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How do I pray if God is not a separate Being?

Traditionally, Jewish prayer consists of one part praise, one part petition, and one part thanksgiving. If God is All That Is and All is One then there is no longer a Cosmic Bellhop to fulfill or not fulfill our petitions. But to praise and to enter into thanksgiving allow us to step more fully into the Presence.

The essential difference between a more evolved form of prayer and a more childlike prayer has to do with petition. The child part of us wants someone to give us that which we do not currently have. The more aware part of us knows that everything is present in the world of consciousness. All our desires already exist and it is up to us to more fully step into and real-ize the world we seek. So petitionary prayer invites us to experience ourselves already being, having, or doing that for which we pray. When we create images that are clear enough to ignite the feelings of joy, excitement and fulfillment that we desire then we have cause for great rejoicing and for thanksgiving. Petitionary prayer might better be called Creative Prayer because this is a way we step into our role as co-creators of our lives.

I encourage us to begin, then, with praise. Praise of the One Life, the One Awarenesss, the One Consciousness we share. Praise of the remarkable possibilities, the incredible freedom that we are given. Praise for the unspeakable joy of simply being alive right here and right now. Then realize that joy even more fully by stepping into images of the self you wish to be, of the life you wish to live, of the world you wish to have. When you experience the feelings that validate that life , turn to thanksgiving and thank the Holy Presence of Whom you are an absolutely unique and precious expression for providing this access to co-creation called prayer

Posted on Monday, August 7, 2006 at 03:09PM by Registered CommenterRabbi Ted Falcon, Ph.D. | Comments3 Comments

Reader Comments (3)

Dear Rabbi, i am so happy that lila told me about your web site. i hear your voice as i read and peace comes into my heart. thank you for your insight and thought provoking questions. you always come into my life at the right time. love and light francine pulte
August 9, 2006 | Unregistered Commenterfrancine
You have an eloquent way of getting to the heart of issues.
I really appreciate this explanation of prayer as I have been hearing many people talk about feeling your prayers and co-creating, but you make it real.
I also heard yesterday someone saying it's not about what you get, but what you give. I think this goes will with you explanation of prayer, I give thanks, I give joy, I give celebration for whatever the prayer is about (about as if it exists, not for as if you want it).
Thank-you for your inspiration.
God-bless
Shalom
November 8, 2006 | Unregistered CommenterAnn
This post provides the answer to a question that troubles me - which is: How can I live up to Jewish values, ethics, commandments? I berate myself for the ways I fall short, and feel like a failure. Your post reminds me it might be more constructive to focus on the positive "joy of simply being alive right here and right now...images of the self you wish to be, of the life you wish to live, of the world you wish to have." God-consciousness is more fun than self-recrimination and probably more useful. Thank you.
August 13, 2007 | Unregistered CommenterSara

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