Prayer, its Nature & Technique - Kirpal Singh

PRAYERwith set speeches, vain repetitions, ostentatiousphraseology and learned expostulations.Maulana Rumi has given us a beautiful illustrationof a loving prayer that a simple and unsophisticatedshepherd boy was muttering in his ownhumble way as Prophet Moses passed by him.He was saying:O God! where art Thou? I would like toserve Thee. I would knit for Thee woolengarments and comb Thy hair. I wouldlike to serve Thee with milk, curd, cheeseand clarified butter, tend Thee in Thineillness, kiss Thy hands and massage Thyfeet. I would like to make a sacrifice of allmy sheep and goats for Thy sake.These words of the shepherd boy sounded asheresy to the Prophet, who in a rage began toreprimand the boy saying: “Shut up your mouth,O infidel. Why are you talking like a fool?Withdraw your insolent words or else God willcurse us with hell-fires for your blasphemy. Godis not a human being and He does not stand inneed of any of the things that you offer Him. Heis a spirit, without any hands and feet, and youhave insulted Him with your idle talk.” Stungto the quick, the simple-hearted boy tore hisclothes, ran to the wilderness and wept bitterlyfor having incurred the displeasure of God. In theintensity of his agony he lost his consciousness,50