True prayer is not a supplication for something that man is capable of attaining by sustained effort - something that should be honestly earned. Neither is it a plea for forgiveness of evils committed against the self or others, hence against God, for which man should ask God for the wisdom, strength and the necessary days to be able to fully repay.

Real prayer is the outpouring of the inmost feeling of the heart and Spiritual self. Just as the true lover's profession of affection for the loved one comes direct from the heart...a profound profession from the real self, revealing the heart as it truly is...so is sincere and unselfish prayer a revealment of the innermost self.

All genuine desire of an unselfish nature - that is, for something good in itself and not to be obtained at the expense of another - whatever that desire may be - is in fact, a silent prayer to the degree of its sincerity, purity and intensity, and is potent for realization to the degree of its unselfishness.

The long, wordy prayer, however poetic it may be, is superfluous and impotent, unless every word of it emanates from the emotion of the heart.

The greatest hypocrite, who never felt a deep feeling of devotion or adoration, may phrase a supplication that rates as a masterpiece of rhetoric, but, being without feeling his appeal will fall fallow to earth and never reach up to God.

A man may be a sinner, an outcast, a prodigal, living on the "husks which the swine have left" yet, if his better nature is aroused so that desire and feeling for something better and higher is born within him, then his prayer, to the degree it expresses feeling, will be within the law, and will reach the Godhead as certain as will that of the most holy. Emotion or feeling is the only proper incentive to prayer. Through sincere heartfelt prayer, vibrations are created that lift the one so praying upward and exalt him.

If this new emotion has sufficient depth of feeling, it will serve to lawfully rehabilitate him in the sight of God, and enable him to become greater than many who, although they have never fallen by the wayside, have never actually had such deep feeling of devotion, adoration, affection or exaltation.

Prayer, to be real, must be of a devotional, adorational nature. The child's plea: "God bless daddy and mamma," is truly of such a nature. Entirely forgetful of the self, it has only the thought of good to another.

In prayer man must do that which he does not do in any other form of concentrated thought or desire. He must appeal directly to the Godhead, the Father. His appeal emanates from an emotion in his heart and his Spiritual self, even though the Spiritual self is as yet unconscious.

His appeal, for such it always is, has its foundation in Love, kindness, sympathy, pity, sorrow, or even confessional, and if it be within the Law, the answer will be in ratio to the depth, the strength, the sincerity and the feeling of the appeal. The prayer must be within the Law. The Nazarene recognized this as is clearly indicated by the ending of his prayer:

"Not my Will, but Thine be done." __Luke 22:42.

An appeal may be made from the inmost depths of the heart, the very center of the Soul itself, be heard by the Godhead, but remain unanswered because it is not within the Law. As an example, a loved one may be seriously ill and an appeal in prayer be made for his recovery, but without result. Why? Because the loved one's days are "numbered" by the Law; his recovery would not be within the Law. Prayer is answered not to please the supplicant, but according to the Divine Law. The final to all prayer should be: "If it be Thy will," or if it be within the Law."

Prayer is not really prayer if it be based on a selfish desire. Prayer must not only be unselfish - it must be made with a feeling of full faith. As an example, the child appeals to its father for a favor and, in its innocence and unsophistication, believes without doubt that the father is able, and will grant its request.

Man must likewise voice his appeal in full faith and expectation that the prayer, the voicing of an inmost and holy desire, be granted. However, men are no longer children. Grown men should have some understanding of the Divine Law. Man must recognize the fact that what is requested may be to his detriment, hence against the Law. Such a request should not, and will not, be granted...otherwise the Law would be violated.

By means of prayer, man pours out his innermost feeling and appeals directly to the Causative Law. If the feeling of love and desire is sufficiently sincere, then the Law of causation will be set into operation or activity, and by the REaction of the Law, the answer will be favorable, if, as already stated it be "God's will," or within the Law. The Law of Causation is God's Law; or the avenue through which He operates.

In all true prayer, the selfish self is entirely forgotten and, for the moment ceases to exist. The mind, the heart, and everything within of a Spiritual nature must be wholly concentrated on the one desire uppermost within the depths of man's nature, to the exclusion of all else.

Though in thought and word, man appeals directly to God or the Father, he in reality is appealing to the Causative Law, that of Cause and Effect, operating outside of man and to the forces within man. By harmonizing the two, man sets into motion forces which will bring about the fulfillment of his innermost desires - desires which under ordinary circumstances are partly, or wholly, buried in the subconscious.

It is for this reason that supplications are frequently disappointing in their results. THE REACTION OF THE LAW IS ALWAYS IN HARMONY WITH THE LAW ITSELF AND WITH THE DEEPEST INNERMOST DESIRE OR FEELING. The Law may be in opposition to that for which man appeals. This explanation of the Law and its operation is highly important to all Acolytes; to ministers and to all who believe they have the welfare of others at heart.

The spoken word of the prayer, or the silently held thought, is not one particle stronger than the desire that prompts it. The spoken word is no more than a vibratory current producing a sound. The PRAYER IS IN THE THOUGHT, THE DESIRE, THE FEELING, AND NOT IN THE WORDS EXPRESSED. The words are merely the echo of the thought and feeling. The heart, the Spiritual self, gives the impetus to the act.

The voice, the sound, is no more than a reproduction of a thought or desire. Words voiced, become waves of sound corresponding to the intensity of the thought or desire; a word or its equivalent, produces a ripple in the ether just as a pebble thrown into the water. The size of the pebble will govern the size of the ripple or wave; just as the depth of feeling or emotion will govern that which is created in the ether.

The voice generally is unconsciously governed by the depth of the thought, desire and the feelings these represent. The voice of one in sorrow is governed by a feeling of sadness and expresses these feelings. The angry one expresses turmoil within the mind and emotions and the destructive nature of these feelings. The voice of true prayer, emanating from the heart and Soul, is like that of the summer breeze embracing the flowers in the garden, carrying their fragrance with it to the delight of all it reaches.

Thought, which supplements feeling, is creative of vibrations and may be given volume by being voiced. The silent thought and desire of an ennobling nature lifts man to a higher plane. Such thoughts are the means of harmonizing man with the spheres of purity, kindliness, affection, sympathy and assure him contact with the centers of Light and Spiritual entities - the Hierarchies, and are, in reality, prayers.

The same thought or desire voiced as a result of feeling, would be of infinitely greater power; consequently, the prayer that is softly spoken is frequently more effective than the silently held thought and desire, IF IT BE WITHOUT OUTWARD SHOW AND WITHOUT THE DESIRE TO BE HEARD OF MEN.

The Nazarene advocated silent prayer, and recommended going into a secret closet to pray, thereby guarding against hypocrisy and self-consciousness; two factors potent to nullify prayer.

Notwithstanding and wholly contrary to the concepts of both the clergy and the laity, that there is nothing mysterious or secret about the Nazarene's teachings or the ACTUAL PRACTICE OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, it is the MOST SECRET OF ALL TEACHINGS.

IT IS COMPARABLE ONLY TO THE MYSTERY TEACHINGS OF ANCIENT EGYPT AND ITS PRACTICES. Moreover, all who are sincere in their search for the Soul's awakening, enlightenment, and final Illumination in the building of the "temple" wherein God is to dwell, MUST, TO ATTAIN THIS END, OBEY THE INCULCATIONS, NOT OF HEATHEN WORSHIP OR OF FALSE GODS, BUT THE LAWS OF CHRISTIC FUNDAMENTALS in expressed prayers that are, in truth, the outpourings of heart and soul.

All too few of those who seek to manifest the Christic Spirit, as well as those who are in earnest in their efforts to attain to Soul Consciousness, have searched for the actual procedure advocated by the Nazarene for correct communion with God or His Law.

For the benefit of the sincere seeker, an effort is here and now made to clarify the mysteriousness and secrecy the Nazarene tried to impress upon those who earnestly sought to follow in his footsteps. The practice of religion as taught by the Nazarene enabled its followers not only to answer logically those who accused them of all manner of evil practices, but sustained them in their endeavor to secretly and silently obey the Divine Law in their daily lives.

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Verily, I say unto you, they have their reward.

"But Thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which seest in secret shall reward thee openly." _____Matthew 6:5-6.

Certainly, no statement can be more positive than this that those who would truly seek communion with God and heartfully practice their religion, shall, for the time being, leave friends and foes alone, go into some secret place, close the door and there pour out their heart's feelings, or make their supplications. Here even God is in secret: the secrecy of the isolated.

"But when thou does alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth." ____Matthew 6:3

"He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the MYSTERIES of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." _____Matthew 13:11.

Even the results of awakening the Christos within, of attaining to Soul or Christic Consciousness, the Second or Spiritual birth, or coming into the MYSTERIOUS kingdom of heaven, are SECRET and CANNOT be revealed to anyone who has not attained.

The PROCEDURE, the PRAYERS, the RESULTS, of the Christic life...ALL are a deep secret, apart from the mass -even those of the family circle -and are between the Acolyte or Supplicant and his God, and must be in accordance with the Law Divinely given: Go by yourself, close the door of your sanctuary of devotion and there proceed with your Sacred practices. God has so ordained.

The value of the audible prayer, among the mass and for the mass, was also recognized by the Nazarene and he himself frequently prayed aloud. However, a distinction must be made between man's silent, secret worship, pouring forth his inmost desires and longings, in his personal intimate communion with God, and his efforts in behalf of his fellow men, and this difference is to be recognized.

The last word uttered by the Nazarene were a prayer for strength and God's nearness, and the intensity of his feelings was undoubtedly indicated by the vibrancy of his voice. When at the grave of Lazarus, he gave his command in a "loud voice," as also whenever he was engaged in the healing of the sick. The loud voice, as in song, is frequently an intense vibration filled with life and uplifting power, and is not only heard by the ear, but felt in the heart, and in its reaction, brings instant results.

When the Nazarene prayed in behalf of the Unity and oneness of his disciples, they stood about him in receptive attitude, forgetful of themselves and listened to his appeal that "They all be as one; as he, the Father in him, and he in the Father."

The disciples, like the Nazarene, did not always depend on the silence of their desires, but gave voice to both their prayers and commands. It is to be noted, however, that this was in helping others, not in their own silent, secret worship. Peter, when offering help to the beggar in the Temple, bade him rise up and walk. He did this with all the force at his command; a force or power he had built up as a result of his training; vibrations of strength and power enabling him to transfer from himself to others the help of which they were in need.

True prayer is elevating and ennobling. the one praying may be wholly unconscious of himself and have in mind only the benefit of the one for whose benefit he is praying. Nevertheless, the first and immediate effort will be upon himself, because the vibratory forces created by his feeling and desire will raise up his entire being and then be elevated heaven-ward, to the welfare of the one prayed for, and return in REaction upon himself.

Even in praying for one's self if the prayer be of an unselfish devotional nature, its immediate effect will be to create vibrations which raise or uplift the entire being before they proceed to the throne of God, there to be received by God or His Law, and its fulfillment, if within the Law.

The hypocrite, the selfish or shallow person, whether offering a prayer publicly or in private, does not really pray. He merely gives utterance to a desire that may be for a wholly selfish purpose and born, most likely, of a purely carnal thought. Such a request is not prayer; is wholly impotent to create vibrations strong enough to even leave the mind that gives thought to the words. It is the request of the Spiritually dead. Behind it is no power, no life, no Spirit (feeling).

Prayer, more than mere wishful thinking, is a desire of the heart, is creative of vibratory, attractive power. These vibrations attract to themselves other vibrations or energies of like nature. hence kindly thought, deep desire, lofty feeling given utterance in the form of prayer, come into contact with like vibrations from others; fuse, fulfill their purpose, and return to the one who gave them birth.

Herein is the mystery of the power of true prayer; the secret of seeming miracles often following prayer. True prayer establishes peace and harmony in the one seeking help. In his faith he is receptive to vibrations of health and strength; and as he prays earnestly, with heart undefiled, he is made free.

"Go thy way and sin no more." ____John 8:11.

To truly pray, it is necessary to be both positive and negative at one and the same time. Man must be positive in the supplication or request made; receptive in the attitude of mind, heart and Spiritual self in order to receive.

Such receptivity is not to be confused with a state of passivity of mind and body; an inertia which expects to receive without giving in return...beggarism. To be receptive to harmonious and constructive influences, man must free himself of all inharmonious thoughts, desires and feelings; yet remain positive that no evil may enter.

The supplicant must be filled with feelings corresponding to the nature of that which he expects to himself receive or bring to another. He cannot actually pray - prayer being a composition of desire and feeling of a devotional or exalted type - if, at the same time, AND FOR ANY REASON WHATEVER, EVEN THOUGH JUSTIFIED, there is any form of ill-feeling toward any one. Either the good or the undesirable will dominate and prayer can be based ONLY in what is generally known as "good."

A true receptive attitude is positive in its negativity. It is positive (non-receptive) to all that is not desired, but receptive to all those qualities which the heart has momentarily (at the time of prayer) formulated as desirable. The true attitude is that which is indicated by a willingness to give in order that the asked for be received in exchange.

This may sound complicated and involved ...but it isn't really so. Simply stated, it demands that the thoughts, desires and feelings, be free from all that we know to be unworthy. There must be but one thought and desire in heart; that of what is desired. This thought and desire must be on an unselfish nature. Wholesome faith must accompany prayer, and without the slightest doubt, there should be an expectancy of fulfillment, if the request is WITHIN THE LAW.

Prayer frequently takes the form of confession and a request for forgiveness. When a simmer - and who is not - either to himself, to another or directly to God, and requests help and forgiveness, he thereby manifests within himself the desire for freedom from the guilt or weight of Consciousness that oppresses him and permits him no peace. He reaches forth for help that his condition may be changed.

Irrespective of how guilty he may be, unless he has committed an unpardonable sin, his plea is heard above the turmoil of the inharmonies within and surrounding him, provided He IS AT THE SAME TIME READY AND WILL WITHIN HIS HEART AND SOUL TO PAY HIS INDEBTEDNESS TO THE LAST FARTHING.

His forgiveness depends on two things: 1. That he asks THE DIVINE LAW, GOD, TO FORGIVE HIM, 2. That he asks FOR THE STRENGTH, THE TIME, THE OPPORTUNITY, AND THE WISDOM TO ENABLE HIM TO REPAY, OR COMPENSATE, FOR THE EVILS COMMITTED.

The colossal misconception upon which the "forgiveness of sin" has thus far been based has been the cause of universal degradation in the races of mankind. There is a forgiveness of sin and this goes hand in hand with the Law of Compensation (Karma), and the Law of Retribution, which is a part of the Law of Compensation.

Let it now be known to all, that the actual inculcation relative to the forgiveness of sin is now interpreted by Manisis, the messenger of the New Order of the New Ages:

Man must pray for the forgiveness of the sin that is to be forgiven. It should be remembered, however that this prayer for forgiveness can obtain absolution only from the thought and the desire which caused the deed, the act.

The deed or act is entirely separate from the thought or desire which was the incentive to the action; and the result of the action, irrespective of what it may be, must be retrieved or paid for, by the actor. Thus, in the commission of sin (any act that results harmfully to the doer or to another) there are two evils (sins) committed: first the thought and desire which is the incentive; second, the result or outcome of the incentive.

The first step in seeking forgiveness of sins (evil commitments) is in the recognition of the wrong done against the self or others and can, and must be prayed for. There is forgiveness provided this is followed by the second part, the readjustment and repayment or compensation to the one injured in one way or another for the wrong committed. This requires that the sinner must in some way pay to the "uttermost farthing" for all the wrongs he has committed, and in this domain the Law of Compensation (Karma) operates whether we will or not.

The man who does not believe in the forgiveness of sin and refuses to pray for forgiveness, is yet bound in his Soul, even though he has paid "the uttermost farthing."

This is the New Order of the Ages or Manistic Dispensation interpretation of the forgiveness of sin; forgiveness of every nature being closely associated with, and a part of, prayer. The Law has eternally existed, but has neither been understood not taught. Countless millions have suffered as a result of this ignorance of the operation of the Divine Law as manifested through the Law of Compensation, Retribution and exact Justice, all of which might readily be classified under the Law of Action and REaction; every man ultimately receiving that which rightly belongs to him.

Prayer can never be other than a Supplication; never a command or a demand. We pray for the benefit of others, though not always unselfishly, because we may love them or be interested in them for other reasons. We pray for knowledge, understanding, wisdom and the strength that, having been given understanding, we will possess the courage to act accordingly.

All this is of great importance, but to be worthy to receive requires that we do more than ask in prayer, then fold our hands and wait for fulfillment. It demands that we prepare ourselves by every effort necessary, to receive that for which we ask.

Let men renew their confidence in the efficacy of prayer; that God, the Lord, or the Law is neither unaware or unmindful of what man asks, but is also fully aware of the state of the heart of him who voices the supplication. If life were as it should be, then every act of man's daily life would be in the Spirit or feeling of prayer and devotion.

Thus far, prayer has been evaluated almost as a whole from the standpoint of the Nazarene's concept and inculcations. This naturally left the impression throughout the centuries, as it still does to all but the few, that the words voiced in prayer were heard directly by God, or through the intercession of some one. During the past three quarters of a century the conviction has been gaining ground that prayer is not so simple as that; that considerably more is involved than the speaking and hearing of words - that it operates under an exact Law of Vibration plus the ACTION of vibration, i.e., action and REaction; a material-Spiritual activity underlying every thought, every desire, every feeling, every effort. In fact, every movement of every cell in man's body is affected. Every cell in every living body, human, vegetable, stone and steel, is governed by this Law of Vibration and that of action and REaction.

The knowledge of the control by conscious direction, of Vibratory forces, was known to the Ancient Initiates, to the Magi, and the Occult Masters of the Spiritual Initiatory Schools, as Arcanum. Prayer, to be fully understood, must be considered under this aspect, and it will now be so considered.

A thought or desire that is well defined, whether it be the result of a feeling of love or hate, or any of the many feelings between these two, is creative of a vibration; a vibratory force.

This vibration leaves the mind, or is sent out by the mind toward the object or person thought of and, if received, makes its impression for good or evil; after which it returns, without change of its nature, to the person that gave it birth by his thoughts or desires, and reimpresses the influence or forces of its nature upon that person. The broadcasting station and radio receiving set is build on this law, principle or basis.

It has yet another and more far-reaching influence: it impresses itself, or makes an impression of the nature of itself upon the subconscious, or unconscious Spiritual self of the person that created the vibration. Biblically, this last action is the "Lamb's Book of Life," wherein all thoughts, feelings and actions are inscribed as a record either for or against such a person. The direct influence of a man's thoughts, desires, and actions are actually three-fold:

1. The impression made upon the mind, body and Soul of the person giving form to the thought, desire or action.
2. Upon the person against whom, or to whom directed, if such person is open to receive it.
3. Upon the subconscious or Spiritual self, of the person thinking, desiring or acting.

True prayer arises out of the heart of man at the command of love; kindly feeling or sorrow and is the greatest of all vibrant forces.

The spoken word creates vibrations which may be more powerful than the unspoken thought, desire or feeling, depending upon the depth of the thought, desire or feeling that called the vibration forth. Prayer, in a sense, is a form of concentration or centralization. It is the act of centering one's thought, desire or feeling on the accomplishment or attainment of one objective and sending it forth, to accomplish certain results or bring about certain changes.

The art of real prayer necessitates centralization of the thought that gave birth to the desire for that which is to be asked for or requested. By this concentration, man husbands together thought-desires of a certain type or nature. These thought-desires give birth to vibrations of the type or nature or the thought, desire or act, and in a sense, from the image of that which the heart desires.

The strength and potency of these created vibratory forces in each instance will be in direct relation to the depth of the feeling or emotion which gave birth to the thought, the desire which formulated the prayer.

In his knowledge of this procedure the thoroughly trained Magus found his power to perform what were considered and accepted as miracles. He cleared his mind of all but the one thought; this thought created the image of what was to be done; the desire to bring into manifestation created the creative or producing vibration...and presto! A seeming miracle was wrought.

This is no more a mystery than the production of light by one who knows the procedure to follow. He has the knowledge that is the idea; he gets the desire to bring light into darkness; he builds the generator; attaches the wires to the light-giving bulb; starts the generator, sets the control to the speed necessary to create the vibrations of light; turns the switch of the bulb and the miracle is performed...there is light where before there was darkness. A thousand years ago this would have been a great mystery; a miracle. It still is.

Thought and the resultant desires are brought into being by a need either of the physical body or Spiritual self, and will necessarily be of the nature of man's complex being. For hours there may be no thought of food; then the physical body having need of the fuel to function, expresses this need in a feeling of hunger which automatically suggests the thought of food, the kind of food, and the procurement and preparation of food.

An act of unkindness has been committed against a man and this produces an impression that is an irritation which must find relief in one manner or another. This irritation or feeling communicates itself to the mind as a need for an outlet. Man being ignorant or unwise, can conceive of only one way; "getting even" or revenge. It is the need of relief, i.e., satisfaction, that creates the desire for the particular "food" to satisfy such a need.

Let us suppose a men is affectionately unattached. He meets with one who attracts him and arouses in him a need, a longing, a loneliness heretofore unknown. This creates a desire for affectionate "food," for the need of the one who has awakened his desire.

This is the desire of love; possibly it is only affection or friendship, but it is a need within that creates the desire, and desire gives birth to ways and means. It is the Magus and the electrical engineer duplicated.

In the highest type of prayer, the selfish self is entirely forgotten and, at least for the moment, ceases to exist. The whole of mind, the heart and the Spiritual self are concentrated, or "consecrated" to the one desire uppermost
within the inmost self, to the exclusion of all else.

In thought there then is an appeal to God, the Father. In reality the appeal is to the Causative Law without and the Divine Law within. By a harmonizing of the two, forces are set in motion which will bring about the results corresponding to the inmost secret desire, "IF IT BE THY WILL;" i.e., within the Divine Law.

The weakly spoken word of prayer, weak because it lacks real desire or deep feeling, is naturally impotent of results. The voice, the spoken word, is no more than the vibratory current producing sound. This we can prove for ourselves by a simple method science has opened to us.

Place a perfectly good record on an equally good phonograph, and reduce the speed below that required for perfect reproduction, and note the results. The words become only a slow and meaningless, inharmonious sound. The mind and heart, or the Soul in those who are Soul conscious, control the voice and give it power to bring about results. At either the urge of the mind, the heart, the Spiritual self, the mind forms the thought or image in harmony with the cause of the urge. If the urge is intense enough to be insistent, it becomes a desire, the desire becomes an incentive to action, a prayer, and the vibrations of the nature of the prayer are sent forth. The voice is neither more nor less than waves of sound, and without desire, is impotent to bring about results.

If the voice is that of love or affection it is vibrant with life; uplifting, exalting, reaching into the inner kingdom of heaven itself.

The vibrations of love, harmony, peace and general well-being cannot emanate from the mind and Soul of man unless there is first an awakening of these forces in the heart...the Spiritual self. The mind, thoughts and desires, must be purged from impure and unholy thoughts, and exalted and kindly feelings established in their place.

Men should gain wisdom and, in so doing, renew their confidence in the power of prayer. It is well to also remember that every act of life is in reality the result of desire, a form of prayer, and that verbal supplications are unavailing if the daily acts do not harmonize with them. Every act of life should be as a prayer arising heavenward directly from the heart. Then and then only, will the sons of men attain to Sonship with God; becoming in truth the temples wherein God finds His dwelling place.
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