When we begin meditation we are encouraged to pray to the Heavenly Father, Divine Mother and Beloved Friend. Then we include the line of Gurus in our prayer. We are also encouraged to think of our Guru Paramahansa Yogananda and pray to him. As God knows all our needs and our Guru also knows what we are thinking, why do we pray to the two of them?
—Catherine Ryan, Ireland
Dear Catherine,
I’ve never actually heard of Yogananda or Swami Kriyananda answering this question directly. I’ve always answered it for myself with the thought that the prayer is actually for our benefit — to help us focus and clarify our minds and hearts toward God.
You might well say: Since God and Guru know all of our needs, why do we bother to pray at all? Again, it helps us direct our hearts to God and Guru.
This is the way i understand it.
In divine friendship,
Anandi
