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Prayer and its Power
23
There are 108 ways in which we commit sins, as stated in the above prayer and shown diagrammatically below :
Sins Mediated Through
T
Actuated through
Desire or wish to commit sin • Body Doing for one self . Gathering material for it •Speech | Getting it done by others
Anger
Pride
. Actually acting up to it
.Mind
Giving consent or approval. Deceit Greed
to others who are doing it. x3
x4 = 108
x3
In the path of devotion, these are expressed as poems of hymns containing self-confession. In Jaina religion, it is accepted as type of innerpenance named Präyaścitta (repentance). It is a well known phenomenon that many great men were disgraceful in their past life but, by resorting to real repentance, they purified their life and became great spiritual masters. The well known examples are those of Maharsi Vālmiki, Tulasidāsji and others.
IV Community or Mass Prayers
Like many religious practices, mass prayers are also conducted in several traditions. Sunday, Saturday and Friday are the usual days fixed for mass prayer by the followers of Christian, Jewish and Muslim religions respectively. The main significance of these prayers is social, ritual and cultural, they are conducted in appropriate dress, at proper timings, with directional orientation, and a sequential bodily actions like standing, prostration, bowing in particular posture and so forth. In order to have true spiritual value added to it, it is essential that the participants, at times, also perform individual prayers. Any prayer which does not evoke inward awareness, that is awareness of God's presence in one's own heart, can't be regarded as truly spiritual. Thus community prayers and individual prayers should be regarded as complementary to each other for spiritual progress.
Great Champions of Prayer
Prayer is one of the oldest known spiritual practice of man; and hence, every religious tradition has produced well known people at all times. Here are some examples:
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