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Aptavani-4
153
that has occurred in the absence of prayer can be eliminated through prayer. All this has arisen out of agnan (ignorance of the Self). Paudgalik (of the non-Self complex) energies can be removed with prayer. It is easy to slip, and it is difficult to climb up. This is because, slipping involves paudgalik energies.
Questioner: What is prayer (prarthana)?
Dadashri: Pra + arthana = prarthana. Pra means extra. It means to ask God for a greater meaning.
Questioner: Are the prayers of the world fruitful?
Dadashri: A prayer should be a true prayer, and a person who makes such a prayer is very rare indeed.
Questioner: Can there be one out of a hundred?
Dadashri: Yes, there can be, if the one who is praying is pure at heart; his prayer would be a true prayer. However, at the time of praying, if his chit (inner component of gnan knowledge and darshan - vision) is absent then his prayer cannot be considered a true prayer.
Questioner: Who should we pray for and how should we pray?
Dadashri: Prayer means that one is searching for one's own self. God resides within the person himself, and because he does not realize this, he goes to temples and derasars to worship (bhakti) Him. Such worship is indirect devotion (paroksh bhakti).
Prayer: Insistence on Truth!
Questioner: If one person strictly follows a path of steadfast truth, while another does prayers, which one of the two is right? Which one will find God first?
Dadashri: The one who prays.
