Prayer is the basic orientation of our being toward the Source of our lives.

Prayer might be defined as the basic orientation of our being toward the Source of our lives - God, the Great Mystery, the Divine, the Goddess, the Web of Life. Sometimes prayer takes the form of petition, where we make verbal requests. At other times, our prayer is one of gratitude for the blessings and wonders of life. At still other times, prayer becomes contemplative. Like Tibetan prayer flags, we simply allow ourselves to be fully present as a means of allowing the Spirit Wind to blow upon and through us, cleansing and inspiring us. Here, we practice deep silence, allowing our awareness to be grasped and held by the magnetic Presence welling up from the very depths of our being.

Photo: Tibetan prayer flags and aspen trees at Shambhala Mountain Center, Red Feather Lakes, CO; October 14, 2013

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Words and scriptures are only the finger pointing to the moon.

“Truth has nothing to do with words. Truth can be likened to the bright moon in the sky. Words, in this case, can be likened to a finger. The finger can point to the moon’s location. However, the finger is not the moon. To look at the moon, it is necessary to gaze beyond the finger.”

Huineng

7th century Chinese Zen (Chan) monk

Photo: Subalpine fir, Lone Eagle Peak and the moon from my backcountry campsite; Crater Lake, Indian Peaks Wilderness, CO; August 26, 2012

Huineng's perspective is much needed in our time of literalistic religion.  The point is to have the inner insight and experience to which the words of scripture point, not cling to the words as though THEY were the insight and experience.  How much more peaceful our world would be if we found the grace to follow this principle!