Show Notes
• Could you give us some highlights of what should be part of every prayer, every day?
• There are some theories that say that in order to achieve the discipline of daily prayer, one should set aside the same time every day. I think that this leads rather to the routine against which you warned us. Which is right?
• Are the batteries of both willpower and courage recharged by prayer?
• What about the problem of selfishness in prayer?
• Is silent prayer, without uttering words, sufficient, or does formulation and verbalization in loud words make prayer more effective?
• I noticed that some people pray by addressing God in the third person. In other words, they speak about God. They say, for instance, “I ask God…,” rather than speaking directly to God. Is there any significance in this? Does it make any difference?
• May I ask why is it so difficult at times to start praying at all?
• Can you please provide some guidance for how to get started?
The Pathwork Guide teaches that:
- Prayer should include both care for others and self-transformation. You’re encouraged to pray not only for loved ones, but also for people you dislike—using this to honestly observe your mixed feelings and grow beyond them.
- True prayer connects outer wishes (peace, love, justice) with inner work. You can’t genuinely contribute to these qualities unless you cultivate them within yourself.
- A key focus of prayer is self-awareness and growth: ask to recognize your fears, overcome them, accept pain when necessary, and align with a higher will.
- Prayer is not selfish when it aims at inner purification, because becoming more whole and happy enables you to help others. Motive matters more than the request itself.
- There’s no strict formula—prayer can be brief or long, spoken or silent—but it should be alive, sincere, and evolving, not rigid routine.
Ultimately, prayer is a living practice that combines compassion for others with honest inner work, gradually transforming both the individual and their impact on the world.
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