Prayer as a Conversation with God
Transform distracting thoughts during meditation into an offering and conversation with God, allowing this sincere communication to deepen into communion and ultimately, Oneness, as God is always aware of our true intentions.
For me, when I'm sitting with him, the thoughts come and then offer a documentary about how I'm doing sitting with the Creator. And then the thoughts will give their thoughts about the thoughts: 'Oh, the thoughts are coming.' But don't follow the thoughts, just let the thoughts come. And it just becomes this major distraction. And these thoughts have no substance and I don't know the source. I just know that there seems to be an endless amount. And they're annoying, and I want to know if that ever goes away. And I feel that to object to them gives them power, but at the same time, I don't want them.
An intermediate step while we come to that full merging with God is that if these thoughts seem so difficult to handle, then we can change. Try and see if this works: that instead of having a conversation...
Action and these thoughts have no substance, and I don't know the source. I just know that there seems to be an endless amount, yeah, and they're annoying. Um, and I want to know if that ever goes away. And I feel that to object to them gives them power, but at the same time, I don't want them.
So, an intermediate step while we come to that full merging with God is that if these thoughts seem so difficult to handle, then we can change—try and see if this works—that instead of having a conversation with yourself (these thoughts are basically having a strange, absurd conversation with yourself), instead of that, make it a conversation with God, you see? So when the thought says, 'I don't know if this is working' or 'if you're doing this right,' then just offer it to God and say, 'This is what my mind is saying. I don't know if I'm doing this right, so please could you look into this?'
So then every thought which seems so strong that you can't let go of it, and you can't remain empty of it just by letting it go, then you make it an offering to God. And in that communication with God, that itself will turn into a communion. Then it'll turn into a silent sitting together, and then that 'together' will vanish into just a Oneness. But because I said that, it doesn't mean that just to sit and be in communication with God is a lower level or something like that; it is also a great privilege for us to be able to do that.
So when the thought comes, sincerely we can say, 'This thought is persistent. It seems to be quite true. I believe it very often. God, please can you help me look into this? Help me be free from this, or do whatever is your will about this particular topic. And I know nothing more than to keep offering it to you.' See what happens with that. The best news for all of us is that God knows our intention every moment, and that is what is important. Do you feel like there's a chance He couldn't know or He doesn't know? Right now you're trying to find the truth about who you are, or you're trying to find God in some way, either as His presence or as His guidance. You're trying to look for God in some way. Do you feel like there's a chance that He doesn't know that? He knows that fully.
Key Teachings
- Instead of engaging with distracting thoughts, offer them to God as a conversation.
- This offering transforms communication into communion, leading to silent sitting and eventual Oneness.
- Even persistent thoughts can be offered to God for help or to align with His will.
- God knows our every intention, and this sincerity is paramount in our spiritual journey.
From: If God Lives in Our Heart, Where Should We Live? - 16th September 2024