Does God grant the wishes of those who please Him through their worship? Or, is it the power in our own mind that brings us what we want? Who answers our prayers?
These were the questions that were posed by some spiritual students to my Guru, Swami Chinmayananda.
Your faith is the Key
Swami Chinmayananda, a master of the spiritual science of Vedanta, gave his answer to the students, ”It is by the power of your own faith that you draw to you what you want.”
As you repeatedly think of your desire and believe that it is something that you want, you gain more faith in it. As you gain more faith, you are convinced that it is achievable. It is your concentrated faith that drives you to put in efforts in the direction of your desire. This finally manifests it in the world.
There is no power outside of you that hears your prayers and grants your wishes. Vedanta tells us that God is not different or separate from us. God is manifesting as every being and thing – including you and I.
It is the power within you – call it God, Universe, Source or All-That-Is, that strengthens your faith and gives you the ability to achieve what you desire.
Swami Chinmayananda supported his answer by quoting a verse from the ancient writings of the Bhagavad Gita. Whatsoever form any devotee desires to worship with faith – that same faith of his I make firm and unflinching.—Chapter 7, verse 21. This was said by Krishna, whom Hindus consider an incarnation of the Divine, to his devotee, Arjuna.
Why Pray?
If you draw what you want into your life through your own faith, then why pray?
Prayer helps to uplift the mind and tune it to God, the infinite source of power. A mind that is keenly focused on God gains inner strength and manifestation power.
The mind is like Aladdin’s lamp with a genie inside that can bring us what we want. But to tap into this magical power of manifestation, we must concentrate the mind on what we want with a laser-like focus. The problem is that we often lack the required intensity of focus because we have too many desires which keep the mind constantly distracted.
Prayer Tunes Us In
Like radio signals that are broadcast freely in the airwaves, the infinite resources of the universe are available to everyone. But, we must know how to tune in to that frequency of abundance and then allow it to flow into our lives.
Prayer is the means through which we tune our minds to that frequency.
Seeing yourself as a limited individual with finite resources and power, you surrender in faith and devotion to God who is your own Higher Self. By doing so, you tap into the unlimited resources of the infinite universe.
Ultimately, it is the strength of your own faith and focus that brings you the object of your desire.
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