From: radams@cerritos.edu
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Call for prayer for world peace
Date: 10 Dec 92 04:33:44 GMT
Article-I.D.: ogicse.47094
Distribution: world
Organization: Cerritos College, Norwalk CA

Since this newsgroup represents spiritual traditions, all of which have
a tradition of meditation and/or prayer, I would like to call on s.r.e. to
participate in the worldwide prayer circle started by Paramahansa Yogananda.
It seems that now, more than ever, we need like-minded people such as
participants in s.r.e. (despite insignificant differences) to pull together
to make a difference for world peace and harmony. I would like to quote a
little bit from a booklet available through Self-Realization Fellowship
called _Worldwide Prayer Circle_. This free booklet can be sent for at:

Self-Realization Fellowship
3880 San Rafael Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90065

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The Power of Prayer

"Doubters regard prayer as a vague and ineffective exercise in wishful
thinking. The ordinary person resorts to prayer only when in dire trouble
and when all other options have failed. But Paramahansa Yogananda taught
that true prayer is scientific - being based on precise laws that govern
all creation - and is a daily necessity for harmonious living. He explained
that our physical bodies and the material world we live in are condensations
of invisible patterns of energy and matter. God brought all creation into
being by consciously willing Its ideas to condense, first into images
of light and energy, and then into the grosser vibrations of matter.

"As human beings, made in the image of God, we are different from the lower
forms of creation: we have the freedom to use these same divine powers of
thought and energy. _By the thoughts we habitually entertain and act upon,
we create the circumstances in which our life unfolds_. Scientific prayer
is based on understanding of this truth, and on application of the universal
forces of creation: It tunes in with God's thought patterns of health,
harmony, and perfection - and then uses will power to channel energy to
help materialize those patterns." ...

"How can our prayers influence the lives of others? In the same way that
they elevate our own: by implanting in the consciousness positive patterns
of health, success, and receptivity to divine help. Paramahansa Yogananda
wrote:
	The human mind, freed from the disturbances or 'static'  of
        restlessness, is empowered to perform all the functions of 
        complicated radio mechanisms - sending as well as receiving 
        thoughts and tuning out undesirable ones. As the power of a 
	radio-broadcasting station is regulated by the amount of electrical 
	current it can utilize, so the effectiveness of a human radio depends 
	on the degree of will power possessed by each person.

"The mind of an illumined master (one who in her/his attainment self-
mastery, has realized her/his identity with the omnipresent Spirit), who
has perfectly attuned his/her will with God's will, can transmit the divine
power to bring instantaneous healing of body, mind, and soul. The writings
and lectures of Paramahansa Yogananda abound with examples of such healings.
He explained that though they seem miraculous, divine healings are the
natural result of scientifically fulfilling the universal laws of creation.
By conveying God's idea-patterns of perfection with sufficient will power
and energy to manifest them in the minds and bodies of others, these
enlightened ones follow the same process by which everything in the universe
was formed.

"Any person who prays according to these principles will find that her or
his prayers also have a tangible influence. And though our individual power
is obviously less than that which a master can convey, when the prayers
of thousands are united, the powerful vibrations of peace and divine
healing thus generated are of inestimable value in helping to manifest
the desired results. To this end, Paramahansa Yogananda originated the
Self-Realization Fellowship Prayer council and the Worldwide Prayer 
Circle"...

"If one asks 'What can I do to help alleviate the world's problems?'

Paramahansa Yogananda's answer was unequivocal: 'Only spiritual consciousness
- realization of God's presence in oneself and in every other living being
- can save the world. I see no chance for peace without it. Begin with
yourself. There is no time to waste. It is your duty to do your part to
bring God's kingdom on earth'.

"When people speak of 'political', 'social', or 'international' problems,
they often do not realize that these conditions are nothing more than the
accumulated thoughts and actions of millions of _individuals_. And the only
way to change world conditions is to change ourselves."

"...Paramahansaji stressed that the negative vibrations of selfishness,
greed, and hatred - which bring disease and unhappiness to individuals,
war and natural disaster to nations - can be overcome if enough people
turn to God in meditation and prayer. By changing ourselves - through
spiritual living and communion with God - we automatically radiate vibrations
of peace and harmony that do much to counteract the negative effects of
inharmonious living."

" Thus, as a channel for the healing power of God, prayer for others is
one of the highest services we can offer. Material charity, social welfare
work, and other forms of relief are valuable and necessary in temporarily
alleviating the suffering of others, but scientific prayer strikes at the
root-cause of the world's suffering: the wrong thought-patterns of humankind.

"Through participation in the Worldwide Prayer Circle, each of us can help
in the most effective way possible to bring lasting peace and healing to
the world and to any of our dear ones in need of aid".

---------------
The Worldwide Prayer Circle includes people of all religions, creeds, 
cultures and no affiliation with Self-Realization is necessary. Just
send for information on the Worldwide Prayer Circle and fill out a
registration form at the back of the information booklet and return it
to SRF -everything is free. See beginning of post on address of SRF. The 
booklet contains healing technique that Yogananda taught for use in the 
prayer circle. Sorry for the long post, but I feel that spiritually minded
people that I notice in this group can do something positive together and
thus do more than just debate over trifles.

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	Roger Adams
	radams@cerritos.edu               To those in whom love dwells,
	Cerritos College                  the whole world is one family.
	11110 Alondra Blvd                             A Hindu Proverb
        Norwalk, California 90650
	USA        		          292 Dwapara :-)
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