Swami Answers on Prayer
Hislop: Usually, the idea [of prayer] is that one should go to a quiet place and be in a quiet mood when he wishes to pray.
Sai: Whenever and wherever you put yourself in touch with God, that is the state of meditation. You may feel that 1 p.m. in California is not a good time to call Me, for I may be asleep in India and I should not be disturbed. I know you have felt like that once or twice. But, I am omnipresent; I have no such limitations. I never sleep. In the middle of the night, I turn off the light and rest in bed, because if the light is on, devotees will gather. I have no need of sleep. But you need at least 4 hours of sleep.
Hislop: If I am walking in the street with people all around and my mind is engaged with things I must do, is that a good time for prayer?
Sai: At the beginning, one might need some special set of circumstances to clear the mind to concentrate on God. But after a while, if one finds that God is omnipresent, becomes aware of Him and one’s thoughts are centered on God, then no matter where you are it is the same. Prayers may be addressed to God and the prayer will reach Him.
Hislop: Swami says that God is omnipresent. What meaning does Swami give the word, ‘omnipresent’?
Sai: Omnipresent means everywhere at the same time all the time.
Hislop: If a person does not have any material or worldly needs, then what is the proper subject for prayer?
Sai: Peace of mind. One should pray to God for peace of mind.
Hislop: I am surprised. I thought Swami said that peace of mind has to be secured by working on desires ourselves and getting rid of them. And now Swami says we can pray to Him for peace of mind!
Sai: How can you be free of desires? Now, at this moment you are with Swami, and you are free of desires. As soon as your wife has a pain, you have the desire that she will be well, and you pray to Swami to cure her. At any time a desire may come up, then where is your peace of mind? Whereas, if God answers your prayer for peace of mind, He must, having granted that boon, automatically fulfill your needs and desires. First you want a chain from Baba, next day you want something else, perhaps a ring; both are made of gold. Why not ask for gold and then all the desired objects will be from that gold.
Hislop: When Swami says, ‘peace of mind,’ what is the meaning He gives to that phrase?
Sai: There is some small confusion in terms, for there is no mind as such. The mind is a web of desires. Peace of mind means no desires, and in that state there is no mind. The mind is destroyed, so to speak. Peace of mind really means purity, complete purity of consciousness. All spiritual practices are aimed at purification of the heart.
