The Power of Prayer

The late Mother Teresa prays in Calcutta, India, in 1989. — Raghu Rai/Magnum Photos

En español | Although a majority of Americans say they pray on a regular basis, there's no clear consensus on the best way to do it. We asked our panel of spiritual experts about how to make the most of prayer in daily life — and whether it's OK to improvise.

JOSEPH GOLDSTEIN
Co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Mass.

Mother Teresa was asked once what she says when she prays to God. She answered, "I don't say anything. I just listen." "What does God say to you then?" they asked. "He doesn't say anything. He just listens. And if you don't understand this, I can't explain it to you." This is a very beautiful notion of prayer: refining the art of listening.  

Prayer is a process of purification. We're using prayer not only as a request but also as way of transforming our own hearts and minds. This transformation is what we are asking for in prayer: the purification of our hearts from forces that cause suffering, greed, hatred, ignorance and so on. If we understand prayer as having this function, we can work internally to purify things we want to change.

Next: Pray in your own way. >>