Praying Peace: In Conversation with Gregg Braden and Doreen Virtue

- I read this book in an afternoon. It was an absolute joy to read. It gives you three different views on each of the 7th pathways proposed. James Twyman, Gregg Braden, and Doreen Virtue each explain concepts from their knowledgebase to enable the reader to understand. I received a spiritual boost from this tome. I especially appreciate the prayers of peace from the twelve major religions and James' condensation of each. This is truly a tool to guide the planet Earth toward peace. If only it were mandatory reading for all citizens of our planet.

What we focus our minds on grows. Can one person, properly motivated, change the world? Can one person inspire us and give the rest of us hope? Could that person be you? In the opinion of the author, the answer to those questions is a resounding "Yes" - you have always had the power. What if you have more power within you than you can even imagine? What if you are not the weak unimportant, insignificant person you thought you were? Might prayer be more than we think? Could it be that peace is more than just an idea but a powerful reality? What if prayer is "becoming aware of the awareness of God?" What if becoming aware of the awareness of God is the act of re-establishing the flow of information between our source and us? What if peace is not the opposite of war, but an experience that transcends all definitions, linking us to our eternal nature? What if the word "peace" really is defined as by St. Paul "Peace that surpasseth all understanding?" Is it possible for us to experience something so pure, so whole, that it cannot be compared to anything at all? Is it possible to enter into an experience that has no opposite? Could it be that real peace is an experience beyond the comprehension of the rational mind and of which the mystics say, "Of this we cannot speak"? What if there is more to prayer than the formulae that we were taught to recite kneeling beside our bed? What if there is a system that has the power to change everything and can provide access to unlimited peace, happiness and joy? When we enter into a state of communication with the Divine, or prayer, then we are aware of God and we experience peace and this is what this book is all about. James Twyman talks with Gregg Braden, earth scientist, computer systems designer and guide to sacred sites throughout the world and with Doreen Virtue, spiritual psychologist and author of twenty-two books about mind-body-spirit. They agree that the seven pathways to peace are:- you are always praying; thought itself is prayer- whatever you focus your mind on increases- to change the world, change your thoughts about the world- if you want to experience peace - become peace- peace is always present, though it is sometimes hidden- love is the only force in the universe- the world is already healedBeing a person whose concept of prayer and peace is that of a person who is just putting his first step on the ladder, I found it very helpful to see these three higher up the ladder reaching down to pull me up. Their goal is to help me make a real difference on the planet by creating a world based on the laws of love. For me it was a mind-stretching experience as I belong to "the old school" which believes that power is military strength, superior technology or a cleverer mind in the game of bluff and counter bluff. But somewhere in our ancient past it was not always like that. People realized that real power is within you and it was that kind of power which created the world's great works of art, our fant

We have been waiting for all wars to cease and all the children to be fed before we proclaim victory. The Truth is, there is Peace on Earth. There always has been, and at this time, more than any other, we can be more aware of how true that is. We are more globally united than we have ever been. At any given moment, we can know that somewhere, millions of people are enjoying the sweet peace of prayer. There is peace on earth. It dwells in every human heart. It is up to us to choose to nurture it, by focusing our attention on it. We have always had the power and now is the time to use that power to choose peace.This book is deceptively simple. A quick read (I read it in an evening), it nevertheless contains truths of immense power. It is very encouraging to see these thoughts in print. Praying Peace includes a devastating critique of traditional petitionary prayer, explaining in clear and simple terms why it so often does not work: The universe "hears" the belief in lack or "not-here-ness" and automatically delivers that experience. Prayer is not something we do, it is something we are. The science of prayer is taught in this slim volume. As we embody a consciousness of peace, that naturally becomes our experience--as within, so without. The heart of this prayer technology is in the alchemical union of thoughts and emotions to produce the feeling of peace. It is our feelings that give our prayers their power and bring about the matching experience in our lives.The controversy of how this ancient technology of prayer was kept from us in the early days of the Christian church is briefly acknowledged, but then Twyman shifts attention back where it belongs: how will we use this knowledge today.If I have one criticism, it would be that the authors may tend to underestimate their reading audience. Longtime Prayer Pracitioners and others in the New Thought movement will find nothing here they haven't already heard before. As mentioned, the technology of prayer is ancient, and these universal principles have been discovered and taught by many traditions. However, the important thing is not just having the knowledge, but in applying it. The value of this book is in showing us in simple terms how we can actually use this knowledge, starting today. We can use our thoughts to focus our emotions and create a lasting culture of peace today, leaving a legacy of Beloved Community for our children's children's children.