To pray is to pay attention to something or someone other…
“To pray is to pay attention to something or someone other than oneself. Whenever a man so concentrates his attention - on a landscape, a poem, a geometrical problem, an idol, or the True God - that he completely forgets his own ego and desires, he is praying. The primary task of the schoolteacher is to teach children, in a secular context, the technique of prayer.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Prayer is deep, self‑less attention to something beyond self.
In simple terms: Prayer means focusing on something larger than yourself.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate focused, self‑less attention.
Themes
spirituality
mindfulness
education
Mood
contemplative
inspirational
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- classroom teaching
- personal meditation
- creative work
Key Concepts
concentration
ego dissolution
Questions to Reflect On
- How can teachers foster mindful attention?
- What distractions hinder deep focus?
A Different Perspective
Self‑focus can dominate, limiting prayer‑like states.