Silent prayer along with silent giving makes me feel closer to God, says HARISH MOTWANI. But those who want to make a song and dance about their love for God must be having their reasons to do so, he adds

A couple of years back, on one of my business tours, sleep eluded me in my hotel room. In the early hours of the morning, unable to figure out what to do, I nonchalantly opened a chest of drawers and chanced upon the Holy Bible. I decided to take a quick deko, not looking for anything in particular.

I casually flipped through the pages, but eventually my eyes fell upon some writings, which seemed to have gripped my attention, making me forget all about sleep. I had then never imagined that what I read would result in some thought-provoking writing on a subject so very close to my heart.

The Bible’s teaching on silent prayer was quite engrossing. The teaching was simple yet seemed true and meant so much to me. Silent prayers by an individual are as effective as the other modes of devotion we offer such as visiting places of worship, group meditations, charity through religious institutions, reading spiritual texts, fasting and so on. This was the message that I learnt from the Bible.

Harish Motwani

My growing up years, and almost all of my married life, I have seen my mother and my wife quite diligently offering one or more mode of prayers. We have a designated mini room in our home which is called mandir. I guess most homes in India have a designated corner if not a room in their homes for such Godly things.

A post-shower worship is a must by women in our home ― time permitting or not. I must confess that I and others in the family have been silently following the prayer practice without question. We even have a ritual at home to offer bhog to the God’s idols three meal times a day ― a practice I remember from childhood.

But I have often wondered if visiting a temple or any designated place of worship to pray or bowing down to the deity’s idols at home were the ultimate and only available form of worship, which would please God and make us worthy for Him to bestow His blessings.

The Bible had some meaningful references to worship and prayer. The Bible mentions, though it does not recommend, praying in private. However, if you are all by yourself, I wonder, what is the difference between praying aloud or silently?

There are some circumstances where only silent prayer is appropriate; for example, praying for something that needs to stay between you and God. And what could potentially be wrong with praying silently? Why do I have to fold my hands or kneel down on my knees to be heard?

If you ask me, I prefer to pray silently without folding hands, chanting mantras or closing my eyes. I have my own connection with the Supreme Power and that connect needs to be strictly personal, irrespective of what I seek for myself or others around me. I feel more secure if my prayers are not visible, heard or shared. I do not like to raise a hoopla around my conversations with God.

I am of the belief that it certainly does not mean that silent prayer is any less valid than praying out loud or in view of those around me in a crowd. God being omnipresent and omnipotent, can most certainly hear our thoughts, just as easily as He can hear our words.  

Nothing we do, say, or think is hidden from God, any which way, so He does not need to hear our words to know our thoughts. He has complete access to all our prayers or call-outs directed to Him, whether or not they are spoken. Haven’t we all been told as kids that God is watching us every moment and HE knows everything that we do or think?  

Then, why this shift of faith and belief system when we grow up? Why do we visit temples to offer prayers and do satsangs at home to purify ourselves and be heard by Him.

I wonder and I am sure you all believe that we live in a world which is so evolved with science, yet so engrossed with religion. I don’t mean to offend anyone when I say that the Pope, the Hindu mode of Idol worship, the temples, the churches, the mosques ― the whole lot of wealth around these religious institutions, gives the impression that societies are being asked to choose their religion; select their God and then are invited to pray ― and then pay.

The entire system encourages us to visit a place of worship ― pray and give our offerings in some form or the other. More specifically, in every country, religion is an agenda. Sometimes, it appears like an agenda to empower, to encourage networking, and to amass wealth.

It has been an orchestrated system which works like a well-oiled machinery to achieve political and economic designs around the world. History is testimony to many such political conquests, invasions and takeover of businesses built around religion and God. You will be surprised to google and discover how in Western economies, churches govern governments and also venture funds. However, let’s leave this for now, lest it ruffles some feathers.

Belief systems are also shaken when one encounters some friends, who are liberally giving offerings to religious trusts, temples, churches  priests, and several other religious institutions, which gives them a social standing, but not to a charity which genuinely works towards helping the poor, the downtrodden and the needy.

Unfortunately, conspicuous giving is seen as a gateway to God and a pathway to  moksha, while giving to a charity is a thought that seldom crosses their mind. I believe, they would rather trust a religious institution, which will open a few more temples, churches, mosques, run with unaudited accounting books as against a professionally run genuine philanthropic initiative. Their gestures of funding religion is loud, pompous and targeted at gaining visibility. I believe, though, that funding a charity is a silent, and quieter way of reaching God.

I am abiding by my code of silent prayer and silent giving. And if the Holy Bible mentions it, it means it has been a thought that has come to several others as well, ages back. In the light of these facts, I want my prayers to be pure and devoid of any material instincts of offerings to God. Silent prayers are good for me. And they have worked as well.

I have understood and made my own interpretations about the distinct difference between religion and spirituality. I chose the latter.

In sum, silent prayer along with silent giving makes me feel closer to God. It is, of course, an individual choice and those who want to sing and dance to show their love for God must be having their own reasons to do so.

Harish Motwani is the CEO of Evolve Brands, a leading loyalty consulting company. He is also on the Board of two other start-ups ― an emerging FMCG company and a non-profit, Joy Story Foundation, both of these which he co-founded. He is a passionate marketer and strategy consultant by profession and lives in New Delhi.

(Featured Image: Cocoparisienne from Pixabay)