Prayer, discernment, mortification, examination of conscience, penance, meditation and contemplation used to be the preferred practices in Goa not so long ago. But times have changed and so too the value system and our way of proceeding. Hunger for power and wealth has entered every realm of life in our society.
As Goans and true Indians we need to return to our cherished roots of fellow feeling for one another making sacrifices for the good of the other.
Our temples, chapels and churches are often empty with no people gathering for prayer and recollection. We need to have hours of silence and solitude to draw strength for our day to day living and right way of acting. Such exercises will certainly fortify us against weaknesses and temptations for corruption, greed and exploitation.
Our so called religious leaders too are failing in keeping up to the high standards expected of them. In the race for power and glory at times they come across as horses in the front row ready to gallop with full speed often nowhere. Failing to be leaven they often appear thoroughly misfits in robes.
Spiritual gurus and meditation experts have time and again refered to election as an important procedure for making progress as individuals and as groups of individuals.
Time and again Sant Tukaram in his abhangas or Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier in their spiritual texts remind the genuine seekers of the enormous blessings that await them through prayer.
