PRAYER
"something from nothing"
I believe in the creative power of the human mind. As of yet, science cannot explain the birth of thoughts. It can only show us the neurological activity, how it looks measured on different instruments. I believe that thoughts (including feelings) are the meeting point of spirit and matter. Our spirits give birth to thoughts. Thoughts are provably something physical, composed of chemicals and electrical signals. Therefore, thoughts are where spirit shapes matter:
"Something from nothing."
Intercessory Prayer
The simplest (and perhaps most powerful) form of intercessory prayer, is simply thinking about someone while holding a feeling of love: wishing that person well and envisioning good things coming to him or her. I believe that doing this has positive (loving) influences on the subject of thought, regardless of possible physical distance.
The dark side of prayer is, of course, that thinking about someone with hate / envy / malintent also has affect.
Intercessory prayer
Intercessory prayer can also take more complex forms, when the person praying utilizes his/her physical, cognitive and emotional faculties to create more advanced patterns of thought-action, depending on what the particular need may be.
For example, someone might be experiencing chronic fear & anxiety. When praying for that person, one might consciously focus on feelings and thoughts of safety, protection and peace, in order to provide more specialized help. There are no limits regarding the creativity of prayer. Listening to different sorts of music while praying, playing an instrument, dancing, drawing, are examples of techniques I utilize in prayer.
Prayer has always been a central calling for monks. So also for me. I am practicing living a life of prayer, where I gain a greater and greater awareness of my thoughts and feelings as I go through each moment. I strive to live to a background music of love, where no destructive thought is created. Needless to say - this is a lifelong practice.
Contemplation / Meditation / Prayer
In addition to intercessory and creative prayer, I practice contemplative prayer. By some, contemplation is described as darkness. What is perceived as darkness is actually not darkness, but a light that cannot be recognized by any earthly faculties. It is of another nature altogether. For me, this is impossible to put into words, since my words are of this world.
Contemplation, meditation and prayer form a braid of three strands, which seamlessly mix into each other.
