Bowl of Saki for January 16

TO LEARN TO ADOPT THE STANDARD OF GOD, AND TO CEASE TO WISH TO MAKE THE WORLD CONFORM TO ONE'S OWN STANDARD OF GOOD IS THE CHIEF LESSON OF RELIGION. -- Hazrat Inayat Khan

Commentary by -- Hazrat Samuel L. Lewis:

Prayer is a good thing; praying "Thy will be done" is always helpful, but man also must act in such a way that the prayer becomes a reality. This is the fulfillment of prayer. To pray and then leave the matter to fate is to experience the desire of the prayer without the desired or beneficial results.

Real prayer is to attune the whole being so that the Divine Light may bring about the fulfillment of prayer. This can only be done when man ceases to place any obstacle in the path of the prayer. When thought-force or logic are applied to prayer, the wish (and the breath which starts to take that wish to Heaven) is caught in the mind-mesh and either does not return, or returns in a form not always acceptable or good. This has led some people to deny the efficacy of prayer, but really this is not prayer because as soon as mental obstacles obtrude in the path of that prayer, it cannot reach Heaven, cannot touch the ear of God.

It is by mental conformation, by keeping the heart pure, and controlling mind by will, that one is enabled both to reach God and also to receive from God. This identifies life and religion which is most desirable. When one is given the strength and inspiration to accomplish or cooperate in the accomplishment of the desire of prayer, that is the highest successful fulfillment of prayer. This is done by keeping the feelings awake above the mental net of Samsara.

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