I am in the wilderness, when I
am in the city, or wherever I may be. Why should I go where others
are gathered upon a special day, at a certain hour, to unite my
prayers with theirs, when I may not be in a frame of mind for
praying?"

To think in this way is useless imagination, for where many are
gathered together their force is greater. Separate soldiers
fighting alone and individually have not the force of a united
army. If all the soldiers in this spiritual war gather together,
then their united spiritual feelings help each other, and their
prayers become acceptable. (from notes taken by Miss Ethel J.
Rosenberg).

Prayer the Language of Love

To someone who asked whether prayer was necessary, since presumably God
knows the wishes of all hearts, 'Abdu'l-Baha replied:--

If one friend loves another, is it not natural that he should wish
to say so? Though he knows that that friend is aware of his love,
does he still not wish to tell him of it? ... It is true that God
knows the wishes of all hearts; but the impulse to pray is a
natural one, springing from man's love to God.

... Prayer need not be in words, but rather in thought and action.
But if this love and this desire are lacking, it is useless to try
to force them. Words without love mean nothing. If a person talks
to you as an unpleasant duty, finding neither love nor enjoyment
in the meeting, do you wish to converse with him? (article in
Fortnightly Review, Jul.-Dec. 1911, p. 784 by Miss E. S. Stevens).

In another talk He said:--

In the highest prayer, men pray only for the love of God, not
because they fear Him or hell, or hope for bounty or heaven. ...
When a man falls in love with a human being, it is impossible for
him to keep from mentioning the name of his beloved. How much more
difficult is it to keep from mentioning the Name of God when one
has come to love Him.... The spiritual man finds no delight in
anything save in commemoration of God. (from notes of Miss Alma
Robertson and other pilgrims, November and December 1900).

Deliverance from Calamities

According to the teaching of the Prophets, disease and all other forms of
calamity are due to disobedience to the Divine Commands. Even disasters
due to floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes are attributed by 'Abdu'l-Baha
indirectly to this cause.

T