Why transactional prayers will hurt you

What if I told you that you will suffer if you pray to God? And God Himself has said this … Here’s the tea.

Most of us have grown up in families who teach us to worship God with the goal of getting something from Him or out of fear of his authority.

We take flowers, garlands and sweets to big public temples, we ask God to help us pass our exams, make us richer or healthier, bless us with girlfriends, boyfriends or kids, etc. We ask Him to grant us our wishes or solve our problems.

But in the 9th Mantra of the Isha Upanishad, it’s said:

अन्धं तमः प्रविशन्ति येऽविद्यामुपासते।

ततो भूय इव ते तमो य उ विद्यायां रताः॥

(Andham - tamaha, pravishanti ye vidhyaamupaasate

tato bhuya iva te tamo ya u vidhayaam rataah)

This means that those who worship with a desire of getting the pleasure or good things, and also those who do it merely to feel superior to others as scholars with an ego - both fall into darker hells.

So praying should never be done as a transaction or business deal, never ask God to give you anything by bribing him - They don’t need anything.

It should be done with humility, gratitude and true pure, love without any expectations or motives, which is called bhakti. Only ask God to give you the courage to face your challenges & achieve your dreams by yourself.

The next time you go to a temple or sit down to pray, keep this in mind!