I’ve been a pray-er for as long as I can remember. As soon as I became aware that there was a power in charge and there was a possibility of a direct line to that power, I was all in.
Who I pray to and how I pray has taken different forms throughout the years depending on the spiritual practice I was involved in at the time. I’ve gone from simple praying to a personal God figure for help to a more cerebral kind of praying to a scientific quantum level of connectedness.
Praying to myself seemed strange so I used the mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” during meditation which means I honor the divinity within myself. However, that also plays to the illusion of calling forth something for guidance and help that is hiding out someplace waiting for permission to show up. Now that I’m drawn to nonduality…who am I praying to?
Even tho prayer is not a major part of my life like it once was, I still like the connectedness and need to stop analyzing it and just enjoy the silent conversation….with whatever it is….
The Retired Seeker 
That is a wonderful mantra. Like many Sanskrit mantras that I have practiced, after many thousands of repetitions, they take on a life of their own – like the closest of friends. “Silent conversation.” I like that. Thanks!
Thanks for reading and commenting. I agree that mantras can be like close friends! Namaste’
I find myself doing the same thing. I grew up Christian, so prayer was sort ingrained in different activities. I still find strength from doing it, although like you, who or what I am praying to has changed. I still sometimes start off with “Dear God” like addressing a letter to a forgotten friend. And maybe that is what I am doing. The friend has just moved from being somewhere above me to inside of me.
Thanks for reading and commenting. I had to laugh because I used to start prayers with Dear God also….making it personal I guess.
Same here. I sometimes feel silly when that thought pops in my head, but like you I think it is best to just go with it. It is the intent that matters more than anything.
Yes – non duality. Are you familiar with Adyashanti?
Yes, I have read The End of Your World and several youtube discussions with Adyashanti. There are many good nonduality teachers appearing lately…or I’m just tuned in more to it now. Thanks for reading and commenting.
‘Even tho prayer is not a major part of my life like it once was, I still like the connectedness and need to stop analyzing it and just enjoy the silent conversation….with whatever it is….’
That’s rather nice, and I think I do something similar myself sporadically in formal (seated) practice. I used to do a couple of prescriptive Buddhist practices (metta, karuna), though it’s all much looser nowadays.
All the best, Hariod.