We should be praying more than once a day because we often forget what is right and wrong.  Praying helps put us back on track with what we are supposed to be doing. Prayers really help us evaluate where we are and help us communicate with our conscious within ourselves or with God, which is one and the same. 

We should pray as often as possible. Just one minute of prayer on the job or when you are studying is very helpful. Prayer helps you forget everything and keeps you quiet and connected with God. It is important to really pray and not pretend to pray. People pray when their minds are somewhere else.  They pray for something they want. It is a trade. But prayer has a totally different purpose.

When you properly understand the purpose of praying, you will delight yourself in praying and life without prayer is it like a river without water.  Prayer requires humility and proper understanding of its purpose.  Prayer has a very significant roll.  As we advance in praying, it changes to a higher form, meditation, which is very difficult.

A lot of business has started in the name of meditation and the purpose is lost. Learn about this so you will not be deceived into thinking that you are praying or you are going to the temple and pleasing God while you are doing nothing and wasting your time. That doesn't mean you should not go to temple or you should throw away the prayer, but you should learn the right way to use both.  You should know the purpose of visiting a temple. You must ask yourself why you go to the temple and what you learn. Learn Gita and practice it so you are not deceived by superstition and fear in this Maya. Deception is every where. You are the biggest deceiver of your mind, and you don't want to do that.

--Swami Radhanandaji