”That is how you should pray’

Spiritual life is not a smooth journey. There are often ups and downs, hills and valleys. There can also be 'dark nights of the soul' when one feels totally lost and abandoned. There have been periods in my life too when I had to face greater difficulties in my inner life than any other times. During one such critical period I had a vivid nightmare in which I was shown how to pray. I saw in a dream that I was walking alone in a forest. Hearing a strange sound, I turned back to see what it was all about. To my great surprise I saw a huge and ferocious looking serpent following me at a distance. It was very big and it moved slow. I was a good runner from the childhood and I did not bother at all about the huge and slow moving thing as I could outrun it at any time. So I walked on, enjoying the natural beauty of the forest. After some time I looked back at the serpent with curiosity. To my great surprise! found that it was getting closer to me! I started running, looking back now and then. The ferocious serpent was closing on me very fast! Panic gripped me. I started running as fast as l could, turning my head back often to look at the serpent which was now very close. I did not see the big ditch in front and fell into it. I tried my best to climb out of the ditch, but could not. Then I saw the serpent's head over the ditch. It was slowly climbing down! I knew it was my end. The ferocious serpent with long and sharp teeth would crush my bones and tear me apart to eat me up. I fell on my knees and closed my eyes tight, and prayed with my whole being, expecting the sharp teeth of the serpent to dig into my flesh at any moment! It was an intensely agonising experience. When nothing happened after few seconds, I dared to open my eyes a little. I looked at the serpent and saw it smiling down on me! The serpent then told me in clear human voice 'that is how you should pray' and vanished!. I got up with a start from my nightmare. This nightmare opened my heart and mind to the power of 'intensive short prayers! I started to pray in that manner. It had its deep effect on me. I also realised that prayer need not be long and verbal to be effective. It has to be short and intense, coming from the depth of one's being.