How to pray

If Bhagvan comes in front of us, what to ask?

When Brahma came in front of Raavan, what did he ask? He asked that death should not come to me in any form.  He wanted immortality in this material life. Kumbhakarna wanted to sleep for long.  Vibheeshana asked, ‘I should not leave dharma even when there is maximum difficulty.’ But what happened in the end, all had to leave their bodies.

Shri Krishna in the Gita says: Even if u have lots of expectations,  and you go to fulfill it to lots of demi- gods then it is animal mentality. Dharma (righteousness, religiousness) and Kama (lust, expectations) should have a balance. if it is only kama and artha (material greed) then it is animal mentality. So what should you pray and how?

Scientists try to make some medicine to make us immortal.  On the other hand they devise nuclear bombs too.  Don’t they have conflicting objectives.

Hanuman was given benediction that whenever and wherever there is recitation of Ramayan till that time he will be in this material platform.
So what do we understand? Life’s centrepoint is not money or kids only.

ParikshitMaharaj when he came to know that he had only 7 days to live decides only to hear about the Lord in those seven days. And he asks for three boons if he takes another birth.1 let me have always love of lord (prema)
2 let me get association of devotees (maitri)
3let me have mercy (daya)

If there is no maitri, then you may be mislead from prema.

When Krishna comes to meet Gandhari after the war, she asks, if you were really Bhagvan why you didn’t stop the war because so many people died.
Krishna replies, I tried; your sons did not agree. Your son and yourself had the onus of stopping the war but you didn’t try. You are just looking after your sorrow. Look after the others sorrow, then your sorrow will reduce. If there is no daya there is no dharma.

If you always ask from Lord it becomes a business.
Prahlad does not ask anything for himself but asks for liberation for his father. Child does not have to ask his mother for food or lodging likewise God gives us everything. If we ask it is just waste of time. For our material uplifment we have to try ourselves.

Lakshmi says Narayan is omnipresent and I always stay with Him. Moral is if you want Lakshmi worship Narayan. Yes,  you can worship Lakshmi and she may bless you too but Lakshmi alone is fickle. She is steady only steady when Narayan is with her.

Story of Bali. Even though Vaman comes as brahmachari, Laksmi stays in his chest. When Vamana wants three paces of land, not even once Bali doubts the intentions of the Lord. He has full faith in HIM.  At that time Lakshmi leaps out and goes to Bali. Moral is Vamana blesses Bali and Lakshmi automatically comes to Bali . And then Bali says  to Vamana, ‘I had paid obeisances to you mentally and so much benediction you gave me.’
Mathematically we can say that buddhi(intelligence) + bhav( feeling)=firm faith.

So what to ask…let me never forget you in any circumstance. Always ask for prema(love).

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who is Lord himself and who came in this Kaliyuga as His pure devotee said

na dhanam na janam na sundarim
kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye
mama janmani janmanisvare
bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi

“O Lord of the universe, I do not desire material wealth, materialistic followers, a beautiful wife, or fruitive activities described in flowery language. All I want, life after life, is unmotivated devotional service to You.” (Cc. Antya 20.29)

This is how you should pray and prema is all that you should ask.

Excerpts from the lecture of His Grace Govind Das on the 6th of December 2014 at Bahrain

————————————————

Most of us even though we are believers, do not know how to pray. We just know to put in our demands and expect out demands to be fulfilled. This is a wonderful enlightening lecture which tells us how to pray. The Lord our father undoubtedly gives us what we need. The rest we have to endeavour ourselves. What we can ask is for prema-love for Him and love from Him.

And on that note I sign off from 2014 and lets hope that 2015 will be another beautiful Yatra.