What to Pray for?

We learn prayers from our childhood. There are simple prayers of gratitude, prayers for the welfare of loved ones, and, of course, prayers for some cherished desire to be fulfilled. We offer prayers for forgiveness, and prayers for strength to change ourselves for the better. Atheists think that a prayer to God is sheer imagination. For centuries, however, thousands of sincere practitioners have accumulated definite evidence of the positive results of prayer. The serious doubt regarding prayer is not whether God can hear and respond, but whether the things people pray for are worthwhile. Saint Teresa of Avila once said that “More tears are shed in this world from prayers that are answered than from those that go unanswered.” Before we approach God with our requests, we ought to educate ourselves in what to pray for.

Our basic problem is that we are attracted to the wrong things – things that won’t bring us what we are ultimately looking for. When we reconfigure our desires and turn our attention towards the right things, spiritual things, things that allow us to connect with our very essence, then everything falls into place perfectly. Lasting peace, happiness and fulfillment are available to everyone, but only on the spiritual platform. Thus, the real purpose of prayer is not to gain material resources or even spiritual salvation for oneself. The power of prayer is best utilised when we call to Krishna out of a desire to do His will. Srila Prabhupada explained that this is what the maha-mantra is – a prayer to be engaged in Krishna’s service. Whether we call on Him from the darkness of our fallen state in the material world, or whether we praise Him amidst His liberated associates in the kingdom of God, the pure prayer is the same:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare