JOIN USThere is a mythological story by Tolstoy. A priest would move places with his team teaching Bible to people. In one such voyage they spotted a small island and they decided to halt there.
In the island, priest saw a group of men with their torso covered with barks of tree. Soon he came to know that the small population here were ignorant about the outside world. However, the priest asked them if they had ever prayed to God. Their answer was, “When we need something we sit, raise our hands towards the sky and make supplication.”
“Oh, you need to be told how to pray” said the priest. He stayed there a fortnight and taught them the method of praying. Then, the priest and his team departed for further voyage.Hardly their ship had moved a few miles; they saw three of them coming to them, running on the water. Surprised, the priest stopped the ship and asked them what had happened. They replied apologetically “Holy man, we forgot the prayer you had taught, teach us again.” Still in awe, the prest said, “Surely. first tell me how you were running on the water?”
“Holy man, if you remember, we had told you in our first meeting that whenever we needed something we raised our hands towards the sky and asked for wishes and they were granted. We wanted to reach you so we raised our hands and said “We want to meet the priest but we don’t have any boat. Please help us.” There was an a voice from inside “You walk”. This is how we have reached you. Aghast and bewildered, the priest said, “You continue to pray as you were doing earlier, you don’t need my guidance and method of prayer”.True, prayer is a matter of cosmic link,has nothing to do with words, language or method True prayer comes deep from the heart and not from the lips. It is a fallacy that communion with God is possible only in some particular language or by performing rituals in the prescribed manner. Philosophy has no language and it holds true for religious doctrine too. When any person links his religious doctrine with a particular language, it is more a reflection of his love for the language than his reverence for the philosophy.
To say or accept the notion that when the priest chants shlokas or hymns only in Sanskrit or other specified language, the message reaches the devas or God, is a superstitious belief with no reasoning. As the food imparts vitality and nourishment to the one who eats it, prayer has to be made by self. Prayer made by a priest on our behalf can never brings desired fruit to us.Prayer, trust and belief in a Creator is a treasure that is open , in all places and languages. He responds to our feelings and all knows languages.