Pray to who?

I was provoked yesterday by a believer but against idol worship. I don't easily get provoked but of late, I am deeply involved in Srivaishnavism. Now I know the full meanings of its philosophy.

I don't criticize any belief; each one to his or her own belief. As long as one has a belief of God, it is fine. Belief is the only link to your creator.

I put forward my argument like this which is based on teaching of 'The Mother' of Sri Aurobindo Ashram of Pondicherry, India.

It is difficult to pray without praying to someone
Pray to what
One doesn't pray to something that has no personality
One prays to someone who can hear us
If there is nobody to hear to us, how could one pray?
Prayer is a personal thing, addressed to personal being, who can hear us and answer.

No, my arguments did not create the desired impact on the listener but I am just not bothered.

Mary Magdalene, in a dramatic 19th-century popular image of penitence painted by Ary cheffe

Image via Wikipedia

Are you after money?

Who doesn't need money? We all do. We pray for money to buy new gadgets, a big car, more spacious house, pay of credit card debts, renovate the house and so on and on.

You need not feel guilty for wanting all these. In fact God wants us to live a life of joy. Let us ask ourself only one question. What will be the metal state once we buy a new car or once we move into a new house that is more spacious than the previous one?

A sense of happiness and joy. So what we are really after is only a mental state of happiness. A joyous mood. So why not we pray for that state of mind directly?

Do you get what I am driving at?

Don' ask money, ask life because by the time you get the money you asked for, the price of the car or the house might have gone up.