Does God Listen to My Prayers

The following conversation took place in October 2009.

Question: Does God listen to my prayers?

Answer: God truly listens to all our prayers. He does so, just as much as we listen to our own minds. Indeed, in faith, He listens to us more than we, in fact, listen to our minds. Every one-thousandth of a microsecond, the Sun’s fiery rays bombard our Earth, whether or not we stand within their direct path. Likewise, every one-billionth of a second, God’s attention is fixed upon us, His cosmic Mind attuned to every subtle vibration we emit, though we remain ensconced within the detritus of our constellation, oblivious to His listening.

Yes, He does not merely hear our utterances but listens intently to every muted whisper. Yet He responds only when we clamour for His attention. Only when we speak from the depths of our hearts, from the fathomless abyss of our desires, from the very core of our being, from the life-force coursing through us—only then does the Giant stir. The Svayambhū peers through the thick fog of our prārabdha, rends asunder the veils of nescience, and thrusts forth His guiding hand to seize us by our tufts, lifting us far above and beyond the touch and taint of worldly affliction.

For that Giant even to stir, we must transmute our faithless, wandering murmurs into bhakti-laden, heartfelt, resolute, and thunderous cries of supplication. Remember what happened when Karuna shot his maiden arrow? All celestial beings were jolted out their reveries! It should be in that fashion: focussed, direct, pointed!

Question: I am in a desperate situation. Why is God not helping me?

Answer: You say that you are in a desperate situation. So too were Draupadī, Gajendra, Appoothi Āḍigaḷ, Sāvitrī, Mārkaṇḍeya, Mahākavi Kālidāsa, Thirumala Nāyaka, Abhirāmi Bhaṭṭar, Kāraikkāl Ammaiyār, Arunagiri, Sengāthi, Śanmukha Sundara Kavirāyar (Kumaraguruparar’s father), Vālmīki, Dhruva (whose bhakti was of the ārthārthī type), Pattināthar, Job, Uttarā, and countless others. They were not superhuman; they were as we are. The sole difference between them and us lies in their expression of desperation. We, by contrast, make a fetish of ours.

Question: Is it not true that, if God wills to help you, miracles begin to unfold?

Answer: My answer is, ‘Of course.’ However, we should, at this juncture, ask ourselves: when did God resolve to help those personalities I have mentioned? When? Did Dhruva, whose bhakti is known as ārthārthī bhakti, sit idly and await God’s miracle to descend upon him? Consider Rūpa Gosvāmin’s verse 63 from Śrī Padyāvalī:

"O Lord Hari, O form of mercy, You swiftly rescued both Draupadī and Gajendra. What has happened to that quick action now that I suffer so acutely?"

I believe the foregoing adequately addresses your question.

Question: Now, my query is this—Prabhu, how may I change my circumstances with God’s help? How should I pray for His grace? What form of positive thought or meditation should I cultivate to bring forth auspicious transformation in my life?

Answer: If number of rounds on Japa mala, time of the day, place of sadhana, etc., ensure success in spiritual or even material life, no Hare Krsna devotee should be here now on earth. At the very least, they should be in Kṛṣṇa Loka.

Swami Sivananda has said:

"Divine Grace descends only when the mind is fully purified… The Lord’s Grace will be bestowed in proportion to the degree of surrender… If one is untruthful, hypocritical, and insincere, one is unfit for the Lord’s Grace." (Science of Yoga, Vol. VI, p. 219)

There is much more I should like to convey here, yet I cannot ascertain how my words—without a face to accompany them—might be received. Thus, I shall leave you with these luminous gems from Swami Sivananda.

Swami Sivananda, "...Kindly do not get discouraged....Be patient..." (pg. 151, Science of Yoga, Vol 6)

Swami Sivananda, "Learn to depend ENTIRELY on God. WAIT and WATCH. DESPAIR not. WORRY not. He WILL shower His choicest blessings on thee." (pg. 154, Science of Yoga, Vol 6)

Swami Sivananda, "...There is something good even in SEEMING failures. You are not able to see that NOW. Time WILL reveal. Be patient." (pg. 155, Science of Yoga, Vol 6)

Swami Sivananda, "You say YOUR life has been one of suffering. Think of Prahlad. Think of Dhruva. DRAW inspiration from them andBE calm and unperturbed." (pg. 152, Science of Yoga, Vol 6).

Swami Sivananda, "Cultivate strong patience under CRUSHING trials... You will attain success in ALL your endeavours." (pg. 161, Science of Yoga, Vol 6)

Swami Sivananda, "...He will remove ALL obstacles." (pg. 155, Science of Yoga, Vol 6)