, 2013 8:27:07 GMT 9.5
Post by LorrB on May 31, 2013 8:27:07 GMT 9.5
I wonder what atheistic grand bodies do with the prayers found in the earliest workings of the Craft. Are they mere remnants of a superstitious age, which can be discarded? I am afraid that they have excised one of the elements of Freemasonry which has given power to the Craft. I wonder if prayer needs to be vocal or even formed mentally. I believe that our life can be our prayer. The atheist who does what he can for anyone in need is honouring the concept of a Greater Good. Atheists working together for the common good can lift each other up ... group energy is most powerful. Sadly, this morning's news featured an horrific story about the Buddhists attacking Muslims in Myanmar - vile group energy. Atheism might be preferable.
|
|
|
Prayer
May 31, 2013 13:02:25 GMT 9.5
Post by paul on May 31, 2013 13:02:25 GMT 9.5
>he became very angry and shouted, “Don't you dare pray for me!”
What happens to prayer for a person who objects to being prayed for (or on)?
|
|
|
Prayer
May 31, 2013 13:26:49 GMT 9.5
Post by LorrB on May 31, 2013 13:26:49 GMT 9.5
Bounces back to the sender?
|
|
|
Prayer
May 31, 2013 14:06:18 GMT 9.5
Post by paul on May 31, 2013 14:06:18 GMT 9.5
That rather depends upon what the prayer generates as a specialised form of energy-intent impulse (EII).
If the prayer EII is generated at personality level and directed at the human target then if the target objects to such prayer then it will likely bounce off - unless there are weaknesses in the target's aura.
Deflected energy seems generally not to return to the sender - just as well as the rejection qualifies the energy adversely.
If the EII is generated at soul level, particuarly if containing love and intelligence rather than will, and is directed at soul level then there will generally be some absorption. If directed at the persona it is unlikely to be well received.
If the EII is directed via a higher entity, then depending on the calibre of the higher entity the EII may well trigger a properly constructed flow that is acceptable to the target - somewhat independently of the quality of the original prayer EII.
The induced flow is easier to achieve if the higher entity has some functional relationship with the target, for example a landscape deva in the locality of the target.
If the EII is generated at heart level (difficult for most humans) it may be usefully passed directly to the target and few targets are able to deflect it. Similarly for the levels above the heart.
The bottom line for most humans is: Love is all you need.
|
|
|
Prayer
May 31, 2013 16:05:23 GMT 9.5
Post by LorrB on May 31, 2013 16:05:23 GMT 9.5
Religions, Lodges, Mystery Schools etc etc are just add ons ?
|
|
|
Prayer
May 31, 2013 17:09:30 GMT 9.5
Post by Voltaire on May 31, 2013 17:09:30 GMT 9.5
"I always made one prayer to God, a very short one. Here it is: 'O Lord, make our enemies quite ridiculous!' God granted it." - Bro. François-Marie Arouet
|
|
|
Prayer
May 31, 2013 17:14:56 GMT 9.5
Post by Tenzin Gyatso on May 31, 2013 17:14:56 GMT 9.5
Prayer is what one does when one intends to do nothing. www.skepdic.com/prayer.html"Change only takes place through action, not through meditation and prayer." - H.H. The Dalai Lama. The appropriate action in this case is to tyle the forum.
|
|
|
Prayer
May 31, 2013 17:36:44 GMT 9.5
Post by paul on May 31, 2013 17:36:44 GMT 9.5
>Prayer is what one does when one intends to do nothing.
A few years ago a friend was closing down a fish farm and had quite a lot of equipment with no buyer in sight. So I asked a local sea god that wanders around 30km north, just off the coast, to sort out the situation.
A week later my friend had a call out of the blue from a couple who had suddenly decided that they should set up a fish farm. Later I found out that she had been driving along and suddenly had a message to go into some sort of fish business. And she got the message when she was driving over the wall of a large dam - just at the mid point where the water was deepest.
As it happened the fish farm they set up only lasted a couple of years but my friend and the husband got on very well and still communicate regularly.
That seemed to me to be answer to a prayer and in quite quick time. As I have had similar experiences it did not really surprise me.
I understand however that some people have no experience of having prayers answered. It seems as though answering of prayers is not a random event.
|
|
|
Prayer
Jun 1, 2013 2:52:26 GMT 9.5
Post by stepnwolf on Jun 1, 2013 2:52:26 GMT 9.5
We must be on the same wave length stepnwolf .. (probably literally). Indeed we must be, LorrB. I have the advantage because I am retired and have more free time. Several times a day I stop to reconnect with that Higher Power and begin with the Jesus prayer from the orthodox branch of Christianity: Lord Jesus Christ Son of God Have mercy on me a sinner. The word "sinner" means for me incomplete, imperfect, not having reached my full potential in this life. "Mercy" is the Hebrew Chesed and often is translated as "loving kindness." Here I acknowledge that I am (very) less than perfect and I ask the Lord to show me His kindness by directing my feet on the Path. As lead by the Holy Spirit, I speak aloud but more often speak in silence, listening, waiting, enjoying his Presence. For some prayer may be a ritualistic obligation, done in desperation or grudgingly. At a certain point prayer is a joyful return to the beloved, a source of strength, not an intellectual exercise. It's not for everybody, but I'm glad it's for me.
|
|
|
Prayer
Jun 1, 2013 9:48:40 GMT 9.5
Post by shrink on Jun 1, 2013 9:48:40 GMT 9.5
So I asked a local sea god that wanders around 30km north, just off the coast, to sort out the situation. Have you mentioned this to a mental health professional?
|
|
|
Prayer
Jun 1, 2013 9:50:31 GMT 9.5
Post by pray for you on Jun 1, 2013 9:50:31 GMT 9.5
|
|
Wishful Thinking Fallacy
Guest
|
Prayer
Jun 1, 2013 9:54:41 GMT 9.5
Post by Wishful Thinking Fallacy on Jun 1, 2013 9:54:41 GMT 9.5
That rather depends upon what the prayer generates as a specialised form of energy-intent impulse (EII). Otherwise known as Wishful Thinking Fallacy (WTF). www.skepdic.com/magicalthinking.html
|
|
|
Prayer
Jun 1, 2013 10:23:43 GMT 9.5
Post by paul on Jun 1, 2013 10:23:43 GMT 9.5
>Otherwise known as Wishful Thinking Fallacy (WTF).
If it gets results how does it matter what it is called.
Thursday a week ago I decided I needed a self-inflating mattress for camping on my next Australian pilgrimage. So 2 days later (Saturday) I went to the only nearby garage sale. It did not advertise camping gear but there were 2 self-inflating mattresses in good condition. So I bought one for $5.
Of course it may not have been a prayer. Perhaps the pilgrimage is organising me and I am merely cooperating.
|
|
|
Prayer
Jun 1, 2013 10:32:04 GMT 9.5
Post by results on Jun 1, 2013 10:32:04 GMT 9.5
If it gets results how does it matter what it is called. That is the point. Studies show the statistically significant results of prayer are no better than chance. www.skepdic.com/prayer.html
|
|
|
Prayer
Jun 1, 2013 10:34:11 GMT 9.5
Post by paul on Jun 1, 2013 10:34:11 GMT 9.5
So I asked a local sea god that wanders around 30km north, just off the coast, to sort out the situation. Have you mentioned this to a mental health professional? I once ran a small workshop on the coast and took the group up to a sacred site on a small hill - same shape as Glastonbury Tor. When we were up there I noticed this particular sea god off the coast and pointed him out to the group. One of the women burst into tears when she saw him. She said: He is a cyclops. She had some deep memory of such beings Now I had not seen that detail on the form of the sea god but when I looked it up on line I found that the Cyclops Polyphemus was Poseidon's son. Odd what you can learn looking at the ocean.
|
|
|
Prayer
Jun 1, 2013 10:34:35 GMT 9.5
Post by reference on Jun 1, 2013 10:34:35 GMT 9.5
|
|
|
Prayer
Jun 1, 2013 10:36:29 GMT 9.5
Post by odd on Jun 1, 2013 10:36:29 GMT 9.5
Odd what you can learn looking at the ocean. In your case, very odd.
|
|
|
Prayer
Jun 1, 2013 10:43:59 GMT 9.5
Post by paul on Jun 1, 2013 10:43:59 GMT 9.5
The hidden mysteries of nature and science are progressively revealed to those who have accomplished sufficient of the EA's work.
|
|