TRANSCENDENT FAITH PRACTICE

The Prayer: by Constantine Brancusi

"My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go." "Hamlet", Act 3 scene 3 So speaks the king in Hamlet, who has murdered his brother (Hamlet's father) for the throne, while on his knees before God in prayer. Hamlet standing in the shadows cannot bring himself to reek vengeance with the knife upon his praying uncle. He does not wish him the opportunity to heaven in a state of contrition but rather to suffer eternally in the hellish dominions below. So revenge is delayed. The king is spared. And a prayer is answered perhaps unknowingly. In this week's session, The World's Prayers, we begin a series of reflections on the aspect of prayer in our lives and in different faith expressions. I have chosen the title for this week's post as "Transcendent Faith Practice" because the act, ritual or expression of prayer transcends the boundaries of many a faith's doctrinal and belief differences. Perhaps this is because prayers are expressions of the heart, mind or soul of the individual as well as the concern, intent and essence of a people. Our guides are Carol and Philip Zaleski, a religion professor and a religious editor, respectively.    

But first, what is prayer to you? Is prayer a practical ritual to you? 

 Lending credence to Shakespeare above, Carol speaks to the attitude one has when in prayer as being important and for praying God's will to be done.  
How do you see attitude as important in prayer?

Carol also speaks of the presence of our free will in the midst of prayer. 
How do you see free will participating in your prayer expression?

Both Philip and Carol speak of the relationships of prayer to poetry, body movement, learning rote prayers and the expression of prayers by Gandhi and others of great influence.  
How does our praying relate to our world as community?

Walter Morton for Terra Incognita