Shivpreet Singh

The United States Congress designates the first Thursday of May as the National Day of Prayer, an annual day of observance when individuals are encouraged "to turn to God in prayer and meditation." The President is legally obligated to issue a proclamation each year, urging all Americans to participate in this day of prayer. Living in a nation where the highest leader promotes such spiritual contemplation fills me with gratitude.

I did some reflection on the meaning of prayer using some poems as my guides. Whenever I think of prayer, I first think of Ardaas, literally meaning prayer, one of my earliest compositions and the title of my first album. Its beautiful how Gurbani reminds us that a prayer is actually the acknowledgement of oneness. I'm sharing in this blog some poems from Mary Oliver, Pope Francis and Alfred Noyes that are congruent with this definition and expand on the true meaning of prayer.

Ardaas

God, this is my humble petition:

that you are the true master

that you always protect me

and I meditate on You.

that all life and creatures are yours

and you permeate all

that one who slanders your servant

is vanquished completely

that renouncing my worries, I am carefree

at your feet

Reading Poetry by Mary Oliver, Alfred Noyes and Pope Francis

Prayer is a powerful force that can provide comfort, hope, strength in the midst of adversity, and a reason to be jubilantly in awe.

As Mary Oliver writes in her poem "The Summer Day," "I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day." Mary suggests that prayer can be about paying attention to nature, immersing oneself in the beauty of the natural world, and finding a sense of connection and peace through that experience.

Alfred Noyes' poem "A Prayer in Time of War" further emphasizes the importance of prayer as a means of finding strength and hope in times of adversity. Alfred writes, "Give us courage, give us faith, give us hope; strengthen us, oh God, that we may be strong in our faith and may resist the evil that surrounds us." The poem suggests that prayer can provide a sense of courage and resilience in the face of fear and uncertainty.

Pope Francis' poem "A Prayer for Our Earth" highlights the importance of gratitude and reverence for the natural world in our prayers. Pope Francis writes, "Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature." The poem emphasizes the interconnectedness of all living beings and the importance of recognizing our responsibility as stewards of the earth.

Just like Gurbani, these poems suggest that while prayer can take many different forms, but its power lies in its ability to provide a sense of connection, strength, and compassion. Through prayer, we can find solace in nature, cultivate a sense of resilience in the face of adversity, and recognize our responsibility to protect and care for the natural world.

The Summer Day

Mary Oliver

Who made the world?

Who made the swan, and the black bear?

Who made the grasshopper?

This grasshopper, I mean-

the one who has flung herself out of the grass,

the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,

who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-

who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.

Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.

Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.

I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.

I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down

into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,

how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,

which is what I have been doing all day.

Tell me, what else should I have done?

Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?

I love Mary Oliver's poetry. This poem is a beautiful example of how a prayer can be about paying attention to nature. In the poem, she contemplates the natural world around her, observing the grasshopper, the swan, and the black bear. She marvels at the intricate details of the grasshopper's movements, the bear's strength and majesty, and the swan's grace and beauty.

As she watches the grasshopper, she reflects on the mystery of creation, wondering who made these creatures and the world they inhabit. She recognizes that there is much in the natural world that she doesn't understand, and she humbly accepts this mystery.

But despite her lack of understanding, she knows how to pay attention to the world around her. She knows how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down and be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields. In other words, she knows how to be fully present in the natural world, to immerse herself in its beauty and wonder.

This, to her, is a form of prayer. It is a way of expressing gratitude for the gift of life and for the beauty of the natural world. It is a way of acknowledging the mystery of creation and our place in it. And it is a way of connecting with something greater than ourselves.

Indeed, paying attention to nature can be a powerful form of prayer. When we take the time to observe the natural world around us, we can find a deep sense of peace and wonder. We can connect with something greater than ourselves, and we can feel a sense of gratitude for the gift of life.

In a world that is often chaotic and busy, paying attention to nature can be a way of finding stillness and calm. It can help us to slow down and appreciate the simple things in life, like the grasshopper, the swan, and the black bear. And it can remind us of our place in the natural world and our responsibility to care for it.

A prayer can be about paying attention to nature. By immersing ourselves in the beauty and wonder of the natural world, we can connect with something greater than ourselves and find a deep sense of peace and gratitude. And in a world that is often busy and chaotic, this kind of prayer can be a powerful way of finding stillness and calm.

A Prayer for our Earth

- Pope Francis

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe

and in the smallest of your creatures.

You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.

Pour out upon us the power of your love,

that we may protect life and beauty.

Fill us with peace, that we may live

as brothers and sisters, harming no one.

O God of the poor,

help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,

so precious in your eyes.

Bring healing to our lives,

that we may protect the world and not prey on it,

that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.

Touch the hearts

of those who look only for gain

at the expense of the poor and the earth.

Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,

to be filled with awe and contemplation,

to recognize that we are profoundly united

with every creature

as we journey towards your infinite light.

We thank you for being with us each day.

Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle

for justice, love and peace.

* This prayer is included in Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical Laudato si’

Pope Francis' poem "A Prayer for Our Earth" teaches us several important things about prayer. First and foremost, the poem emphasizes the importance of gratitude and reverence for the natural world. The poem implores us to recognize the beauty and complexity of the earth and to treat it with the respect and care it deserves.

The poem also teaches us that prayer can be a powerful tool for awakening our compassion and sense of interconnectedness with all living beings. Through prayer, we can cultivate a deep sense of empathy and concern for the well-being of all creatures, both human and non-human.

Additionally, the poem suggests that prayer is not just an individual act, but can be a collective effort that brings people together across borders and boundaries. The prayer acknowledges the impact of human actions on the earth and calls on people from all corners of the world to come together to address the environmental challenges we face.

The poem also highlights the importance of action as well as prayer. It encourages us to recognize our responsibility as stewards of the earth and to take concrete steps to protect and preserve the environment.

Prayer can be a powerful force for fostering gratitude, compassion, and action in relation to the natural world. It reminds us of the interconnection between all living beings and the importance of treating the earth with the respect and care it deserves.

A Prayer in Time of War

- Alfred Noyes

The war will change many things in art and life, and among them, it is to be hoped, many of our own ideas as to what is, and what is not, "intellectual."

Thou, whose deep ways are in the sea,

Whose footsteps are not known,

To-night a world that turned from Thee

Is waiting — at Thy Throne.

The towering Babels that we raised

Where scoffing sophists brawl,

The little Antichrists we praised —

The night is on them all.

The fool hath said . . . The fool hath said . ..

And we, who deemed him wise,

We who believed that Thou wast dead,

How should we seek Thine eyes?

How should we seek to Thee for power

Who scorned Thee yesterday?

How should we kneel, in this dread hour?

Lord, teach us how to pray!

Grant us the single heart, once more,

That mocks no sacred thing,

The Sword of Truth our fathers wore

When Thou wast Lord and King.

Let darkness unto darkness tell

Our deep unspoken prayer,

For, while our souls in darkness dwell,

We know that Thou art there.

"A Prayer in Time of War" by Alfred Noyes is a poignant poem that speaks to the power of prayer in times of great adversity. The poem begins with the speaker asking for a prayer that is strong enough to rise above the chaos and destruction of war. The speaker acknowledges the difficulty of praying in such a time, where fear and uncertainty reign.

The poem tells us that a prayer is a powerful force that can transcend even the most dire of circumstances. It can provide a sense of hope and comfort in the midst of chaos and despair. The speaker implores the reader to pray not only for their own safety but for the safety of all those affected by the war.

The poem also tells us that prayer is a deeply personal act. The speaker emphasizes that each person's prayer will be different, tailored to their own unique experiences and circumstances. He acknowledges that some may pray for victory, while others may pray for peace. But regardless of the specific content of the prayer, the act of praying itself is what is important.

Furthermore, the poem suggests that prayer is a way of connecting with something greater than ourselves. The speaker urges the reader to look beyond their own individual needs and desires and to pray for the greater good. He suggests that prayer is a way of aligning ourselves with a higher power and tapping into a source of strength and courage that goes beyond our own limited capabilities.

In terms of how to pray, the poem suggests that there is no one right way. The speaker acknowledges that each person will have their own approach, and that is perfectly valid. What is important is the act of praying itself, the intention behind it, and the sense of connection it provides.

Overall, prayer is a powerful force that can provide comfort, hope, and strength in the midst of adversity. It is a deeply personal act that can take many different forms, but the intention behind it is what is important. The poem suggests that prayer is a way of connecting with something greater than ourselves, and it is a way of tapping into a source of strength and courage that goes beyond our own limited capabilities.

Shakespeare the playwright thinks the world is a stage and everyone is playing a part in it. Likewise it would be apt for a poet to think that the world is poetry. Whatever the world is then decides what we are to do in it. In Shakespeare's world we are all actors and this is a stage. And a drama is happening on each day. An interesting take from Mary Oliver is how she takes out the actors from the play, and makes the play a poem. Why not? She is a poet after all. The poet thinks that the world is a poem.

Mary Oliver's emphasis is on taking it all in. The emphasis on looking and listening. And then not needing to do anything else. This is a poet that is well versed in vismaad, in wonder, it is her. It only makes sense that wonder is no less service than writing poetry or acting on the world stage. John Milton so aptly said that God doesn't need "man's work or his own gifts;" even the ones who are standing and waiting, the blind folk like him, are serving! But while they are standing and waiting, they can be looking and listening; and Mary asserts that is the "real work." What other purpose of life is better? You don't need to be at your desk writing poetry when it is spring. You just need to look at the woods and listen to the thrush. Looking, listening, smelling, breathing ... taking it all in.

The Book of Time

I rose this morning early as usual, and went to my desk.

But it’s spring,

and the thrush is in the woods,

somewhere in the twirled branches, and he is singing.

And so, now, I am standing by the open door.

And now I am stepping down onto the grass.

I am touching a few leaves.

I am noticing the way the yellow butterflies

move together, in a twinkling cloud, over the field.

And I am thinking: maybe just looking and listening

is the real work.

Maybe the world, without us,

is the real poem.

- Mary Oliver

The Leaf and the Cloud.

Hope Always Persists

No matter how difficult or challenging the situation may be, hope always persists. Hope is an essential component of the human experience that allows us to keep moving forward and strive for better things, even in the face of adversity. It provides a sense of optimism and possibility, and helps us maintain a positive outlook even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. It is a powerful force that can sustain us in tough times and give us the strength to persevere. No matter what obstacles you may be facing, remember that hope lives on and can help you find a way forward.

Joy Enhances Living

Experiencing joy and positive emotions can greatly enhance your life and allow you to live a more fulfilling existence. When you are joyful, you tend to be more optimistic, grateful, and present in the moment, which can lead to deeper connections with others and a greater appreciation for life's experiences. Research has also shown that people who experience positive emotions on a regular basis tend to have better physical and mental health, as well as a greater sense of purpose and meaning in life. By prioritizing joy and cultivating it in your daily life, you can create a more rich and satisfying existence for yourself and those around you.

Embrace Joy

If you are feeling joyful, it is important not to hold back or hesitate to express or enjoy that emotion. Joy is a positive and uplifting feeling that can bring happiness and positivity to yourself and those around you. By embracing and experiencing joy, you can improve your well-being and quality of life. Don't let fear, insecurity, or other external factors stop you from fully experiencing joy and all the benefits it can bring. Instead, embrace it and allow yourself to feel fully happy and content in the moment.

Don't Hesitate to Celebrate

It is important to take time to celebrate and acknowledge your achievements, big or small, as well as the special moments in life. Celebrating can bring joy and positivity into your life and help you to appreciate your successes and the good things that happen to you. Additionally, celebrating with others can strengthen relationships, create shared memories, and build a sense of community.

Life can be unpredictable and challenging, and it is essential to take a moment to recognize and celebrate your accomplishments and milestones, as well as the simple joys in life. Don't let fear, insecurity, or other external factors hold you back from celebrating. Embrace the opportunity to express gratitude, share your joy with others, and create positive memories that will last a lifetime. Celebrate at all times and make the most of every moment.

Don't Hesitate from What is Right - Guru Gobind Singh

This reminds me of Guru Gobind Singh poem Deh Shiva in which he says, "Let me not hesitate from doing whats right." Similar message: Fight. Don't fear. Don't hesitate. Remember oneness; be kind.

O Shiva ... give me this boon,

To never shirk from doing right
To never fear when I go to fight
to ever have the confidence to win

Let my heart learn
through ordeals of life
to have the desire
to remember your name
incessantly

And when the time has come
let me die bravely in the battlefield

- Guru Gobind Singh (tr. by Shivpreet Singh)

Sunflower Poems

I visited my uncle's house last weekend for a family gathering. The first one during this pandemic. His backyard opens into the hills and noticed that there were so many stalks of dead sunflowers. Tall, dark and dead. I thought of a sunflower poem by William Blake I had just recently read and bumped into Allen Ginsberg's Sunflower Sutra. I was obviously reminded of the Buddhist Lotus Sutra.

Ah! Sun-flower

William Blake

Ah Sun-flower! weary of time,

Who countest the steps of the Sun:

Seeking after that sweet golden clime

Where the travellers journey is done.

Where the Youth pined away with desire,

And the pale Virgin shrouded in snow:

Arise from their graves and aspire,

Where my Sun-flower wishes to go.

Sunflower Sutra

by Allen Ginsberg

I walked on the banks of the tincan banana dock and sat down under the huge shade of a Southern Pacific locomotive to look for the sunset over the box house hills and cry.

Jack Kerouac sat beside me on a busted rusty iron pole, companion, we thought the same thoughts of the soul, bleak and blue and sad-eyed, surrounded by the gnarled steel roots of trees of machinery.

The only water on the river mirrored the red sky, sun sank on top of final Frisco peaks, no fish in that stream, no hermit in those mounts, just ourselves rheumy-eyed and hung-over like old bums on the riverbank, tired and wily.

Look at the Sunflower, he said, there was a dead gray shadow against the sky, big as a man, sitting dry on top of a pile of ancient sawdust–

–I rushed up enchanted–it was my first sunflower, memories of Blake–my visions–Harlem

and Hells of the Eastern rivers, bridges clanking Joes greasy Sandwiches, dead baby carriages, black treadless tires forgotten and unretreaded, the poem of the riverbank, condoms & pots, steel knives, nothing stainless, only the dank muck and the razor-sharp artifacts passing into the past–

and the gray Sunflower poised against the sunset, crackly bleak and dusty with the smut and smog and smoke of olden locomotives in its eye–

corolla of bleary spikes pushed down and broken like a battered crown, seeds fallen out of its face, soon-to-be-toothless mouth of sunny air, sunrays obliterated on its hairy head like a dried wire spiderweb,

leaves stuck out like arms out of the stem, gestures from the sawdust root, broke pieces of plaster fallen out of the black twigs, a dead fly in its ear,

Unholy battered old thing you were, my sunflower O my soul, I loved you then!

The grime was no man’s grime but death and human locomotives,

all that dress of dust, that veil of darkened railroad skin, that smog of cheek, that eyelid of black mis'ry, that sooty hand or phallus or protuberance of artificial worse-than-dirt–industrial– modern–all that civilization spotting your crazy golden crown–

and those blear thoughts of death and dusty loveless eyes and ends and withered roots below, in the home-pile of sand and sawdust, rubber dollar bills, skin of machinery, the guts and innards of the weeping coughing car, the empty lonely tincans with their rusty tongues alack, what more could I name, the smoked ashes of some cock cigar, the cunts of wheelbarrows and the milky breasts of cars, wornout asses out of chairs & sphincters of dynamos–all these

entangled in your mummied roots–and you standing before me in the sunset, all your glory in your form!

A perfect beauty of a sunflower! a perfect excellent lovely sunflower existence! a sweet natural eye to the new hip moon, woke up alive and excited grasping in the sunset shadow sunrise golden monthly breeze!

How many flies buzzed round you innocent of your grime, while you cursed the heavens of your railroad and your flower soul?

Poor dead flower? when did you forget you were a flower? when did you look at your skin and decide you were an impotent dirty old locomotive? the ghost of a locomotive? the specter and shade of a once powerful mad American locomotive?

You were never no locomotive, Sunflower, you were a sunflower!

And you Locomotive, you are a locomotive, forget me not!

So I grabbed up the skeleton thick sunflower and stuck it at my side like a scepter,

and deliver my sermon to my soul, and Jack’s soul too, and anyone who’ll listen,

–We’re not our skin of grime, we’re not our dread bleak dusty imageless locomotive, we’re all golden sunflowers inside, blessed by our own seed & hairy naked accomplishment-bodies growing into mad black formal sunflowers in the sunset, spied on by our eyes under the shadow of the mad locomotive riverbank sunset Frisco hilly tincan evening sitdown vision.

More: https://www.gradesaver.com/allen-ginsbergs-poetry/study-guide/summary-sunflower-sutra

Lotus Sutra

What is the Lotus Sutra from https://www.nichiren.or.jp/english/teachings/sutra/

The Lotus Sutra is one of the most important sutras in Mahayana Buddhism and was likely written down between 100 B.C. and 200 A.D. Already well known in India, the sutra became more famous and influential when it was translated into Chinese by Kumarajiva in the year 406. After Chih-i founded the T’ien-T’ai School in China, based on the teaching expounded by this sutra in the sixth century, it was considered one of the canonical sutras of Chinese Buddhism. After the T’ien-T’ai School of China was introduced to Japan by Saicho and became the Tendai Sect, the Lotus Sutra became loved as literature among the people.

The sutra is named the Lotus Sutra because the lotus symbolized the oneness of cause and effect, specifically the cause of aspiring to enlightenment (Buddhahood) and the effect of attaining it, since the lotus is a flower that blooms and seeds at the same time. It also symbolizes the purity of Buddhahood, blooming in the midst of our ordinary lives just as the lotus blossoms in muddy pond water.

The Sunflowers

Mary Oliver

Come with me

into the field of sunflowers.

Their faces are burnished disks,

their dry spines

creak like ship masts,

their green leaves,

so heavy and many,

fill all day with the sticky

sugars of the sun.

Come with me

to visit the sunflowers,

they are shy

but want to be friends;

they have wonderful stories

of when they were young –

the important weather,

the wandering crows.

Don’t be afraid

to ask them questions!

Their bright faces,

which follow the sun,

will listen, and all

those rows of seeds –

each one a new life!

hope for a deeper acquaintance;

each of them, though it stands

in a crowd of many,

like a separate universe,

is lonely, the long work

of turning their lives

into a celebration

is not easy. Come

and let us talk with those modest faces,

the simple garments of leaves,

the coarse roots in the earth

so uprightly burning.