The
traditional and ritualistic forms called "prayer" are not unlike the old
examples of "magic incantations", where something "bad" was expected to
be changed into something "good".
It is generally accepted that "prayer" begins with and from a person ...
A person evaluates his current experience, according his own standards,
and decides that a condition is "undesirable"; whereupon he begins to utilize
available technologies in attempt to alleviate what he feels is the "problem".
After having failed at this endeavor, he determines to seek the assistance
of a "Higher Power" in accomplishing his established "goals".
This initial focus of attention is on and about a person -- "How do I feel?"
"What do I want?" "What can I do about what I don't like?" "Can I learn
to pray in such as way as to get God to provide for me what I want, or remove
what I don't want?"
Clearly, here, the notion is, despite much "flowery language", that "God"
is presumed to exist primarily as a "means" to a person's "ends" -- in other
words, as a personal "tool" or "assistant".
It might be useful to examine some of the familiar notions with respect
to "prayer".
Traditionally, it is common to presume that "man" is an independent, isolated
entity with his own particular "nature" or characteristic, be it -- "evil",
"ignorance" or just plain "cussedness" -- that is capable of getting himself
into a "fix".
This often includes the notion that this man HAS a body, that is, itself,
capable, quite against his will, of "catching" or producing many different
strains of diseases, which can then impair the health or even the life of
man. -- As if, there was some small place in the vastness of the Universe,
where its omnipresent, absolute, uncompromising, impersonal, universal laws
were NOT, totally and wholly, governing every aspect of its manifestation.
Or, that somehow a contrary law and/or power developed to oppose, resist
or impair its universal functioning ...
Whereupon this man uses many different devices designed to rid himself of
the problems which he has somehow generated.
Eventually, this man discovers himself to be somewhat inadequate to effectively
deal with these various problems and diseases, and therefore begins to consider
the notion of enlisting the aid of a "Higher Power".
This, then, begs the question -- "What is the "Higher Power" like?"
First of all, it is frequently assumed that this "Power" is in a "place
far, far, away", and It is often either willing to assist, but unable to
overcome man's "ignorance", "resistance", or "sin" -- OR, will only provide
the assistance after being efficiently bartered with -- as in the promise
one will "quit smoking, drinking, etc." -- or, it is presumed that the needed
help will be withheld until the "Higher Power" is asked "nicely' -- "properly".
This leaves the impression of the "Higher Power" as somewhat "whimsical",
perhaps "petulant" or even "vindictive" -- but very unlike what is recognized
as "loving".
Or, It is like some "Heavenly Vault" which will only "open" with the right
"combination" -- and, as with any safe combination, it is not only necessary
to have the exact numbers, but it is also required to have the exact order
and "process" -- as in the correct number of "turns of the dial".
So the "prayer" is presumed to be, not only the "right words", but also
be said in exactly the "right way" -- perhaps with folded hands while on
one's knees -- or maybe the "lotus position" some such "proper" behavior
...
(Before I continue, a brief "caveat": -- If the preceding seems to be, in
any way reasonable or credible concerning the notions of "God", "Man" or
"Prayer", I would suggest that the following might be more of a "challenge"
than you would like, and you might be happier exploring elsewhere ...)
The fundamental point in Science is that one is NOT merely "praying for"
ease, comfort, satisfaction or "success" as a "human being" living in a
"material world"
"Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world:" (John 18:36)
When the primary concern is "physical well-being" or "human comfort", that
is NOT Science, and it is NOT true "prayer".
So we may begin by obeying the injunction of Jesus:
"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous
judgment." (John 7:24)
As well as, "judge not FROM the appearance" -- for as one teacher said:
"That which heard the baby cry, made the baby cry."
We must, as Mrs. Eddy tells us Science requires:
"We MUST leave the mortal basis of belief AND unite
with the one Mind," (S&H 424:6-7)
"Uniting with the one Mind" -- is somewhat similar to "uniting with" mathematics
-- allowing nothing but the ideas and laws of Principle to direct and constitute
our thinking.
As the understanding of the "ONE Mind" begins to occupy our thought -- we
begin to appreciate what Mrs. Eddy referred to as the "verities of Being":
"To heal the sick, one must be familiar with the great
verities of being. Mortals are no more material in their waking hours than
when they act, walk, see, hear, enjoy, or suffer in dreams." (S&H 397:23-26)
"Christian Science declares that Mind is substance, also that matter neither
feels, suffers, nor enjoys. Hold these points strongly in view. Keep in
mind the verity of being, -- that man is the image and likeness of God,
in whom all being is painless and permanent. Remember that man's perfection
is real and unimpeachable," (S&H 414:23-29)
"It should be understood that Spirit, God, is the only creator: we should
recognize this verity of being, and shut out all sense of other claims."
(MW 286:26-28)
"The three great verities of Spirit, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience,
-- Spirit possessing all power, filling all space, constituting all Science,
-- contradict forever the belief that matter can be actual." (S&H 109-110:32-3)
We emphasize, here, the term "verity", is NOT simply "flowery language"
or "poetic license" -- but rather as meaning that which is ultimately and
absolutely true.
This is the basis of scientific thinking, and is why it is called "Christian
Science", and NOT "Christian faith", nor "Christian philosophy", nor even
"Christian psychology".
Therefore, with the recognition that God really IS ALL Power, there is no
consideration in thought of the notion of an alternative power or cause
-- whether presumed to be in a "world of matter", or a "world of human thinking".
The Awareness that God really IS ALL-Presence -- gives not possibility of
the consideration of "another" presence, even if believed to be "my" life.
And the acknowledgment that God really IS ALL-knowing -- indicates that
ANYTHING that is unknown to God CANNOT be considered as Truth or "true-knowing".
This also goes along with the awareness that there can be no other source
or place for any "knowing" to take place.
We may begin to recognize that the question, "How can I learn to pray?"
-- is a misdirected question.
"Creation", "Man" or "effect" CANNOT function as a "cause" of anything whatsoever.
In our Textbook, Mrs. Eddy clearly defines prayer:
"THE prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the
sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,-- a spiritual
understanding of Him, an unselfed love." (S&H 1:1-4)
The key aspect of the definition is the "spiritual understanding of Him"
-- in other words, that which is "DONE BY" "Him" -- God, Divine Mind --
which has absolutely NO "doubt", nor is there ANY belief of, nor concern
for, any other "self".
When she says later on the same page that:
"Desire is prayer;" (1:11)
She is telling us that we need to realize that what has been humanly misinterpreted
to be a "personal desire" IS, instead, and in fact, "prayer" -- the functioning
Presence OF Mind.
Therefore the "need", is not to then try to get God to provide what "we
desire", but rather translate and re-interpret the experience of the belief
of an absence of some aspect of Good into the recognition of Omnipresence.
This was illustrated quite powerfully by Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus:
"And Jesus lifted up [his] eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou
hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always:
but because of the people which stand by I said [it], that they may believe
that thou hast sent me." (John 11:41-42)
The point that he made was that the "prayer" was for the benefit of the
"the people" -- NOT what was said TO God. The "phraseology" was in the language
of and for the benefit of, "the human sense of things" -- NOT FOR "God"
nor "Man".
The "prayer" was, instead, the "Acknowledgement" OF
the Divine -- FROM the standpoint OF the Divine, or "Christ", i.e., "Mind's
own Self-understanding" or "Truth's knowledge of Its own Infinitude which
forbids the genuine existence of even a claim to error." (No & Yes 30:18-20)
"Thou" hearest "ME" -- God knows, is aware of, Himself.
"God is infinite good, He knows nothing but good;
if He did know aught else, He would not be infinite. Infinite Mind knows
nothing beyond Himself or Herself." (MW 367:18-20)
What Mrs. Eddy referred to as "Spiritual Sense":
"Spiritual sense is a conscious, constant capacity
to understand God." (S&H 209:31-32)
As a "constant capacity" -- we appreciate that Omniscience is already fully,
completely, eternally established.
Truth as a Synonym for God, is obviously NOT "done by" a person, nor is
Truth waiting upon someone to "know It" before It may be Omnipresent, Eternal,
and absolutely Perfect.
The essence of "prayer", then, may be illustrated by Paul:
"I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift
of God, which is in thee." (2 Timothy 1:6)
It is the inner assertion OF/BY the Truth of Being to recognize and acknowledge
WHAT Being already, actually IS, despite and instead of, any appearances
or human interpretations to the contrary.
Or, as recorded in the book "We Knew Mary Baker Eddy", Mrs. Eddy gave her
assurance:
"The healing will grow more easy and be more immediate as you realize that
God, good, IS ALL, and good is Love. You must gain Love, and lose the false
sense called love. You must feel the Love that NEVER faileth,- that perfect
sense of divine power that makes healing no longer power but GRACE. Then
you will have the Love that casts out fear and when fear is gone doubt is
gone and your work is done. Why? Because it never was UNDONE."
Why Do We Pray