OUTCOMES OF THE PRAYER OF THE HEART

     During meditation (prayer of the heart) nothing much seems to occur. No altered or extraordinary states of consciousness are experienced. Rather, one enters more fully into the present and ordinary, appreciating the wonder of it. 

     Nonetheless, inner changes do take place through faithful prayer of the heart over time, noticed personally and by others. These include growth in the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23) – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; growth in self-knowledge; inner healing; as well as a fuller integration of body, mind, and spirit.

     Through prayer of the heart, ordinary living takes on deeper meaning and purpose, and there is growth in faith, hope, and love. People comment, for example, that they have become more aware of the needs of others; experience more joy in daily routines; see improvement in relationships; are growing in compassion; and feel more capable of handling the life’s ups and downs.  

     Moreover, as a result of prayer of the heart, we begin to see the world not only with physical eyes or the mind’s eye, but also with the eye of the heart. This is a way of perceiving the world with spiritual vision. It includes having a sense of oneness with others and the universe – a unitive way of knowing and seeing. Such consciousness is intuitive and lies beyond rational thinking of the mind. It is characterized by cooperation, forgiveness, reconciliation, harmony, negotiation to resolve differences, and mutuality rather than competitiveness.     

     Unitive consciousness is an important outcome of prayer of the heart. In reality, we are all one and connected to the Soul that created the entire universe. The illusion of separateness is a major cause of human problems. Through prayer of the heart, we intuitively catch glimpses of being connected to everyone and everything – through the Divine within where we are all one. From that place we can embody the spirit of love, forgiveness, concern for others, and care for our earthly home.

 
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