Prayer is powerful and it can make a difference

When I received a call on Facebook Messenger, I did not notice it because I seldom use the Messenger app. Then I saw a message on WhatsApp that renowned global advisor, philanthropist and humanitarian Dr Satish Shikha was in my city Chandigarh and wanted to meet me. He wrote that he wants to see ‘the new Narvijay’ who has defeated Covid 19. I came to know that while I was battling death in the ICU for many days, Dr Sikha and hundreds of children from his charitable foundation sitting miles away prayed repeatedly for my well being and good health. These days he is traveling around the country and abroad distributing special copper coins filled with positive energy to women under his new initiative - 90 Million Smiles Foundation. He says that children and women have the most positive energy in the world. If positive thoughts are brought to mind while holding the copper coin in a hand for 9 minutes every day and praying for the betterment of all life in the world, this collective positive energy can do wonders on earth. In Hyderabad, his foundation ensures 24 hours free availability of food, education and medicine for underprivileged children. We hugged each other for a while before leaving. It was an amazing experience. Hugging someone is a rare opportunity in these pandemic times.
 
Today if I am able to write this column, the credit also goes to the prayers of all those known and unknown people. The doctor was also saying again and again that you are not saved by us, but God has saved you. It is said that there is great power in prayer. Medicine is necessary for recovery, but prayer does its job, provided it is done in the right way. For this it is not necessary to be religious or you go to any temple, mosque or gurudwara to worship. Everything in and around our lives is filled with energy. Even the food, water, air and our bodies are bundles of energy. Prayer done with a pure mind and clear intention helps in generating good energy. Prayer, faith and positive thoughts strengthen our immunity also, while a negative environment and negative thoughts can make someone sick. There is an increase in spirituality after someone comes out alive from the ICU. Then it is understood that there is some supreme power which runs this world. This daily column is dedicated to that supreme power.
 
The basis of prayer is faith and dedication. If we consider God as our friend and partner, then most of the problems of life automatically become negligible. You will start feeling that you are under the shadow of some supreme power, which always takes care of you and guides you. Many people pray every day, go to temple, but while praying their mind is immersed in some worry or doubt, which is wrong. Pray with full faith and dedication and leave the result to God, then see how good it feels. Prayer means trusting and communicating with the Supreme Power. On the contrary, meditation means communicating with oneself and understanding oneself better. The simplest prayer can be to be grateful and give thanks for all that you have.

(Author is a senior journalist and columnist)