In the early Vedic period, prayers were important because people prayed for birth of a son, fertility of cows or material welfare. Though centuries have passed our prayers continue to be pleas for the fulfulment of worldly desires.
This reminds me of the story of Rabiya, a very young Turkish saint One day, her friend asked her, "You pray continuously in the morning and again in the afternoon, for three hours missing your siesta. You prayed for two hours in the morning, too. What do you pray for? What is that precious thing which you beg from God?"
"Do you want vast wealth?"
Rabiya said "No."
"Then what do you pray for?"
Rabiya said, "I pray to God to take me as His own, to reject any material desires I plague Him with and only grant me the wish when I pray for others."
That is the true meaning of prayer, the very essence which remains almost forgotten by all of us.
From a young age, I became a regular Bal Vikas student in the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation in Africa. Our Bal Vikas Gurus taught us to always pray "Lokaa Samasthaa Sukhino Bhawanthu" which means "May everyone in the whole world be happy and at peace." This is the most selfless prayer we can offer to God for the wellbeing of the whole world.
It gives peace and also courage. Once, a bull was running very fast. People ran fearing its horns, except for a little girl who said, "To flee like cowards is not the way to tackle a situation. The beast should be brought under control."
"Who has the courage to touch him," asked a tall man.
The little girl said, "I will."
With the name of God on her lips, she caught hold of the bull's horns and stopped him. Responding to her fearless, loving touch, the bull turned meek.
Years later, the little girl, Lakshmi Bai, became famous as the legendary queen of Jhansi for her heroic resistance to British rule in India.
~ Swapna Raghu ~
(From: "Spiritual Impressions" Jul-Aug.2001)
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