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Inner Life, Talks and Thoughts

How to teach prayer. A conversation with Rupert Sheldrake

Aug 1, 2023
Rupert Sheldrake, a renowned biologist and author known for his theories on morphic resonance, joins the discussion on prayer. They explore the contrasts between prayer and meditation, revealing the challenges in teaching prayer. Personal experiences highlight the roles of angels and saints, raising intriguing questions about spiritual intermediaries. The conversation also touches on the nature of prayer, including its implications in healing and connection to the divine. Sheldrake emphasizes the universal human desire to pray, inviting deeper exploration into this spiritual practice.
38:20

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast highlights the lack of structured frameworks for teaching prayer, contrasting it with meditation's widespread accessibility and popularity.
  • Rupert Sheldrake discusses the complex relationship between prayer and the divine, advocating for a reflective approach to its practice and understanding.

Deep dives

The Disparity Between Meditation and Prayer

Meditation has gained prominence as a widely taught practice, with many options available for individuals to learn it. In contrast, prayer lacks a formalized framework for teaching, leading to fewer individuals practicing it compared to meditation. Surveys reveal that while a majority have engaged in meditation, significantly fewer report actively praying, suggesting a cultural shift over the past decades. This disparity raises questions about the accessibility and understanding of prayer in contemporary society, especially as traditional teaching methods in religious settings often assume prior knowledge.

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