Prayer and the Rosicrucian Order October 4, 2016
If you are interested in learning about the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, go to http://www.amorc.org
Today, we are going to discuss whether or not, prayer is an established technique in the traditional Rosicrucian Teachings. If prayer is not included in the Rosicrucian Teachings, per se, why not? Why do members discuss the matter of prayer as a Rosicrucian Technique? What does the Order teach to replace such this ancient technique?
Please be advised, that herein we are not discussing the rationality and efficacy of prayer. Such would require a second discourse. Though, personally, I find communion with the God of my heart and realization most useful before I undertake a new mission.
To discover the answers to our questions, we begin our search within the Rosicrucian Digest, Monographs, and Rituals of the Order.
[1] I joined the Order in 1971. At that time each monthly Digest contained “The Purpose Statement of the Rosicrucian Order.” This statement read,
“The Rosicrucian Order, which exists throughout the world, is a nonsectarian fraternal body of men and women devoted to the investigation, study, and practical application of natural and spiritual laws. The purpose of the organization is to enable everyone to live in harmony with the creative, constructive forces for the attainment of health, happiness, and peace.”
[2] Though, I cannot remember exactly where the following concept was repeatedly written, basically the purpose of the Order was to show members how to attain to a Mastery of ones Life and stop being a Victim.
[3] The Rosicrucian Order, AMORC mission statement, as found in an early Mastery of Life stated.
“The Rosicrucian teachings enable people to find themselves, turn their lives, and influence the universe. We are educators, students, and seekers devoted to exploring inner wisdom and the meaning of life. We offer an ancient time-tested system of study and experimentation which reveals the underlying principles of the universe. Our method offers practical tools applicable to all aspects of life. The Rosicrucian teachings allow individuals to direct their own lives, experience inner peace, and leave their mark on humanity.”
[4] The current copy of our Mastery of Life states,
“The Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, is a philosophical and initiatic tradition. . . Rosicrucians . . . study the laws of nature in order to live in harmony with them. . .
“Is the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, a Religion? No. AMORC . . . is not a religion and does not require a specific code of belief and conduct. . . The Rosicrucian path incorporates both metaphysics and mysticism. Metaphysics is that which falls beyond the five physical senses; for example, intuition, visualization, and healing techniques. Mysticism is simply the process by which you may eventually experience direct, conscious union with the Absolute, Divine Mind, Universal Intelligence, or what some Rosicrucian students call the God of their Hearts. This is not done by adhering to specific tenets or beliefs, but by learning and applying natural laws which, over time, allow you to experience Divine or Cosmic Consciousness. The Rosicrucian Order does not attempt to define the nature of the deity. Rather, you will remain free to discover this through your own reflections. This same approach applies to everything that is presented through the Rosicrucian teachings.
We don’t expect you to accept anything on faith. We want you to think for yourself, to learn how to draw upon the higher knowledge already within you. What we provide are simply the tools to enable you to accomplish this. The Rosicrucian teachings contain practical exercises and experiments that allow you to demonstrate for yourself the principles presented in the lessons and to access your own source of inner wisdom and guidance. As you do this, you’ll begin developing natural abilities that may have been left dormant throughout your life. Almost immediately you’ll begin to see your life in a different light.
Moreover, the current Mastery of Life briefly describes the content of our Lessons from the Atrium thru the Temple Degrees. Our lessons provide information and experiments so to formulate a personal, successful philosophy of life. No where does it discusses common techniques used by religions, particularly petitionary prayers to any Deity(s).
[5] All who have attended a Rosicrucian Conclave are familiar with our ritualist intoning of sacred vowel sounds to raise ourselves to an emotional and spiritual plane where we can accomplish projection and reception of thought.
The Master instructs the members as follows, “remain perfectly relaxed . . . you will, during the first half of our period, direct thoughts of peace, love, harmony, kindness and health . . . but as a general radiation toward all of humanity. . .
During the latter half of this meditation, remain absolutely passive. Do not try to transmit or radiate, but be receptive, and endeavor to be conscious of all impressions you may receive.”
The combination of vowel intoning followed by an emotional meditation focusing upon the purposeful transmission and radiation of and the passive reception of conscious thoughts and higher emotions is most powerful. However, no where is religiosity and prayer mentioned.
If my memory serves me well, an older version included a metaphor for the transmission which went like this, ‘imagine yourself as a light in a darkened room radiating light, life, and love to all of humanity.
Conclusion: Based upon the above statements of the Order, as it is not a religion and does not possess a creed and a particular concept of Deity, religious techniques such as prayer, communion, confirmation, and so on are NOT a part of the Teachings of the Order. Prayer is a personal matter left to the desires and needs of each student.
What the Order teaches is proactive, conscious involvement in mundane and spiritual matters so to help forward Omneity’s Grand Plan.