Thursday Satsang In Person and Via Zoom – March 14, 2024
“The Privilege of Praying”with Emilio Bettaglio
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
5:30-6:45 p.m.: Gentle Hatha Yoga with Sig Martell
7:00-7:30 p.m.: Guided Meditation with Swami Ma Radha Bharati
7:30-8:30 p.m.: “The Privilege of Praying” with Emilio Bettaglio
8:30 p.m.: Evening Prayers
8:40 p.m.: Snacks
Join Emilio Bettaglio in a discussion regarding the privilege of praying. Bring your experiences regarding the effects and gifts of prayer in your own lives to share with the community.
Emilio will read from Y.S. 1.33 the Brahma Viharas, focusing on karuna, compassion, as a sentiment or trigger for prayer on someone’s behalf. He will read from Swami Veda’s writings on compassion.
Regarding prayer, Emilio will address the importance of mental and emotional preparation, visualization, and holding in one’s heart the specific reason for the prayer.
There will be a discussion regarding the “prayer circle” and possible alternative variations 0f it to use within one’s individual practice. And Emilio will discuss the practice of Tonglen in praying for others. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session. Please bring your questions.
…Prayer gives you strength. The highest of strength is received from that source which is already within you, through prayer. When you pray, whom are you going to pray to? The God Almighty who is everywhere? No. The Lord who is within you, seated deep down, beyond your body, breath and mind, in the innermost chamber of your being. Your prayers are always answered, when you pray in your own language, with mind and emotion joined together, with a one-pointed mind. You can pray at any time, but you should learn to discipline yourself. Morning and evening hours are considered best for prayer. But as I told you, pray directly to the Lord of life who’s seated within you. Gently close your eyes and with all your feelings and thoughts ask the Lord of life to give you wisdom and there you will find strength…
(From Conscious Living by Swami Rama)
