This month, I am breaking down The Lord’s Prayer in small sections so that we might be able to understand this wonderful prayer better.
Last week, I started with “Our Father” and this week…
Which art in heaven…
So where is heaven? Most of us will point up when asked this question. But remember what Jesus had said, “The Kingdom of heaven is within.”
Heaven is not some spatial place. Heaven is not of this world. Heaven is a transcendental place. This is why it’s impossible to prove to others who don’t believe in God, that God exists.
How can we prove that something exists when we can’t see it or understand it with our earthly/material senses? Even if we could somehow prove it, it would still only be our idea of God. Remember, we each have our own separate and unique relationship with God.
In the Vedas, it speaks of great saints and sages who enter into the state of heaven when they are in the state of Samadhi…the state of bliss. These sages enter this state after long periods of prayer, contemplation and meditation. It’s very rare that one slips into Samadhi instantly.
When in this state, those great souls are in bliss. They are “in this world, but not of it.” They are able to see “Our Father” in everyone and in everything.
So for most of us, this prayer teaches us to go within to that still/silent place in our heart to be still and think of God; feel the stillness; the peace within; and as we do that, the stillness and peacefulness will grow in time with practice of prayer, contemplation and meditation.
Brother Lawrence (a lay brother of the Carmelite order) said: “We must make our heart a spiritual temple wherein we adore Him incessantly…He is within us; seek Him not elsewhere.”
Namaste. Ah-Man/Amen.
Michael
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