Prayer’s place in the human psyche
Saying one’s prayers and the act of praying in general is something that an increasing majority of people in the UK are giving up doing (if church attendance statistics are anything to go by). Even many church goers who attend for socio-cultural reasons may not actually pray when left to their own devices.
Yet there is something about praying and prayerful thought that possibly has a very positive effect on human psychology. To ask for something in the firm belief that it may be delivered is a form of cognitive reassurance. On top of that, having even a semblance of ‘relationship’ with ones divine creator must surely instill a great sense of purpose.
Out with old, in with the new
Accompanying the decline in organised religion, mindfulness, and meditation as a practice are gaining ever more currency. The notions of mindfulness have certainly caught hold of the Western collective consciousness, at-least in the more popular and progressive sections of society.
This has perhaps been driven by the marketing forces that propel the now established lifestyle/well-being consumption patterns more than anything else. However, it may also be replacing a function of the more modern-thinking, atheist-leaning mind occupied in more religious times by prayer.
Meditation in a crisis
One might think that for all but the most dedicated practitioners, meditation would be one of the first things to be given up in the midst of an enduring crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. Prayers may be being said all the more in earnest, but why would meditation seem any more pertinent?
As we are all engulfed and affected in various ways, which will have unexpected repercussions, keeping in touch with one’s own psyche is of paramount importance. No-one has put it better than the philosopher and neuroscientist Sam Harris has in his podcast episode #193 Meditation in an Emergency.
A different kind of meditation
I recently completed the Metta series of meditations as part of Sam Harris’ Waking Up course. Metta is the Pali word for ‘loving-kindness’ and to practice it is in essence to cultivate benevolence, kindness and amity. It is not the same thing as mindfulness meditation. The goal, as it were, is to actively achieve a certain state, rather than just to recognize what is.
The practice of Metta meditation initially involves bringing to mind someone you know in your life (at first someone with whom you have an uncomplicated relationship with) then mentally wishing them well. This may sound contrived but there is certainly something to it.
Why does Metta matter?
The longer term objective is to broaden ones focus to either people with whom you have no relationship with or the general populace. Eventually, awkward, difficult or challenging relationships can be used as a focus. This matters because with enough positive focus you are essentially rewiring the circuitry of your own brain to be more positive overall.
During the Metta meditation, one repeatedly holds in mind a person and brings forward phrases such as ‘May you be happy’ and ‘May you be free from pain’ and so on. When the mind wanders, all one needs to do is refocus on the object of your positive will and return to mentally repeating the phrases.
The significance of Prayer
It struck me that this is what praying is like for the millions of people who still do. To the non-believer the act of praying is often perceived as just ‘asking God for stuff’. Yet I think the psychology is more akin to the neurological rewiring taking place with repeated Metta sessions.
During my own Metta practice, when I opened my mind to willing overall goodness and bonhomie on friends, family and my fellow human beings, I felt something strong. It was a deep feeling of sincerity, connection and warmth, essentially, compassion.
Final Thoughts
The difference seems to come back to framing. How we frame what happens in our lives is often more important than what actually happens. The stories we tell ourselves about reality create the actual reality that we experience.
Whether we pray to a higher power or meditate to find peace within ourselves or with others is not so important. I would say that as long as we do practice some form of mental diligence, what matters is that we aim towards the betterment of ourselves, so that we may better provide for our loved ones and support our societies.
Delightful. A lovely post.