Of Stillness and of Prayer

I have recently been full of wonderment again for the amazing tools our spiritual paths and religions lend us to achieve true silence. Chanting or repeating prayers has an incredible impact on the human brain.

It's not that it mesmerizes, though that is commonly thought to be the effect. What happens is that when you are chanting or repeating a prayer or mantra, you relinquish the illusion of control.

The mind, powered by the self-protecting and oftentimes misguided ego, thinks that if it keeps thinking the thoughts it will work things out. Especially if you are present with it, the chanting or repeating prayers pushes the mind away from those thoughts. Things happen without any contribution of your thoughts, worries, concerns, frustration, etc. And when you are finished chanting you realize that it all happened just fine without you.

Often our thoughts are so confused, so single-mindedly focused on what we think is the "right" way that we can't even allow things to happen and unfold naturally. We are constantly trying to second-guess, figure it out, know in advance, understand...but we are trying to do all of those things in our own limited capacity of thinking. The ego thinks we are supremely in control when we do this. A rather gran illusion, really.

When we remove ourselves into stillness, removing our mind and our egos from the process, and letting things naturally unfold, the Universe is wont to come up with remarkable ideas that are way outside the boxes and confines we think within. That in itself would be reason enough to start chanting immediately!

It's all about letting go of the illusion of control. Whatever works for you - do it often. For many it is the stillness that comes from prayer, chanting, mantras and meditation. It's worth it!

Blessings,
- Darshan




© 2010 Darshan F Jessop