The simplest prayers are those that ask for assistance during important episodes in our lives such as childbirth, coming of age, marriage, war and death. In many cultures — for example, in ancient Greece — there were a great number of deities to whom one could pray, each of whom had an area of responsibility. Nike would be invoked for victory in war, Poseidon when crossing the sea, Hera for easy childbirth, and Demeter for an abundant harvest.

Some Christian prayers were adapted from more ancient petitions to pagan gods or, in the case of the type of Irish prayer known as the "Ionica" or "breastplate", elemental forces. One of the most famous, St Patrick's Breastplate, opens: "I arise today, Through the strength of heaven: Light of Sun, Radiance of Moon, Splendour of fire, Speed of lightning, Swiftness of wind, Depth of sea, Stability of earth, Firmness of rock."

In Eastern religions, such as Hinduism and Jainism, mantras are used in prayer. The mantra is a short word or syllable (such as "Om") that encapsulates a form of cosmic power and so is considered sacred. The word mantra has the Sanskrit verb man (to think) as its root, and as an instrument of thought it is used to protect the mind from wandering into its usual discursive channels.

The Eastern Orthodox Church places a strong emphasis on meditative prayer. One of the most familiar supplications, the Jesus Prayer, is used in a way similar to a mantra. The words are simple: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Apparently an ordinary form of petitionary prayer, this formula was in fact used to effect changes in the consciousness. The prayer was said aloud for a specific number of times, then repeated silently at intervals during the day and night. Finally, the chant was taken down from the "head" centre of consciousness to the "heart" centre,; where it was thought to live with every heartbeat. In monasteries, monks would repeat the prayer while counting knots on a cord.

Rosaries are used as an aid to prayer in many of the world's religions. Sikhs repeat the divine name, nam, while counting the beads on a simarani (rosary); Muslims say one of the 99 names of Allah that appear in the Koran while turning their prayer beads; members of the Pure Land sect of Chinese Buddhists use a rosary when reciting the name of a deified Buddha such as Amitabha; and Christians, particularly Roman Catholics, say prayers while counting the beads of their rosary, normally 50 in total, divided into groups of ten.

It has often been said that a holy fool is closer to God than a learned scholar and that it is purity of intention that makes prayer effective. A story from Tibet illustrates that notion. One day two erudite monks were looking down from their monastery on an old man making the circuit of the sacred places, followed by a beautiful woman whom they recognized as Tara, the deity of compassion. The monks asked for the man to be brought to them and questioned him. The man amused them by his apparent stupidity: he knew nothing about Tara's following him, but was just reciting the prayers as he had learned them. When he repeated the prayers to the monks, they ridiculed his mistakes and taught him their correct methods. The next day, looking out of the window, they saw the old man, this time alone. Once more the monks summoned him and, with humility, told him to return to his old ways, for his simple devotion obviously had the blessing of Tara. Soon afterwards, the old man was seen whispering his imperfect prayers, followed once more by the radiant figure of the goddess.




From The Secret Language of the Soul by Jane Hope (San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1997).
Copyright © 1997 by Jane Hope

Used by arrangement with Chronicle Books.