The Power of Prayer

Do prayers get answered?

Does God even hear us when we pray?

How do we pray and what do we pray for?

Should we pray?

These are just some of the questions that I have often struggled with. Despite the fact that there are no definite answers available, I, like a zillion others, have knelt before a supreme power and begged for what I wanted at that point and time in my life. Sometimes these prayers have been answered and sometimes they have not.

I'm sure that you, like me, want your prayers to be answered. Is there a 'right' way to pray?

Recently, I came across a book by gurmukh pyare Bhai Raghbir Singh ji 'Bir' - Ardas Shakti (Power of Prayer, 1949) who sheds some light on some of the above issues. In particular he questions, explores and explains why our prayers are not getting the desired results. He suggests that perhaps we are not on the right road - in other words - we do not know how to pray. Finally, he spells out a 'right' way by providing some excellent examples.

Be warned - there are no easy solutions. There is still hard work involved. It does not matter whether you are ready or not to accept these challenges and are able to apply them at this moment in your life. At least you will have had exposure to these thoughts. They are not revolutionary, they are just simple truths that we all know from here and there, and even though gurbani gives us constant affirmations about them we have not been able to apply them in our lives.

Personally, I was thrilled to read this book and thought of it as being invaluable and immediately thought of sharing it with you. Even if one of us makes use of it and learns the true art (the zen) of praying then the efforts of translating the Punjabi to English will have been worth it. Please note that I have shortened the original essay as it appears for the sake of brevity and easy understanding. I would urge all who can read this in its original format to procure a copy and read pages 13- 26. (Please note that pictures have been added here for this audience)

Below follows the translation:

ਅਰਦਾਸ ਸ਼ਕਤੀ

Ardaas Shakti-p.11/12 - A small Introduction: Bhai Sahib Jee begins with some quotes and examples:

The Philosophy of Prayer

1. ਬਿਰਥੀ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜਨ ਕੀ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ॥

   The prayer of the Lord's humble servant is never offered in vain. (GGS p.819)

   ਜੋ ਜੋ ਕਹੈ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਪਹਿ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਤਤਕਾਲ ਹੋਇ ਆਵੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

   Whatever the servant asks of his Lord and Master, immediately comes to pass. ||1||Pause|| (GGS p.403)

2. For verily I say unto, that whosoever, shall say unto this mountain, be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire when ye prey believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them. ( Bible, Mark 11:23)

3. A kulfi (ice cream) vendor comes to a street and a child sees him and feels like having one but does not have any money. He says to the vendor-"Wait!" and runs off to his mother to get the money. His mother gives him the money and the child gives it to the vendor and eats his ice cream. In this scenario - the child had complete faith that his mother would give him the money he required and with this thought he said without any reservation - Wait!" - he was convinced that his mother would not deny him and that he would be back and that he would have the money. His mother realizes that his son has complete faith in her and wants to honor this belief and gives him the money.

When we ask God for something with this kind of childlike faith, only then do we get what we went. We have to have the ability to say "Wait!" and know that it is coming.

Ardaas (p.13) Here Bhai Sahib jee begins his discourse.

When a person prays he/she talks with god. Therefore the first requirement when one prays is the firm belief that the one he/she is praying before, the one he/she is talking to, actually is - that it exists. Is God even there? If one is praying to God and there is some doubt that it is there - then how can one hope to have their prayer answered. Our prayers (95 out of 100) are unsuccessful, mainly because we do not know HOW to pray. We pray to God, but even while doing so we are not convinced that there even is a God! If God has the power to look into each and every heart and see what we are really thinking then why should he answer any prayer that does not even believe that He is there. Then isn't it mere mockery or a joke to pray when lurking in the back of our mind we have doubt that the one we are praying to even exists?

Because we don't know how to pray and have never really been taught to pray most of our prayers remain unfulfilled. As a result, BECAUSE our prayers don't get answered, our faith in prayers starts to dwindle day by day. Many stand in sangat with eyes closed and hands folded, but only some fortunate selected few have that complete faith which is necessary to make a prayer successful. In reality, at the time of prayer, the hidden state of the thoughts of one who is praying may actually be as follows: "O Waheguru, I have never seen you, but have heard that you exist from holy books and from people. So although I cannot say for sure that you even are out there, but because now I'm in deep trouble and now that my own intellect is not cooperating, I wish that there be a God - one who can listen to our prayers and answer them. So, dear God, if you are really there, then Babaji please help me. But how can you be there? And who is going to listen to my prayer? And even if you are, then then who knows if you will hear my prayer. And if you do hear it, then i doubt whether you have the power to really answer it. But, now that I have tried everything else and my troubles have not been sorted out, I thought that I would try praying - maybe - just in case it works!”

When one prays with the above kind of thoughts, the prayer is generally unsuccessful - as the basic foundations of it are faulty. Just like a boat, which has holes in its floor, cannot take you across to the shore, so how can a prayer, which has faulty foundations of doubt and disbelief, take you across to God? if we want the boat to take us to the shore we have to fix the holes. Similarly, if we want our prayer to reach the kingdom of God then we must rid ourselves of any doubt.

Complete faith (like the child on its mother) is essential.

ਤੀਨੇ ਤਾਪ ਨਿਵਾਰਣਹਾਰਾ ਦੁਖ ਹੰਤਾ ਸੁਖ ਰਾਸਿ ॥
The Lord is the One who removes the three fevers; He is the Destroyer of pain, the warehouse of peace.

ਤਾ ਕਉ ਬਿਘਨੁ ਨ ਕੋਊ ਲਾਗੈ ਜਾ ਕੀ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਆਗੈ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ॥੧॥
No obstacles block the path of one who prays before God. ||1||

– ang 714

So to make a prayer successful, absolute faith in the existence of God is necessary. However, just this belief is not enough to have your prayer heard, as there are several other requirements. In addition to an utter and sound belief of God's existence, it is also necessary to know that your prayer is a valid or legitimate one. If at the back of your mind or bottom of your heart you know that your prayer is not something that you really should be praying for, then the prayer will go unanswered too. For example, praying that one gets all the wealth belonging to someone else or all the world becomes their slaves are illegitimate prayers and will not get answered even if one has absolute faith in God. If we examine carefully what we ask for, we may not always be convinced 100% that what we are praying for is something that we should really be asking for.

First deserve and then desire - this rule is vital in prayer.

The following example may be helpful to illustrate this principle: If someone wants to shoot something, it is not only the presence of a rifle that will suffice. In addition to the rifle, it is necessary to know how to use it properly. But even if these two conditions are met however, if the thing we want to shoot is not even there, then we cannot hit the target. Now, even If we now have all three conditions (the rifle, the know how and the target) but just as we are about to shoot someone shakes our hand, even then we will miss the target. Similarly, there are several conditions that have to be met before a prayer can be fulfilled.

Those people who don't get their prayers answered should not quit praying out of disappointment, they should instead learn how to make their prayers answered. Just like 2+2=4 - a steadfast rule, prayers too can always be successful when we know the correct way. If one can learn the rules to make one's prayers heard, then this special ability becomes a most valuable life treasure - one that the gurmukh holds most dear. He/she knows that there is neither lack In God's house nor does He want to disappoint anyone. Everything that is asked from Him can be obtained IF the person who asks for it knows HOW to do it.

Just like sunshine does not hold back its warmth and light from any person who places himself/herself In it, God also does not and cannot hold back anything from giving the person who places himself/herself in His protection. However, if a person sitting in the shade complains that he/she is not getting any warmth or light and it is not fair, then obviously that person does not know the nature of the sun. The only requirement is to get from the shady area to the one lit by the sun - then there is no need to do anything. Similarly, it is necessary to know what to ask for and how to ask for it and then God fulfills His promise.

So, always ask for that which you are absolutely convinced is not only viable but is fair. If a child asks for permission to eat dirt, his mother will not permit it, but if he asks for milk she will happily provide it. Similarly if we ask God for things that maybe harmful for us, or maybe be harmful to others who are His sons and daughters how can He fulfill such a prayer?

ਜੀਅ ਕੀ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਹੋਇ ਸੁ ਗੁਰ ਪਹਿ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ਕਰਿ ॥

When your soul is feeling sad, offer your prayers to the Guru.

ਛੋਡਿ ਸਿਆਣਪ ਸਗਲ ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਅਰਪਿ ਧਰਿ ॥

Renounce all your cleverness, and dedicate your mind and body to Him.

– ang 519

Not until humans could understand the rules of electricity could they get the benefits from lightening. Rules follow certain principles and they do not favour anyone. Similarly there are some rules for prayers and they have to be respected fully and completely. Even when humans did not understand the laws of Electricity, there were times when flashes of lightening would strike and give light and brightness. In the same manner, prayers coming from a desolate person get answered even though he/she may not be aware of the rules. These answered prayers are like rays of hope.........

So let's summarize what has been said so far:

1. It is necessary to believe in the absolute existence of the power one is praying to.

2. It is necessary to be convinced that what one is praying for is a valid and legitimate prayer.

Now we come to the third rule.

If now the above two conditions have been fulfilled, but we have doubt that God can actually answer our prayer, then it will again remain unfulfilled. For example, if a man has a terminal disease - one that physicians have no cure for-then even if this man has complete faith that there is a god, and he feels that it is a valid thing to ask for, but has doubts that He can actually cure it, and there is a firm conviction that his disease is incurable then the chances of the prayer for restoration will be slim. The one who is praying must have complete and utter belief that God can give or do anything. His faith must be like a mountain in the ocean. No matter how many waves come and strike it, it remains steadfast. So must the person believe that where all his own efforts and intellect have been useless God is capable of doing and providing all he needs, even the seemingly impossible.

Guru Arjun Dev Ji speaks of God's power in the following shabad.

When a person feels that he/she has reached the limits of their pain and suffering and there seems to be no hope left and all seems to be lost, then if this person in this state remembers Him and prays then not only will he be saved from this state but will receive peace and bliss.

ਜਾ ਕਉ ਮੁਸਕਲੁ ਅਤਿ ਬਣੈ ਢੋਈ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਦੇਇ ॥ ਲਾਗੂ ਹੋਏ ਦੁਸਮਨਾ ਸਾਕ ਭਿ ਭਜਿ ਖਲੇ ॥
When you are confronted with terrible hardships, and no one offers you any support, when your friends turn into enemies, and even your relatives have deserted you,

ਸਭੋ ਭਜੈ ਆਸਰਾ ਚੁਕੈ ਸਭੁ ਅਸਰਾਉ ॥ ਚਿਤਿ ਆਵੈ ਓਸੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਲਗੈ ਨ ਤਤੀ ਵਾਉ ॥੧॥
and when all support has given way, and all hope has been lost -if you then come to remember the Supreme Lord God, even the hot wind shall not touch you. ||1||

ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਨਿਤਾਣਿਆ ਕਾ ਤਾਣੁ ॥ ਆਇ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਥਿਰੁ ਸਦਾ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਸਚੁ ਜਾਣੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Our Lord and Master is the Power of the powerless. He does not come or go; He is Eternal and Permanent. Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, He is known as True. ||1||Pause||

ਜੇ ਕੋ ਹੋਵੈ ਦੁਬਲਾ ਨੰਗ ਭੁਖ ਕੀ ਪੀਰ ॥ ਦਮੜਾ ਪਲੈ ਨਾ ਪਵੈ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਦੇਵੈ ਧੀਰ ॥ ਸੁਆਰਥੁ ਸੁਆਉ ਨ ਕੋ ਕਰੇ ਨਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਕਾਜੁ ॥ ਚਿਤਿ ਆਵੈ ਓਸੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਤਾ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਰਾਜੁ ॥੨॥
If you are weakened by the pains of hunger and poverty, with no money in your pockets, and no one will give you any comfort, and no one will satisfy your hopes and desires, and none of your works is accomplished-if you then come to remember the Supreme Lord God, you shall obtain the eternal kingdom. ||2||

ਜਾ ਕਉ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਦੇਹੀ ਵਿਆਪੈ ਰੋਗੁ ॥ ਗ੍ਰਿਸਤਿ ਕੁਟੰਬਿ ਪਲੇਟਿਆ ਕਦੇ ਹਰਖੁ ਕਦੇ ਸੋਗੁ ॥
When you are plagued by great and excessive anxiety, and diseases of the body; when you are wrapped up in the attachments of household and family, sometimes feeling joy, and then other times sorrow;

ਗਉਣੁ ਕਰੇ ਚਹੁ ਕੁੰਟ ਕਾ ਘੜੀ ਨ ਬੈਸਣੁ ਸੋਇ ॥ ਚਿਤਿ ਆਵੈ ਓਸੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਸੀਤਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥੩॥
when you are wandering around in all four directions, and you cannot sit or sleep even for a moment-if you come to remember the Supreme Lord God, then your body and mind shall be cooled and soothed. ||3||

– ang 70

Whatever you ask for, you only ask that entity that has the capability of answering it. So when we ask we must have the conviction that God has the power to provide.

So once again let's summarize:

1. It is necessary to believe in the existence of the power one is praying to.

2. One must be convinced that what one is praying for is a valid and legitimate prayer.

3. God can give what you are asking for.

Now we come to the last rule - Number 4.

For a successful prayer, after the above three conditions have been fulfilled there is a fourth one which is part and parcel of the whole package. It's to do with the firm believe that God WILL give what you ask for. This is different from CAN. The following story maybe helpful to understand this:

Once upon a time there was a village where as a result of no rain the fields were dry and there was fear of drought. The leaders decided to get everyone together in a certain place at a certain time and pray to God for rain. SO place and time was decided. As the villagers were gathering at this place a holy man came by and asked what what going on. So the villagers explained that they were all going to pray for rain. This holy man then said - "That's wonderful, but where are your umbrellas and rain clothes? How are you going to get home without getting wet?" The villagers thought that this guy was mad and laughed at him. They said- "Can you not see that the sun is shining, how can it rain now? Are we crazy that we should carry umbrellas?"

The holy man then replied, "If you believe that God is powerful and that He can make it rain, and that if He wishes He can make it happen right away - then why do you doubt that your prayer will be heard? If you believed this fully then you would not have left your home without the necessary things to protect you from the rain. You would have obliged Him to hear your prayer right away. Go - now your prayer will not get heard right away."

The moral of the story is that the fault lies in our way of prayer rather than in the one who will answer them. Just like the child who called to the vendor "Wait!" and goes to get what he needs from his mother, we too must believe that our prayers will be answered.

ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਪਿਤਾ ਤੂ ਹੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਤਿਸੁ ਬਾਰਿਕ ਭੂਖ ਕੈਸੀ ॥
What hunger can the child ever have, O my Lord and Master, when You are his Father?

ਨਵ ਨਿਧਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਧਾਨੁ ਗ੍ਰਿਹਿ ਤੇਰੈ ਮਨਿ ਬਾਂਛੈ ਸੋ ਲੈਸੀ ॥੩॥
The treasure of the Naam and the nine treasures are in Your celestial household. You fulfill the desires of the mind. ||3||

ਪਿਤਾ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਲਿ ਆਗਿਆ ਇਹ ਦੀਨੀ ਬਾਰਿਕੁ ਮੁਖਿ ਮਾਂਗੈ ਸੋ ਦੇਨਾ ॥
My Merciful Father has issued this Command: whatever the child asks for, is put into his mouth.

ਨਾਨਕ ਬਾਰਿਕੁ ਦਰਸੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਚਾਹੈ ਮੋਹਿ ਹ੍ਰਿਦੈ ਬਸਹਿ ਨਿਤ ਚਰਨਾ ॥੪॥੨॥
Nanak, the child, longs for the Blessed Vision of God's Darshan. May His Feet always dwell within my heart. ||4||2||

– ang 1266

End of Bhai Sahib's discourse.

So a final summary:

RULES FOR GETTING YOUR PRAYERS ANSWERED

1. Complete belief God exists.

2. Complete belief that your prayer is valid.

3. Complete belief that God can fulfill your desire.

4. Complete belief that God will fulfill your desire

We may know the rules but it does not mean that we yet intuitively understand how to use them. It is a very difficult task, one that requires constant effort and examination of one's innermost desires. Bauji's lekhs on A and B are very helpful in setting us on this path of introspection.

My own life's experiences (anubhav) have taught me over and over that:

"Impossible is Nothing!!" — Muhammed Ali

We have to set a goal and work towards it with patience and gratitude.

So WHAT should we be praying for?

This will be our next topic. If you would like to share some thoughts, please remember that you are most welcome to do so.

With Warm Nanak Love

May you always remain in his Glorious Presence

Dhan Guru Nanak Dhan Guru Nanak Dhan Guru Nanak Dhan Guru Nanak Dhan Dhan Guru Nanak Dhan Guru Nanak Dhan Guru Nanak Dhan Guru Nanak Dhan Guru Nanak