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7. Prayer and Meditation
Baha’u’llah teaches that everyone must pray. Prayer causes a connection between one’s soul and God. ‘Abdu’l-Baha says, ‘“‘While man prays he sees himself in the presence of God.’’® Since prayer is the language of love, Baha’ is will naturally want to turn to their Beloved often. Baha’u’llah instructs Baha'is to pray at least once a day, using one of the three obligatory prayers. ‘Abdu’l-Baha notes that praying early in the morning and at night ‘‘is conducive to the joy of hearts.’’®
How should one pray? First one must free himself from all worldly thoughts and turn to God, Who says: ‘‘O Son of Light! Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit. This is of the essence of My command, therefore turn unto it.’’ }° Often man talks with God using the prayers which come from his own heart and which express his needs and desires. At other times he uses the prayers revealed by the Manifestations. These prayers have a special power because they are part of the creative word of God. They also teach man how to pray. When Jesus was asked by His disciples how to pray, He gave them the Lord’s Prayer. Baha’u'llah and the Center of His Covenant, ‘Abdu’1-Baha, have also revealed many prayers to guide and nourish man’s soul.
Are prayers always answered? ‘Abdu’!-Baha assures man that “‘God will answer the prayer of every servant if that prayer is urgent. His mercy is vast, illimitable.’’ 11 However the answer to one’s prayers may not be a “‘yes”’ or come in the way one expects. Sometimes man, in his ignorance, asks for things which might be harmful to him. God, the All-Knowing, the All-Merciful, must then, like a loving Father, say “‘no.”’
In addition to praying with words, one can pray with actions. Deeds which are performed to the glory of God and in service to mankind are prayers in action. Baha’u’Ilah says one’s whole life should be a beautiful prayer.
Prayer and meditation are both ways in which man follows Baha’u’llah’s instruction to ‘‘Jmmerse yourselves in the ocean of My words, that ye may unravel its secrets, and discover all
the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths.’’ 1” Meditation is a type of thought or reflection during which man withdraws from the world and turns his inner vision to the mysteries of God. He sees with spiritual eyes and discovers the deeper meanings of things.
Meditation is the key for opening the doors of God’s mys- teries. Through meditation man receives new insights and is inspired to make new inventions or to raise the sciences and arts. to a new level. ‘Abdu’l-Baha says that ‘‘Through the faculty of meditation man . . . receives the breath of the Holy Spirit. . . . Through it he receives Divine inspiration, through it he re- ceives heavenly food.’’ 1* He also says, ‘‘The spirit of man is itself informed and strengthened during meditation. . . .’’ \*
Not all thoughts which come to man during meditation are inspired by God. Many are useless products of vain imagining. Man’s soul is like a mirror. If the mirror is turned to the world during meditation, it will reflect wordly things. If the mirror is turned to the spiritual kingdom, it will reflect the beauty of God. One should direct his thoughts toward the mysteries of the
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spiritual world and meditate on the life and teachings of
Baha’u’Ilah.
As with prayer, one must follow meditation with action. New understandings and insights must be demonstrated by pure and holy deeds. These deeds are the fruit of meditation.
