Recently I read a short but very meaningful article in English about true meaning of prayer which I would like to narrate here for the benefit of an esteemed readers of Asian Voice.
What is prayer? Prayer doesn’t just happen when we kneel or put our hands together and focus and expect things from God by going to temple, church, mosque, Gurudhvara, synogage or any worshiping place.
Thinking positive and wishing good for others is a prayer. When you hug a friend. That’s a prayer. When you cook something to nourish family and friend. That’s a prayer. When you send off our near and dear ones and say ‘drive safely’ or ‘be safe’ That’s prayer. When you are helping someone in need by giving your time and energy. You are praying. When you forgive someone by heart. That’s prayer. Prayer is a vibration. A feeling. A thought. Prayer is voice of love, friendship, genuine relationships. Prayer is an expression of your silent being.
In this context in my 2005 June/July trip to India I had a very memorable experience which I would like to inform to your readers. After visiting holy temples of Virpur, Gondal, Gadhda, Sarangpur and Junagadh in Gujarat we were coming back to Surat in rented private car and our driver asked us that is it O.K if he can visit her sister who lives few kilometres away from highway from where we were passing and we said no problem.
Once we were there her sister asked us to come to her small typical village house, as we went in, our driver asked to sit down on coach made of Kathi strings and then gave us water in small container to freshen up. Then her sister asked me Sir, would like to eat Bajaras Rotalas which she just made on stove - Chula using fire wood collected from her small farm and I said, sure we will eat.
She made us seated in small room on floor and served us Rotalas, Chhas, sabaji is freshly made of dry fenugreek seeds, small garlic bulbs and gravy of water putting home made masala and mango chutney.
And that was best memorable food I had of my life time because it was made of pure love and inner selfless prayer from her heart and happiness on her and entire family’s faces by serving us and I saw real India in small village.
Suresh and Bhavna Patel
Canada
