In this post I will look at how prayers and blessings have been traditionally thought of and offer a traditional and modern perspective on these spiritual tools.
Definitions and Examples
Prayer
The following is a more traditional definition of prayer taken from an article in Encyclopedia Britannica:
An act of communication by humans with the sacred or holy— God, the gods, the transcendent realm, or supernatural powers. Found in all religions in all times, prayer may be a corporate or personal act utilizing various forms and techniques. Prayer has been described in its sublimity as “an intimate friendship, a frequent conversation held alone with the Beloved” by St. Teresa of Ávila, a 16th-century Spanish mystic.
Here is a broader view of prayer taken from the DailyOM:
Prayer is often seen as a way to connect with a higher power or your spiritual self… People pray in all different ways, from words or chants spoken out loud to internal conversations and meditations. Anyone can pray, regardless of religious background or leanings, Wilson explains. Prayer is not strictly religious, and many people who identify as irreligious can benefit from incorporating prayer into their daily lives. This could involve taking time to pause and reflect on the day or week that has passed, expressing gratitude for the blessings in one’s life, setting intentions for the future, or simply taking a moment to find stillness.
Blessing
A traditional definition of blessing is a prayer calling for divine care, protection, or favor. Another form of blessing comes from the authority of the human such as this Buddhist blessing:
May all beings be peaceful. May all beings be happy. May all beings be safe. May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature. May all beings be free.
Why do we pray?
Prayer and its purpose depends on your philosophical and theological views on who you are praying to. If you are praying to a being that lives outside yourself, then you are likely petitioning for some change in your life circumstances such as healing from a physical ailment.
If you believe spirit lives within you or you have a higher self that listens, you are likely praying to yourself to change your beliefs or strengthen your faith in a certain desired outcome. In the writings that record Jesus’ teachings it was said that faith and belief affect what you experience in life. Loosely translated, “It is done unto you as you believe.” Jesus ascribed many miracles as happening because the person receiving the miracle believed the outcome was possible. So if you ascribe to this theology, then you pray to strengthen your faith and beliefs to affect how you experience life and to heal some situation.
Prayer can also serve as a centering mechanism to focus your attention on your higher spiritual self. To contemplate and meditate upon your true nature: a beloved unique expression and component of the universe. Prayer can allow you to contemplate spiritual truths that calm you and redirect your path forward in life.
Why do we offer blessings?
Many people offer blessings of thanksgiving or well wishes for future outcomes. When we are grateful for things or circumstances in our lives, we are aligning our thoughts with goodness, purity, and abundance. Gratitude can be generative: to the degree we are grateful we continue to receive more of the same.
When we live from a compassionate heart, we wish others well. We wish to share our blessings in life with others. Many Buddhist blessings fit this category as in the loving kindness blessing given earlier in this post.
What I believe
I believe that prayer and blessings are for us. We are not trying to change someone’s mind outside of ourselves. We are talking to ourselves, convincing ourselves of a possible new reality or set of circumstances in our lives. Therefore, I ascribe to Jesus’ teachings on the subject. To the degree I believe something is possible in my life, it has the tendency to manifest. Prayer increases faith and establishes a new direction for our life’s journey.
I also believe that in times of trouble, prayer is comforting. I pray as a chaplain with compassion for good outcomes in my patient’s life. I believe my words can uplift the human mind and soul. Isn’t that what healing is all about?
