View source for The True Purpose of Praying to God

The profound act of praying is an essential element of spiritual life, serving as the direct line of communication between the soul and the Supreme. Through his deep scriptural purports, Śrīla Prabhupāda clearly distinguishes between mundane, self-interested petitions and the exalted, selfless prayers of a pure Vaiṣṇava. While anyone who approaches God is considered pious, the ultimate goal of prayer is not to ask for temporary material relief, but to beg for eternal engagement in the Lord's loving service.

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=== The Motives Behind Prayer ===
People typically approach the Supreme Lord to fulfill their bodily necessities and solve economic problems. For example, in the Christian tradition, followers are trained to pray for their daily bread to sustain their lives. Although approaching the Lord in this way is certainly pious, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that it treats God as a mere order-supplier. By engaging in this transactional mentality, individuals fail to comprehend the higher, selfless nature of pure devotional service.

* [[Vaniquotes:According to Christianity, the supreme father, God, provides the living entities with all of life’s necessities. Therefore they pray - Give us this day our daily bread|According to Christianity, the supreme father, God, provides the living entities with all of life’s necessities. Therefore they pray - Give us this day our daily bread.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:A man who is going to the church, praying, "God give my daily bread," he is pious, but he's not a pure devotee. But there is chance of his becoming pure devotee in future|A man who is going to the church, praying, "God give my daily bread," he is pious, but he's not a pure devotee. But there is chance of his becoming pure devotee in future.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Even those who are going to church, they are also praying God, "God, give us our daily bread." These rascals, they have made God as agent for their sense gratification. This is their philosophy|Even those who are going to church, they are also praying God, "God, give us our daily bread." These rascals, they have made God as agent for their sense gratification. This is their philosophy.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Intelligent devotee, they do not ask like the unintelligent devotee go to the church and pray to God, "Give us our daily bread." He's God's servant, and He will not get your bread? You have to ask from God? No|Intelligent devotee, they do not ask like the unintelligent devotee go to the church and pray to God, "Give us our daily bread." He's God's servant, and He will not get your bread? You have to ask from God? No.]]

=== The Danger of Material Petitions ===
Relying on God strictly for the fulfillment of temporary desires creates a very fragile foundation for faith. When people face extreme tribulations and their material prayers are not immediately answered, they often become deeply frustrated. Pointing to the tragic aftermath of worldly conflicts, Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how unfulfilled petitions easily lead to atheism. Therefore, praying for material things poses a significant danger to one's spiritual advancement.

* [[Vaniquotes:We want God to become our order-supplier, and when He does not supply our order, we say that there is no God. That is the effect of praying for material things|We want God to become our order-supplier, and when He does not supply our order, we say that there is no God. That is the effect of praying for material things.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:So we should not try to see God. Then we'll be baffled. Sometimes if, trying, trying, if I baffled - I cannot see - then I'll conclude, "There is no God. If there was God, I prayed so much and He did not appear before me"|So we should not try to see God. Then we'll be baffled. Sometimes if, trying, trying, if I baffled - I cannot see - then I'll conclude, "There is no God. If there was God, I prayed so much and He did not appear before me."]]
* [[Vaniquotes:One of my German Godbrothers said that in Germany during the last war, Second World War, many women used to go to the church to pray to God to get back their husband, son or brother. But nobody came back, and they became atheist|One of my German Godbrothers said that in Germany during the last war, Second World War, many women used to go to the church to pray to God to get back their husband, son or brother. But nobody came back, and they became atheist.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:In Germany, so many women went to pray in the Second World War, "Oh, my husband may come back, my father may come back." But nobody came back. And all of them became atheists. You see|In Germany, so many women went to pray in the Second World War, "Oh, my husband may come back, my father may come back." But nobody came back. And all of them became atheists. You see.]]

=== The Natural Instinct in Distress ===
Despite our conditioned state, every living entity possesses an eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord that awakens during moments of intense suffering. The most dramatic example of this instinct occurs when a child is trapped within the horrible confines of the mother's womb. In such a precarious condition, as Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights, the child revives pure consciousness and prays fervently for deliverance. This natural urge to seek divine shelter proves our inherent dependence on God.

* [[Vaniquotes:As long as the child is within the womb of his mother, he is in a very precarious and horrible condition of life, but the benefit is that he revives pure consciousness of his relationship with the Supreme Lord and prays for deliverance|As long as the child is within the womb of his mother, he is in a very precarious and horrible condition of life, but the benefit is that he revives pure consciousness of his relationship with the Supreme Lord and prays for deliverance.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:When the child remains within the womb of his mother, he feels very uncomfortable, and prays to God, Please relieve me from this awkward position, and this life I shall fully engage myself in developing my God consciousness, or Krsna consciousness|When the child remains within the womb of his mother, he feels very uncomfortable, and prays to God, Please relieve me from this awkward position, and this life I shall fully engage myself in developing my God consciousness, or Krsna consciousness.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:To pray to God when he (the baby in mother's womb) is in difficulty is a natural instinct in every living being because he is eternally related with God. BG 1972 purports|To pray to God when he (the baby in mother's womb) is in difficulty is a natural instinct in every living being because he is eternally related with God.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We get information from revealed scriptures that when the baby is in the mother's womb (an extremely uncomfortable situation) he prays to God for deliverance and promises to worship Him alone as soon as he gets out. BG 1972 purports|We get information from revealed scriptures that when the baby is in the mother's womb (an extremely uncomfortable situation) he prays to God for deliverance and promises to worship Him alone as soon as he gets out.]]

=== The Pure Devotee's Prayer ===
Unlike the materialist, an advanced transcendentalist never approaches the Lord to ask for wealth, beautiful companions, or liberation from hellish conditions. Their appeals are focused entirely on eradicating mundane attachments from the core of their hearts. As beautifully shown in the lives of great personalities like Prahlāda Mahārāja, Śrīla Prabhupāda confirms that a true Vaiṣṇava prays exclusively for uninterrupted engagement in the Lord's loving service.

* [[Vaniquotes:What is our position? This has been taught by Lord Caitanya, who teaches us how to pray in his prayer (CC Antya 20.29, Siksastaka 4): na dhanam na janam na sundarim, kavitam va jagadisa kamaye, mama janmani janmanisvare, bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi|What is our position? This has been taught by Lord Caitanya, who teaches us how to pray in his prayer (CC Antya 20.29, Siksastaka 4): na dhanam na janam na sundarim, kavitam va jagadisa kamaye, mama janmani janmanisvare, bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:A pure devotee never asks the Lord for wealth, followers, or even a beautiful wife. He simply prays for uninterrupted engagement in the Lord's service. That should be the motto of life for all prospective students in devotional service|A pure devotee never asks the Lord for wealth, followers, or even a beautiful wife. He simply prays for uninterrupted engagement in the Lord's service. That should be the motto of life for all prospective students in devotional service.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:O Lord Hari, it is not to be saved from the dualities of material existence or the grim tribulations of the Kumbhipaka hell that I (King Kulasekhara) pray to Your lotus feet|O Lord Hari, it is not to be saved from the dualities of material existence or the grim tribulations of the Kumbhipaka hell that I (King Kulasekhara) pray to Your lotus feet.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The devotee, on the positive side, wants to possess something, and this is very nicely described by Prahlada , who says, "If I must take some benediction from You (Nrsimhadeva), I pray that within the core of my heart there may be no material desires"|The devotee, on the positive side, wants to possess something, and this is very nicely described by Prahlada, who says, "If I must take some benediction from You (Nrsimhadeva), I pray that within the core of my heart there may be no material desires."]]

=== The Perfect Prayer of the Holy Name ===
In this current age, the most sublime and effective method of prayer is the congregational chanting of the ''mahā-mantra''. This transcendental sound vibration is completely devoid of any requests for mundane relief or economic development. By chanting the holy names, Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that the soul is simply begging the Lord and His internal spiritual energy for the privilege of eternal acceptance and service.

* [[Vaniquotes:We are addressing, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna: "O the energy of the Lord, O the Lord, please accept me." That's all. "Please accept me." We have no other prayer. "Please accept me"|We are addressing, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna: "O the energy of the Lord, O the Lord, please accept me." That's all. "Please accept me." We have no other prayer. "Please accept me."]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We have no other prayer for acceptance by the Lord. There is no question of praying for daily bread, for the bread is always there. Hare Krsna is but an address to the Supreme Lord, requesting Him to accept us|We have no other prayer for acceptance by the Lord. There is no question of praying for daily bread, for the bread is always there. Hare Krsna is but an address to the Supreme Lord, requesting Him to accept us.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:First of all we pray to God to help us in the, our, I mean to say, preaching or chanting process. Then we begin chanting this Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, conjoinedly, congregationally|First of all we pray to God to help us in the, our, I mean to say, preaching or chanting process. Then we begin chanting this Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, conjoinedly, congregationally.]]

=== Conclusion ===
The evolution of a soul's consciousness is perfectly reflected in the nature of their prayers. While beginners may approach God to satisfy their bodily necessities, the ultimate goal of spiritual life is to abandon all material requests entirely. As beautifully guided by the teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda, the highest perfection is found when a devotee simply chants the holy name, begging the Supreme Lord for nothing more than the eternal privilege of His loving service.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:Praying_to_God|Praying to God]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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