Do you believe prayer can change this world?
I heard of a fantastic experience in Africa and this week we will pray
together with my friends and readers for the Saint Joseph’s Party on
March 19th.
We will pray to help to improve the state of the world. Some believe
that prayer is too abstract – but I would like to hear your opinion on
this.
Thank you
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The energy of prayer. Our immediate and constant communication with ‘our Father on Heaven’. To unite our energy, vibration of Love and see, with our ‘inner eyes’, Earth, as Paradise.
LOVE,
Thelma.
Yo creo que no es tanto el poder de la oración si no el poder de la fé con la que se rece,es la fé la que,una vez alguien dijo,que mueve montañas.No he entendido muy bien lo que usted propone,es hacer una oración el dia de S. José?.Tengo que decirle que la traduccion al español de sus mensajes y de los demas participantes es pésima y no consigo entender algunas cosas,ojalá pudieran arreglarlo,mil gracias.
P.D_Ya me termine de leer “El Mago”,gracias por dejar que me asomara en su interior,a veces me asusté otras sentí compasion otras veces lloré y cuando lo terminé comprobé que sigo sintiendo por usted la misma admiración que cuando leí por primera vez “El Alquimista” hace diez años.
Un saludo a todos.
yes I do believe that prayer is effective if it is not an absent minded repetition of stanzas. If the prayer comes from the heart and if it is with conviction then definitely there will be a result. So do i believe that every thought has an effect on the universe. it is also an energy and may sum up with the thoughts of the same vibrations and will produce tremndous results. so it is always better to have good positive thoughts.
Love
Amanto
La oracion es una conversacion personal con Dios,es tu alimento espiritual,es una fuerza, una energia para sentirme bien.Si utilizas la oracion todos los dias, te hace sentir mas confiada en un ser, que sabes que esta contigo cada minuto de tu vida.Amo a Dios, es mi todo.
I KNOW that prayer can change the world.
Prayer with faith can change everything.
but when the going gets too hard, also faith, sometimes, become hard to find.
Have a day full of faith for everybody.
Yes.
I believe our thoughts affect our enviroment. Positive or negative, what we think and feel affects us and those around us.
I also believe that we are all brothers and sisters connected to one energy force. ‘Prayer’ in my mind, is a concious, meditative expression of loving towards the Energy (God) that connects us. Yes, I do believe in prayer. However, I’m not so sure that we can control the outcome of our lives through prayer alone, but rather through the way we live out our lives on a daily basis and the respect and understanding that we give each other.
Yes! I totally believe in prayer. Just like you wrote in the Alchemist, that the whole world conspires to help you if you want and pray for something.
I desperately wanted my younger brother to get a job anywhere abroad after he was fired from his job on a cruise liner. On his behalf I kept sending applications all over, and somehow throught God’s grace I just by chance applied for a job in Canada. I prayed desperately that he gets this job. Somehow things kept moving forward, he got the job, the money was arranged(It was big amount for us) and inspite of so many problems on the way, he went abroad. Then he had and still has a problem of adjusting to the climate, lack of finance etc. I prayed and prayed and he got a second part time job . And I am still praying for him everyday, knowing that prayers do work.
All this happened before I read the Alchemist, I totally agree with you Mr. Paulo Coelho when you say that the whole world conspires to help you if you pray for something with your whole heart and soul. Thankyou for writing such a wonderful book
Caro Paulo, quante risposte ha scatenato la tua questione. Per me esistono mille modi per pregare.
Con le preghiere istituzionali, in ogni religione,
Con le azioni a favore dei nostri fratelli, amici, nemici , sconosciuti , anche se di razza, religione, cultura ed estrazione sociale diversa, proprio perchè li consideriamo fratelli
con la nostra anima che nel profondo sente che Dio c’è, anche se ci dichiariamo non credenti.
Anche stare con gli occhi rivolti al cielo stellato in una notte limpida è preghiera.
Anche osservare il mare calmo o in tempesta e domandarsi: Chi?
Se mi guardo attorno con gli occhi dell’Amore , io già prego. E non importa se le mie labbra sono chiuse. Perchè il mio cuore è aperto. Questo è per me la preghiera innanzitutto: stare aperta al mondo, quindi a Dio.
Buon S. Giuseppe Paulo. Buon S. Giuseppe a tutti. Margherita
I do believe . With good thoughts and clean hearts , all hopes are fullfilled. The power of prayer can fills what is empty, heals what is sick and settles what is troubled In prayer you communicate with God and in meditatation Gods communicates with you. And, I believe in order to improve the state of world we must improve ourself first.. it’s an inner revolution. Peace be with you
I believe in the power of prayers.If we think “at the beginning it was the Word”.Words has its powers.If a group of people has faith,and pray together,they can help ,even in changing the world.This also because for only one faithfull man,God would save the world. (added by Mobile using Mippin)
Yeah, I believe that prayer can help with lots of our things and daily situations, but I also believe that faith is more important than prayer.
It’s useless to pray without faith in what we are asking for in our prayers.
It’s important too to give thanks everytime when something we asked for gets accomplished.
So, let us pray, let us give thanks and, specially, let us have lots of faith.
Lucas.
Dear Paulo,
I do believe. It gives strength and courage to face the harsh realities.
Thanks for sharing this.
Arhcana
Although I feel that prayer is beneficial, to the mind and body, whether you are praying to a god or not. Prayer can subconciously change a person because they believe in that prayer, however, i do not believe that prayer alone can change the state of the world. I believe in action. Action can achieve what prayer cannot.
In order for change to happen, you must take necessary action to achieve the change.A person who pray, let say for patience, will, without realizing it gain the patience he seeks because it is something he desire,it is something he wants, and something I feel god alone will not be able to give him unless he is willing to recieve the necessary.
Oración.
Para mi la oración es mas que pedir por medio de las palabras.La oracion no es solo pedir la paz mundial a dios, un mejor empleo,la cura de enfermedades o que x persona no salga lastimada con algo.
La oracion es cuando nos podemos en contacto con un ente superior ( o mas bien por asi decirlo con “DIOS”),con todos los que nos rodea , con el universo; formar parte de el ,ser uno con el universo.
Orar no es tan solo pronunciar palabras, pienso que tambien oramos cuando admiramos o contemplamos las maravillas hermosas de este mundo, cuando escuchamos el llanto de un bebé, cuando vemos un atardecer, cuando sentimos la brisa rozar nuestra piel, cuando besamos a la persona amada, cuando amamos.Si las personas descubrieran que basta solo un minuto de silencio , en completo silencio, tan solo contemplando, existiendo, viviendo con lo que hay a tu alrededor , sin decir nada , sin pensar nada, solo ser ; nos dariamos cuenta de la belleza que coexiste a nuestro alrededor, que segundo a segundo estamos formando parte del universo , del alma, de la vida, de “Dios”; de seguro que seriamos un mundo mejor.
Hola! Orar…activa la conexión entre el cielo y la tierra y los latidos del corazón se convierten en una mágica luz…
I used to pray very often… but nowadays i do it less. I think I need a space in my life for praying…starting for this moment when I realize that praying and the mind – the active part of it – follows to action…I mean… when the world changes into better..our desire.
I believe prayer is our communication to God. A willingness to surrender and believe in a creator that is able to connect with our energy and our intentions to produce wonders in the earth.
I doubt and that makes me seemingly a minority in here.
I believe in actions rather then in prayers and therefore have to agree with *Nicfromcanada* – “I believe praying can be beneficial as a form of meditation to appease one’s mind, but I don’t think that prayers will change the world.”
I acknowledge those of you who find in prayers a powerful way in changing and engaging with the world. I tried it… but I felt uneasy with myself. I do believe that not growing up in a religious surrounding is part of my alienation when it comes to religion and prayers. And maybe the institutionalized and structured manner some religions are practiced. Please, I don’t try to offend anyone in here, so don’t take it personal.
I appreaciate all the wonderful remarks in here, you all seem to have a lot to give. It is such a wonderful thread to come back to and read all those flourishing minds and ideas.
Lots of love
Jules from Germany
Yes of course,
Prayer is a very powerful tool in our hands…that God gave us to communicate with Him!!!
Prayer is the small stone that we built everyday in our life…..
everyday a small stone from all of us and the world will become better…
Dear Paulo and all,
I do not believe in prayers as such..but I believe that a collective paryer is a gathering of wills, I belive that this could change the world. it is a termindous energy. However, and since March 19 is the passing away anniversary of my mother, who was a real guide and a real friend to me. I’d hope u also pray for her soul on that day. it was thanks to her that I got to know about u Paulo four years ago. The last thing she read in her death bed was ur Achemist..it is a nice story that I might be telling u one of these days. Since then I read almost all ur books.
Sincerely,
A.
It has been proven, that prayer makes a positive change.
Everything that exists, has a vibration, as do words and sounds. Vibration travels, a similar concept is the butterfly effect.
The prayers of the Warriors of Light are Sure to make a difference.
Thank you for praying!
xxoo :)
Well, I think, that the word ‘prayer’ is very abstract. Like the word ‘love’ and ‘God sacrificed his son in love to the world’. I can imagine how that makes many people feel: Small, guilty, when did I pray last time?, God only talks to good people, what could I ever give in return?
When you talk about shooting a bow, you had to add a whole chapter of warning, that it might be dangerous if not taken seriously and that it is considered a weapon in France. So we prefer to call it ‘practicing’ the bow instead of ‘shooting’. It does not sound this dangerous. ‘shooting’ is so heavily loaded with ideas of violence. Who can imagine the experience of hold and release, of tension and relaxation, of concentration on the very moment and on nothing but that yellow dot, but the archer him self?
So is it to find new words for the dialog between us and the ‘Creator’ (I call him ‘chef’ when I am together with friends, that are distrustful when it comes to terms like ‘catholic church’ and ‘God’.), or should we keep preaching the lightness of this heavy appearing words?
Well, I’m not the missionary type, as the upper example shows. But I love the creativity to avoid the old prejudices that might pop up in someone’s head.
Nobody did preach archery to me. It came to me by searching. And sometimes I take someone by the hand and show them how to practice ‘tension and release’ with a bow as a tool and the arrow as a pointer.
And now one, that you sit down with and tell to have a moment of contemplation together, will ever find that abstract.
From Switzerland.
Theo
praying helps for sure, its helps every one in this world! and when people pray together- it has a lot of power- a spiritual power which helps a lot.
and from my own personal experience- with my family- when they were in a situation– praying helped us by all mean!!!
i think it will be a wonderful togetherness on march 19!!!
i wish i could be with u all- but i ll be with u in my heart!!!
and most important G-d is with u and all of us,
good luck to u all!
with lots of love
orly
in our world are a loooot of people.
different people.
some of them are believing in a godlike force,
some of them are not.
maybe sometimes we don’t even deserve an answer to our prayers,
but sooner all later we’ll find it in a sign.
i admire those people who are praying.
they are so…..REAL.
a real man is not ashamed to thank God for being alive :)
great entry, senior paulo.
your books are changing lives.
thank you,
nekta, 18 years, romania
Dear Paulo,
I belive that prayer in the group is really powerfull. It is miraculous prayer!
with love
x
Marzena
Anytime a person mentions something about the world in the prayer I think it is to change the world. It is a great thing to do. God, knows what is going on, but knows what is important to us through our prayers.
Dear all,
For a moment- Here is the link,
http://paulocoelhoblog.com/2009/03/12/todays-question-by-the-reader-ema-2/#comment-172742
I will get back on this later…
God bless you all !
I believe praying can be beneficial as a form of meditation to appease one’s mind, but I don’t think that prayers will change the world. I think that the only thing that can actually change things are actions.
I don’t think the act of praying itself can change things, but perhaps it can provoke a calmer, more positive state of mind, and a calm, positive person will be more likely to help those around.
Can prayers help? Perhaps, but only indirectly.
I believe in prayer; it can save the world if every person said one prayer then the world would be saved (because then each person would believe in prayer). I am attempting a very special type of prayer tonight at 12pm (Paris time), the type of prayer only spoken of between Indians. At 8pm we will attend a Clairvoyant in the town hall, I hope this will open the channel. Then I will drop myself into a special trance (later in the night), with help from my Ally and hope to be able to pray to the world, I hope to help the world somehow. It will be difficult because of many factors, which I will explain more of in my blog at a later stage with the help of Duke!
Of course Prayers support and causes miracles in life!
As Osho says “Prayer is meaningless if it is not out of alertness. And a man of alertness need not have any prayer – alertness is enough unto itself.”
http://im-da-boss.weebly.com
go to this web…where you could find my review on you…
this was an awesome clip..ill write a review of you on my web
if you pray with true devetion God will listen to you.
Prayers help and work when you believe and put all your heart and energy into them.Praying with all yourself.It does help and again it’s the best protection too.
Just like Jenni said above,there’s that kind of atmosphere and love you can hardly describe in words,so..
;)
Olá Paulo, eu acredito veemente em orações. Quando o meu amor, Renata, teve um aneurisma Cerebral, escrevi para vários amigos meus, e levei o nome dela para varios centros espiritas, igrejas e até mesmo para o seu blog, para pedir que as pessoas rezassem por ela. Ela hoje esta bem e os médicos disseram que foi como se simplesmente nada tivesse acontecido. Voce tem muitas seções legais no seu blog, então eu gostaria de dar uma sugestão: Voce poderia criar uma seção, assim como voce tem a seção sobre as instituições de caridade e etc, para que os seus leitores, essas 200 mil pessoas únicas que frequentam o seu blog, orassem e mandassem boas vibrações para algumas pessoas que precisassem de orações, poderia ser um espaço aonde púdessemos colocar os nomes de entes queridos que estao doentes ou com problemas e entao todos do blog poderiam fazer uma prece ou vibração coletiva positiva, e assim poderíamos ajudar muitas pessoas… Eu deixo aqui a minha sugestão e assim podemos ver na prática as mudanças…
Abraços grandes e tudo de bom!
yes prayer helps !
afterall what is a prayer, a communication, a communion from an open and vulnerable heart. something which works subconsiously on the mind, and as we know, humans can achieve anything.
let’s live a prayerful life, moment to moment .
love
aditya
I can only talk for myself and my experience in praying..it had helped me alot in my toughest time..and it does gives me energy to pray..(I may not pray everyday) BUT I do communicate with “him” always..normal conversation like we have amongst the mortal ones:-)
And sometimes when I do pray intensively..I get this atmosphere,I cant hardly express in words…I think prayers have a powerful force within…and it always keeps me grounded..so I do believe in prayers!!
Prayer is for me about the “path of holiness”
………………………………………………
the day i stopped going to church every sunday and missing prayers thus, was the day my life became like a bag with a hole in it – constantly losing ‘items’ through the hole, which if ever I noticed, would mean a long trek back to refind those ‘items’ … or else lose them forever.
Prayer is a choice.
We are guided into prayers as a child, almost lip reading as we hear the words… but we are connecting to the greater consciousness.. something more than ourselves, and in which others are united… perhaps as in one voice.
Prayer is thus incredibly powerful, because it allows our hearts to speak and our souls to be free (of burden, indecision etc)…
by having neglected church and prayer, I also neglected to add my own voice to the one voice. However, I realise how much I care for humanity and the environment; thus began to make my own prayers. Through this, I found my way back to the whole, the one voice..
this time, not as a child lip-reading, but with my own will to give.
As in synchonity, or telepathic communication – there is something mysterious that connects us all.. with prayer as the manifestation for us of this mystery.
we can either have positive thoughts or negative.. ones that help, assist, guide, forgive, heal, comfort..et al.. or those that isolate, disconnect etc.
…………………………………………………
Prayer is thus like finding the right path and being on that path – it is an ancient path and well-trodden, but always clear and well kept. We can wander away from that path, but returning to this path is like finding your way back home after a long day/week/year…or like returning to your true destiny.
I know – through the soul – when my mother is calling me even though we may be in different parts of the planet! Yet we are but two parts of something greater.
When I pray, I know I am with my mother – there is no time, distance, space… there is only holiness.
One of my favourite books is “an appointment in jerusalem”
it is about the power of prayer in part.
……………………………………..
So for your wonderful gathering with your friends … praying altogether, yes I do believe that the capacity to channel greater energy into good is our treasure.
To have so many readers or ‘warriors of light’ also demonstrating this gift and with a common insight.. who knows where your prayers may lead to and be heard ;o)
Isn’t is surely our own lack of imagination and belief that limits our consciousness and faith to rise. everything in the past has fallen to wisdom and greater knowledge.
As for abstractness, well why should the presence of prayer be anything but!!! to pray is to herald eternity and call destiny and fate to head your hearts concerns. thats no mean feat… thats no computer chip connection ;o)
With your books, Mr Paulo, you bring your audience onto such a path of prayer that is powerful and promising…
it is as if many are united already on a common goal, path etc… but the stories reaffirm, return that knowledge aswell… there is hope in that…
as it qualifies a united future with common visions.
with so many ‘warriors of light’ praying for the state of the world to improve, this is such a positive, shining example of light and love.
I do believe, yes. There have been times in life where I have been in crisis of health and I have prayed for strength and patience and to be able to overcome.
And, I did. Was it because of prayers? I’d like to think so. Praying to a higher power calms me, centers me and I like the rote of prayers that the rosary gives me. There was one particular time in life that I was experiencing such poverty of hope that I just wanted out (not as in suicide, no) – I wanted it to end and see the light shine in my life once again. Well, one particular night I dreamed of the Lord. In my mind, what I thought was the Lord. And he spoke to me and calmed me. Was it him or was this my inner self taking care of me? Who knows. But I also believe that we are all gifted with the Divine and it lives within us and that light, when beckoned, will never fail us. All I can tell you is that after that particular dream, I started to turn around for the better. So, whether we believe in a higher power or not, one cannot deny the fact that there is a light within us all that is there to help us through our most difficult times and tender our wounded souls. What you call that Light or how you view it, is entirely up to you.
I believe prayer is a way of concentrating with the love in your heart, and this raises vibrations, as does meditation. And the surroundings of those doing this improves, undoubtedly. The practice of well-wishing in the spiritual sense is effective.
Praying is a very powerful thing. God has always helped me in my time of need. So, jsut P.U.S.H. (Pray Until Something Happens.
Dear Paulo,
would you be so kind and share with us the experience from Africa that you have heard about?
Thank you.
‘At first there was the word’ and only afterwards, with its help, God created the world.
I have always believed in the power of the word. How many times one feels his feelings more hurt by a word than if slapped for example?! The word comes from the soul and therefore touches the soul, it creates and also destroys, it enlightens, gives wings to fly or cuts them down.
The prayers are words sent to God, reflect our inner and most powerful wishes and when you wish for something from the bottom of your heart then everything becomes possible… So, yes, prayers can change the world but they must be uttered by people who believe and wish to change since world is made up of people, thus we have to change in the first place.
I believe prayer can change and help the world, it is all about positive energy flowing.
:)
Paulo,
The prayer is heard if it is a prayer emitted in Agapé and not in rite of the prayer even if the rigour sometimes leads our life.
The moment of the prayer allows us to have one moment of introspection and break / Think on certain things.
But there are prayers which rise more than the others and are heard.
I think that the Love (in the sense of the Christ) and the Mercy are perceived, as well as the humility.
The prayer is a moment of indispensable word so that its message arrives up to our soul, and as well as your message passed on by your prayer is carrier of a demand of love and faith towards Him (so the rigour allows you to arrive at this connection)
P.S. : The prayer for holy joseph: I chose not to answer immediatly at once your invitation of the st joseph (on the blog: the first one who answers will be invited I shall have been able to because I felt the connection with internet and I saw the invitation = sometimes the energy of the love is passed on in kilometres etc. etc.) but I think that a prayer on the same “place” as thousands of people is stronger .
I appreciate your work, and the daily efforts for the others; so my prayer will accompany yours, on Thursday: the day of your patron saint.
That the reception of God’s word by Joseph is an example for each of us…
Cordially and with affection
Sido
I believe prayer CAN change things. It shifts the focus OFF the darkness of the tunnel and ONTO the light at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel becomes shorter and the light becomes brighter. Focused energy.
LOVE to all.
John
Yes,
but I don’t think it’s necessary to use words.
I think it’s enough for two people to think the same, with enough strength to make a change.
Using words like ‘God’ won’t make any difference – my opinion.
It’s energy that changes the world – when the entire body, soul and mind wants to make a difference.
Yes, Paulo. It may not affect every singular cell in this world… but I do believe it effects many people. At least it affects the people who are reading the prayer, who know about it, who, somehow, get in touch with it (through Your blog, through You, Your friends, who might talk about the event/prayer etc.).
A day to think about others – like any other day. But also a special day – because it has its traditions. It has it’s beliefs. And You can’t really make a party for each day like that, can You? It’s possible to read this prayer each day, yes. If it speaks to You, then even I could say that then You SHOULD read it every day. :) If one has the persitence and commitment to do it.
If You believe in the words, if it speaks to You/Your soul… then it will aftect You on some level. On which level, that depends… but – if You open Yourself up to something in general, usually this means that it affects You. :) Hopefully for the good.
I will be reading it with You this year also. Please just tell when will be the time – I want to do it right when You read it. It would mean a lot to me. I did the last time, and I can say for one, it affected me.
I would of wanted to come to Paris to read it there, while walking on the streets etc. etc… but this time it wasn’t written in the stars. Maybe I’ll be able to be closer next year. :) Have to save up some money.
Very grateful Liina.
Much love to all of You.
I do believe that praying we can change many things. God always helped me when i was praying. Do not be afraid to ask help from God everytime. Lets pray for a better world.
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