Happiness we all need, true. So, we may imagine that we might pray for happiness – and so we might.
Yet prayer is so much more enjoyable, meaningful and effective, when it is preceded and inspired by happiness. When happiness comes first, when happiness is the source of prayer, our prayer will unfailingly snowball to further and greater happiness.
Happiness itself is pure prayer; prayer, happiness.
It is a common misconception, that prayer must be in its very nature serious and austere.
Yet prayer is in its essence a divine game between two players; parent and child. When we see praying as playing, and playing as praying, both prayer and play assume a new and deeper significance.
Sri Chinmoy wrote:
“The whole creation is God’s Cosmic Game. Again, praying itself is a game. A game means happiness. If we can pray with happiness, then God will definitely fulfil our prayers. When ordinary people pray to God, many times they pray with anxiety, worries, self-doubt and so forth. When sincere seekers pray, they do not have anxiety, worries or impure thoughts. Everything is positive. They feel the game itself is joy.
“In our outer life, we do not feel that the game itself is joy. The importance of the game is only in the results. If we win, then only we get joy. That is a totally mistaken idea. When we pray, we should feel that the prayer itself is joy. We are praying to God Himself. We should be so grateful to God that He has given us the capacity to pray to Him. God says to us, ‘I want to play with you, My child. But I want you to play happily and self-givingly.’
“So prayer itself is a game of happiness, cheerfulness and fulness.”
– Sri Chinmoy