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 manso concentrates his attentionon a landscape, a poem, a geometrical problem, an idol, or the True Godthat 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.”
This quote is also attributed to W. H. Auden in other sources. Attributions for famous quotes are often disputed.
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 the act of directing focus away from self toward something greater, dissolving ego and desire.
In simple terms: Focusing beyond self reduces ego.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate mindful attention.
Themes
mindfulness
ego
spirituality
Mood
reflective
contemplative
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- teaching children
- personal meditation
- artistic creation
Key Concepts
attention
self-transcendence
concentration
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you practice attention without religious framing?
- What distractions prevent you from focusing outward?
A Different Perspective
Prayer may be misunderstood as religious ritual, limiting secular acceptance.