Who do you pray to?

[Tab]

I'll add my thoughts on the subject of prayer. Note that these are nothing but my opinions based on what I've learned and realized, so if you don't like them, ignore them.

Praying as a pledge to a deity I see as pointless. I mean, IMO you're just being wishful if you think some higher being cares enough about you to somehow affect the world/your life to appease your 'prayer'.

Praying in the sense of forming a strong intention can pay off however. Since everything in the universe is guided by will, from the manifestations caused in the subjective realms to the incarnations brought about in the objective realms, having a strong will towards anything can become a cause which reaps an effect.
So if I were to pray, it would merely be a strong focusing of my consciousness and energy onto a specific idea or goal.

The difference between magic, prayer, and what I described is that in one, you're relying on extraneous objects and stuff to carry out your will, in another, you're relying on a higher power to intervene and carry out your will, and in the last, you're relying on yourself to carry out your will.

[Nerezza]

Getting back to the question:

Jesus

[Tayesin]

Hi All.

You would call it God, although I know it by the description of 'the Creative Awareness'.

"When you come to know your Selves, then you will become Known,
and you will realize that it is You who are the Sons of the Living  Father" - Jesus, in The Nag Hammadi Library.  

What did he mean by that?  Is it that he alone is not the only son of God?  And that each of us is the Seed of the Creator?

Love always.[]

[Adrian]

Greetings,

In order to answer this question the word "prayer" needs to be defined.

The All, or "God" is not a separate deity who responds to worship, flattery, praise, offerings or any other human construct. The All, God is everything, the entire Universe of which we are all an integral aspect. The entire Universe functions in accordance with immutable laws, and nothing exists outside of those laws.

Out of respect for the words of the bible, I will quote the following in order to confirm this reality:

On that day you will know, that I am in my Father, and you in me and I in you ---John 14:20

This teaches the truth that we are all God and Jesus, and God and Jesus are all of us. Accordingly, prayer in the form of meaningless words of praise, worship, flattery etc. to God or Jesus as deities are completely empty and meaningless constructs.

Now, true prayer differs very little from ritual, healing, spells etc. when directed with focus, emotion and energy towards a specific objective. The objective might be healing, Magic (in its loosest sense), or any other specific purpose which can positively affect the energies in the higher spheres and subsequently manifest in the physical world. When performed with will, energy, intent, focus and emotion, prayers have true power and purpose.

Similarly, prayer conducted as above to project Unconditional Love towards to the Universe, God if you prefer, will generate positive energies which will help everyone. Such prayers however are not merely meaningless words but projected with concentration, focus and energy and said with sincerity and emotion; the object being to project those energies into the Universe. True gratitude is also a powerful energy, and one which can most appropriately be directed towards The All. Note that this differs from saying than thank you to a deity.

If you want to pray for anyone in this way why not pray for the planet and all mankind. Better still, why not instead perform the Twin Hearts Meditation:

http://www.lifepositive.com/Body/energy-healing/pranic-healing/healing-meditation.asp

I hope that answers your question? []

With best regards,

Adrian.

[Tao]

GOD

[beavis]

I agree with Tab. I pray to me, if that can be called praying.

[LA FORET MAUVE]

Please consider that i am serious here.
I pray the sacred mushroom.
Someone, i forgot who, said one day: the white men go to church and speak about God, the indian eat the mushroom and speak with God.
Please consider that i don't suggest you to eat it [|)]

[beavis]

Praying to a mushroom is like praying to church.

[LA FORET MAUVE]

oops, the difference is that i never saw anyone eating a Church []

[beavis]

church and mushroom are used for the same purpose

[Allanon]

The use of psychadelic mushrooms is a temporary fix to a humanly unfixable problem.

When you open your mind up like that and have not the power of the Holy Spirit you are putting yourself at the mercy of demons. If you are a shroomer than you know all about this. Next time you hit the old blue stained substance just remember that the devil hunts you like a lion and will feast on your open mind. Try a 7 gram hit and tell me about your New Age paradigms then.

[jc84corvette]

JESUS, GOD, and the HOLY SPIRIT what ever their called.

[LA FORET MAUVE]

quote:Originally posted by Allanon

a 7 gram hit and tell me about your New Age paradigms then.

I could return the offer [] it seems that you need a good talking with mother nature.

Beavis:
well, in fact i think you misunderstood a little about the differences between the mushroom experience and the "church experience". When eating the mushroom, you experience a total shifting of the reality where anything can happen (OBE, travel to another worlds, revelations, visions, philosophical insights, rebirth and even curative "bad trips" if you have a problem that you didn't wanted to face). It can be compared to astral travel in the way that it is a "direct" meating and discovery of infinite and divine, even if you didn't wanted to. I never had such profound experiences in a Church, in a church, wich is totally man made. Psychedelics are a gift from the nature.
I want to add some precisions before the flamming to start [|)]...
It is now for 6 years that i didn't ate any mushroom, but the experience is alive within me. I ate it for the first time when i was ignorant and looking for "fun"...then i was confronted to the spirit that is residing behind the psilocybin. He (she ? Them ?) forced me to die, see all the elements, people that composed my life, realising the essence of what we call "our life" and then to be born again. That was totally unexpected from me and it change definitively my way to consider things...
Sometimes, i recall in me the experience, to "refresh" my mind because we tend to forget the teachings, and i am gratefull for the mushroom for the light it gives me everyday with those past experiences. It is not necessary to eat mushrooms regulary, it is just the kick in the arse for the beginning of the path. That is, if i can say, my way of "praying", to remember "physically" the moments of infinity and being one with the universe. You see, i don't go on my knees and don't burn incense, singing before an altar with dried mushrooms and shroom idol[]

[curiousgirl]

_{quote:  You see, i don't go on my knees and don't burn incense, singing before an altar with dried mushrooms and shroom idol}

heeheehee... cute!  i know this is off topic (but i'm starting to not care...i'm getting quite burnt out on allanon's preaching), but i don't see anything wrong with using err.. some substances for spiritual experiences.  people of many cultures have been doing that for a long time.  but the best thing is, we don't have to go out of our way to attain these substances to reach other realities... the ability to reach them is within us all, if we work at it.  so i hope you won't depend too much on 'shrooms for that, la foret mauve.  but they are quite an amazing experience and exploration of your mind, eh? _{and lots of fun, too}[][][:I]

anyway, when i'm feeling pretty lost and confused and desperate for someone to talk to, i usually pray to God (but i never know what to address god as, so i always end up calling god a bunch of names in my head... god/goddess/the force/etc.)  heh heh

[LA FORET MAUVE]

quote:Originally posted by curiousgirl
[brso i hope you won't depend too much on 'shrooms for that, la foret mauve

As i said, it's for years i didn't ate any...once the path is shown, it's up to us to walk on ! []
You indeed are a curious girl [] thanks for the input [|)]

[Man Of Jade]

quote:Originally posted by Allanon

I am curious as to what exactly you pray too? Idols? Spirits? Yourself? Or do you pray to Jesus Christ and His Father?

Only those that pray I would like to respond.

I pray to my spirit guides and to anybody listening in at the time[]

[Allanon]

quote:I pray to my spirit guides and to anybody listening in at the time

PRAY TO THE GOD THAT GAVE UP HIS PERFECT SOUL SO THAT YOU MAY LIVE FOREVER. PRAY TO THE SON OF MAN WHO ALONE HAS CONQUERED DEATH. LET HIM BE YOUR GUIDE AND YOU SHALL NOT STRAY. HE IS ALWAYS LISTENING.

Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

[Allanon]

I am curious as to what exactly you pray too? Idols? Spirits? Yourself? Or do you pray to Jesus Christ and His Father?

Only those that pray I would like to respond.