“Thought is a force; it has immense power. When people send forth concentrated, positive thoughts of peace, love, goodwill, forgiveness, as in the healing technique used by World Wide Prayer Circle, this generates a great power. If the masses were to do this, it would set up a vibration of goodness that would be powerful enough to change the world.”
How can our prayers influence the lives of others?
In the same way that they elevate our own: by implanting in the consciousness positive patterns of health, success, and receptivity to divine help.
Paramahansa Yogananda wrote:
“The human mind, freed from the disturbances or ‘static’ of restlessness, is empowered to perform all the functions of complicated radio mechanisms — sending as well as receiving thoughts and tuning out undesirable ones. As the power of a radio broadcasting station is regulated by the amount of electrical current it can utilize, so the effectiveness of a human radio depends on the degree of will power possessed by each person.”
Sometimes people ask, “What is the best way to pray for others?”
“To pray for others is right and good asking, above all, that they may be receptive to God, and thus receive physical, mental, or spiritual help direct from the Divine Physician. This is the basis of all prayer. God’s blessing is ever present; receptivity is often lacking. Prayer heightens receptivity .
“When you are affirming healing for others or yourself, visualize the tremendous force of God’s healing power as a white light surrounding you or the person for whom you are praying. Feel that it is melting away all illness and imperfection. Every uplifting thought we think, every prayer we utter, every good action we perform, is impregnated with God’s power. We can manifest this power in greater and greater ways as our faith becomes stronger and our love for God becomes deeper.”
Any person who prays according to these principles will find that his or her prayers also have a tangible influence. And though our individual power is obviously less than that which a master can convey, when the prayers of thousands are united, the powerful vibrations of peace and divine healing thus generated are of inestimable value in helping to manifest the desired results.
By Paramahansa Yogananda