A prayer is our communication with God. A prayer can be verbal or without words. We can pray through simple love from our hearts or through thoughts and perceptions. We have attempted to explain the various prayers listed below.

If a prayer is verbal, we must understand the meaning of the words in the prayer. And the words of the prayer should be pronounced correctly. We should feel the vibrations of the words that we say in our heart.

Words are not always necessary to communicate with God, but they often help beginners understand what we should pray for, to whom, why, where and how often. Whether or not we pray, the Lord always knows our needs, feelings, aspirations, attitudes and intentions. He is all-knowing, all pervading, ever existing at all times, circumstances and places in the form of Atman, which is the center of our existence, awareness and joy. It is our duty to know and understand what we are offering while we pray.

A prayer to hurt others or to take revenge is never heard or executed. However, a prayer that is diligent, sincere and for the good of all is certainly worthy of all human beings and is unquestionably heard by the Lord. A person who does not pray sincerely and as often as he can is worse than an animal. Animals, however, do not need to pray because they do not violate the Laws of their being as we humans do. To expect love and peace without a true prayer is to hope to satisfy our thirst with a mirage of water.

--Swami Radhanandaji