Topic 8 - Prayer
Hinduism: Aim to rejoin our self to the eternal self - Brahman.
- Bhakti-yoga: Path of devotion/emotion.
- Chanting.
- Constant meditation on Aum - the
supreme self.
Buddhism: The 8-fold path.
Therevada mediation exercises:
(a) Recollection of the Triple Gem.
Buddha is a man.
The teaching.
Gratitude for the brotherhood of believers and desire to help others
to live out Buddha's precepts.
(b) Meditation on own body.
(c) Meditation on death.
(d) The "metta". Extending love outwards.
ZEN
don't expect to get something out of meditation.
meditation on koans.
MUSLIM PRAYER
"The remembrance of God (Dhikr) is the greatest thing in life without
doubt." - Q'uran.
Sufism.
CHRISTIAN PRAYER
Ephesians 6:18.
A ritual?
A heavenly shopping list?
Prayer as communion with God - carrying on a relationship.
Revelation 3:20 "Behold I stand at the door and knock ..."
Conditions for prayer:
1. Helplessness.
Reason for structure of Church services.
- Praise to God.
-Confession.
-Thanksgiving.
-Asking.
2. Faith. Opening the door.
Hebrews 11:6. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him.."
-"Faith sized requests" - Rosalind Rinker.
WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?
As a response to God.
He commands it (Jacques Ellul).
HOW AND FOR WHAT SHOULD WE PRAY?
Just talk to God.
Complain Psalm 88.
Cry for help Psalm 70.
Tell Him how you feel - Psalm 42.
Ask for things - qualified/directed by God's will.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE PRAY?
Just psyching ourselves up?
Getting to know God better?
Aligning our will with His?
Waging spiritual battles?
Revival!
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