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OldWoodSpecter
waiting


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praying
#5618288 - 05/11/06 05:50 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Wheather you are christian, or some other religion, or of your own awakened spirituality that includes praying (communicating with something higher in hopes of changing something)... does it work for you? And please if it does, give us an example. What did you ask for, and how did you get it?
-------------------- I descend upon your earth from the skies I command your very souls you unbelievers Bring before me what is mine
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fresh313
journeyman


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i kept saying om mani padme hum and god freed my mind
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WIZOLZ
Poor with Needs


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Loc: Monte Carlo
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Re: praying [Re: fresh313]
#5619032 - 05/11/06 09:03 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Ive had praying sessions where I could feel a spiritual uplifting energy, instant confidence, stronger faith, etc. I've prayed for many things, rarely observing whether it has happened or not, though, Im sure they have. I enjoy prayers of expression of my gratitude and thankfullness, of the worlds beauty and grace, for strength and courage towards positive ends, for others and their protection. Ive learned this is the correct way to approach prayer. I've also had a tremendously transforming experience where I was in a rage and called out and almost instantly seeing results. So, it works on different levels I imagine.
Also, most prayers, if not properly verbalized, umm or other variables, like the gratitude and humility factor..dont actually reach whatever diety you focus it towards. Were not all given the right to speak to God, I figure alot of it is self motivation and personal admonishment, which is still very important. Remembering to review your personal, spritiual goals and rememberances. Eventually though, prayer works if you pursue it and believe in its effectiveness.
-------------------- ---------o----o----o-------o------------------------o--o-o- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Requim for a Dream - Paul Oakenfold --------------------------------------------------------------- "The mis/abuse of any form of power, is the worst form of ignorance" ------------------------------------------------------------- WIZOLZ - Lover with a Killer's Smile
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David_vs_Goliath
Informer


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Re: praying [Re: WIZOLZ]
#5619100 - 05/11/06 09:23 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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I believe prayer is more about intense emotion and thought on what you are praying for. I have had intense moments of prayer about deeply concerning moments and I have no doubt of God being present. It is a powerfull feeling.
-------------------- "People living deeply have no fear of death." "Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love." "Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings."
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soulcircus
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Post deleted by soulcircusReason for deletion: .
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mr_kite
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When people pray and their deity/higher power rewards them with what they asked for, I cant help feeling sorry for all the poor bastards who get ignored. Favouritsm.
-------------------- let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love
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OldWoodSpecter
waiting


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Re: praying [Re: mr_kite]
#5620498 - 05/12/06 09:30 AM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Did the ignored ones pray, and have enough faith?
It is currious how same people testify multiple answered prayers, while others can testify that they never got a prayer answered.
And of course the ones praying are favorites. If they weren't, then what's the point of praying?
-------------------- I descend upon your earth from the skies I command your very souls you unbelievers Bring before me what is mine
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Gomp
¡(Bound to·(O))be free!


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I think this post, might be of interest..
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/5616622#Post5616622
He prayed and answered..  
(got the)
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery


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Re: praying [Re: Gomp]
#5620796 - 05/12/06 11:14 AM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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That's a cool one. But some don't get an answer, at least not one they can see. So why do you think that is Gomp?
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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dblaney
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"God works in mysterious ways!"
-------------------- "What is in us that turns a deaf ear to the cries of human suffering?" "Belief is a beautiful armor But makes for the heaviest sword" - John Mayer Making the noise "penicillin" is no substitute for actually taking penicillin. "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it." -Abraham Lincoln
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery


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Re: praying [Re: dblaney]
#5620894 - 05/12/06 11:35 AM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Thank's for that pat answer. What's your thoughts on the matter?
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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dblaney
Human Being

Registered: 10/03/04
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It's an interesting question. I think that most of the phenomena that people attribute to praying really comes about through psychological means. When someone prays for more money for instance, they're going to be more aware of money, and so will notice when they receive money much more than before, even though the amount of money they receive might not have changed at all. And, say, if someone is in a very bad state of mind, praying intensely can cause all sorts of changes, even as significant as complete surrender of the ego.
Then there is also the case of nuns and such. There was a study that someone posted on one of the boards around here about neurotheology or something like that, and it talked about brain scans done on transcendental meditators and nuns, both during moments which the subjects described as moments of "peak transcendence", and the brain scans turned up very similar results in brain activity, indicating that praying can be extremely similar in effects, and perhaps, is no different from meditation.
-------------------- "What is in us that turns a deaf ear to the cries of human suffering?" "Belief is a beautiful armor But makes for the heaviest sword" - John Mayer Making the noise "penicillin" is no substitute for actually taking penicillin. "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it." -Abraham Lincoln
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery


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Re: praying [Re: dblaney]
#5620973 - 05/12/06 11:52 AM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Now you're talking IMO. If it's true that we are co-creators of our life experience/reality then concentrating would be a most powerful tool to that end. Prayer may be a visualization technique that works depending on how good you are at it.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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dblaney
Human Being

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Right on
-------------------- "What is in us that turns a deaf ear to the cries of human suffering?" "Belief is a beautiful armor But makes for the heaviest sword" - John Mayer Making the noise "penicillin" is no substitute for actually taking penicillin. "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it." -Abraham Lincoln
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soulcircus
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Re: praying *DELETED* [Re: dblaney]
#5622022 - 05/12/06 05:52 PM (17 years, 8 months ago) |
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Post deleted by soulcircusReason for deletion: .
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Fospher
Crime FightingMaster Criminal


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Quote:
soulcircus said: IMO to have a prayer answered, you have to understand the nature of the answer and the nature of a prayer, you can pray all you want to no effect purely because you are still ignoring the nature to which the answer resides, in most basic terms, you cannot pray for money and hope to win the lottery,
In the same terms, is it immoral to pray for the health of our relatives and friends, because that's who you care about most, instead of a selfless prayer for the welfare of the people of the world? How about asking for money so you can help feed your starving child, is that immoral as well because of its selfish intention? What about money so I can buy vitamins, or just food in general to stay healthy? In that sense, you can keep blurring the opacity of your divisionary line of selflessness more and more until it comes right back to winning the lottery.

My understanding of prayer didn't come through Christianity. When I was 8 or so and my dad, brother and I prayed before a meal, I didn't think about the prayer at all, and just wanted to start eating, uttering mindless words.
Through research of other religions, I came to understand the nature of prayer. If you have impeccable intent as to why you are asking God for help, if your plea's nature is purification, then you will not go unheard.
The problem with the winning the lottery example, is that all that unearned money will most likely lead to habitual laziness, indolence, and gluttony. If your intentions are unpure, and why would God lead you to your own destruction?
Me? I pray. I pray for peace of mind, and the unity of my mind, body, and soul. I pray for my own sake. But it is not to make my life easier and live in leisure, it is to help me find strength to overcome indulgence in sin.
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slaphappy
Its just me


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Re: praying [Re: Fospher]
#5729705 - 06/09/06 05:16 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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God doesn't like assholes/jerks/stupid people.
They remind him of himself.
Instead of drinking alcohol/pot/shrooms/insertrandomdrug to flee from himself, God created an antfarm and without regard for anything (hey, he's God, get over it) he chose his favorites after what traits of himself he saw, which he liked.
The people mostly ignored are the people claiming they are the people of God himself, chosen and proven by some old testament or scripture of some kind. They are so immensly forgotten by the man himself, that they create vast cult-like thought and behaviour patterns to direct themselves on the path of God and yell out:
CAN YOU FUCKING HEAR ME, OR WHAT!?!?!?
Being allmighty, God chooses not to answer those attention-demanding spoofs. He shifts his focus to the lively, the fun, the entertaining, the ... well ...
Me.
edit: I think in prayer.
-------------------- The argent messenger of truth beyond truth, the antithesis of life, cruel and bleak as interstellar space, pulseless and frozen as absolute zero, dazzling with the frost of irrefragable logic and unforgettable fact.

Edited by slaphappy (06/09/06 05:17 AM)
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niteowl
GrandPaw


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I can't remember the last time I actually prayed......for anything.
All the answers I need, are already there (right in front of me, most of the time) I just have to look harder to find them.
I realized this, when I started meditating.
Asking God to solve your troubles is counterproductive. God has put us here to learn. How can you learn, if your always asking for assistance?
IMO prayer is nothing more than a spiritual placebo.
If you believe it will work....it will If you don't believe it will work........it won't
-------------------- Live for the moment you are in nowDon't be bogged down by your pastDon't be afraid of what lies in your future
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OldWoodSpecter
waiting


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Re: praying [Re: niteowl]
#5729778 - 06/09/06 06:01 AM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
niteowl said: I can't remember the last time I actually prayed......for anything.
All the answers I need, are already there (right in front of me, most of the time) I just have to look harder to find them.
I realized this, when I started meditating.
Asking God to solve your troubles is counterproductive. God has put us here to learn. How can you learn, if your always asking for assistance?
IMO prayer is nothing more than a spiritual placebo.
If you believe it will work....it will If you don't believe it will work........it won't
There was a funny thing that one woman described in her book about NDE. It is the longest and most detailed description of a NDE experience in history, her name was Sarah something, and I fogot the name of the book. But she came back with some many details that she filled an entire book with it.
One of the things she saw up there was some kind of a huge window. On the outside was space and earth. There were millions of beams of tight light comming from it, some were thicker and stronger, some were weaker. Then her mentor, who she said was Jesus, explained to her that these are prayers, and that angels are dispatched for every prayer, but with priority, the strongest beams of light were the first ones to be taken care of. The strong ones are the ones made through love, like when a mother prays for her child.
A lot of interesting things were revealed to her, like for example, she was toled that there is no reincarnation and that those are just memories of the collective human consciousness
And guess what, Jesus had a sense of humour as she says.
-------------------- I descend upon your earth from the skies I command your very souls you unbelievers Bring before me what is mine
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niteowl
GrandPaw


Registered: 07/01/03
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From one point of view We are praying (glowing/shining) all the time. Only when we need gods help, does our glow (beam of tight light) get bright enuf to catch his eye
-------------------- Live for the moment you are in nowDon't be bogged down by your pastDon't be afraid of what lies in your future
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