"INTERNAL STATES CONDUCIVE TO PERFECTING THE LIFE IN PRAYER
REVERENCE
As for reverence, this is something beyond both awareness and understanding. A man may address his servant in full awareness of his speech, and understanding the meaning of his words, yet without reverence, for reverence is an additional element."
Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship
We're continuing our reflection on al-Ghazali's guidelines in regards to prayer. And, again, like the others, I guess Reverence is the very definition of a "well, duh!" I mean, God is God, right, so by definition shouldn't you revere God? However, if you take a step back, what does that mean? I would argue that this is one of those instances where our tendency to anthropomorphize God becomes most apparent. When we "give" God a physical form, and we imagine standing in front of a massive throne wherein sits an immensely powerful image of patriarchal authority, potentially sneakily kind, but more likely harsh, and always judgmental, then Reverence takes on a very specific meaning. You're sitting in your college classroom, waiting anxiously for your ancient professor to come, an old school white dude, respected but also prickly as hell, known both for being a stickler but also for his bad temper, and you're trying to remember what to do: definitely come early; come prepared with a question but not a provocative one; for the love of all that is holy be sure that you've done the reader; do not talk in class, etc. OK, you revere your professor, but isn't that reverence based on fear? Even if you secretly love the professor and appreciate what the professor has to say, aren't you simply trying to curry favor by fastidiously following the rules? That can't be what we mean when we revere God. And this is another one of the dangers of picturing God in a physical form, especially a strictly patriarchal form. If God doesn't have a form, and is, instead, as I would argue, the present but intangible quiet kindness at the center of all things, then revering God would not be sitting up straight physically, but instead sitting up straight morally. I think you revere God by approaching each moment of the day with the solemnity they deserve and focusing on how you make the lives of others better. There is a presentness and intentionality that every moment requires and I think that is reverence. So, I think prayer requires the same sort of reverence. You're not quiet and humble because you're in the presence of God at that moment during prayer, because aren't you in the presence of God every moment of every day. At that quiet, meditative moment you're focusing on the gifts of your life and thanking God for them, and also reflecting upon your shortcomings and vowing, if only to yourself, to become a better person. That moment of utter truth is reverence.
REVERENCE
As for reverence, this is something beyond both awareness and understanding. A man may address his servant in full awareness of his speech, and understanding the meaning of his words, yet without reverence, for reverence is an additional element."
Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship
We're continuing our reflection on al-Ghazali's guidelines in regards to prayer. And, again, like the others, I guess Reverence is the very definition of a "well, duh!" I mean, God is God, right, so by definition shouldn't you revere God? However, if you take a step back, what does that mean? I would argue that this is one of those instances where our tendency to anthropomorphize God becomes most apparent. When we "give" God a physical form, and we imagine standing in front of a massive throne wherein sits an immensely powerful image of patriarchal authority, potentially sneakily kind, but more likely harsh, and always judgmental, then Reverence takes on a very specific meaning. You're sitting in your college classroom, waiting anxiously for your ancient professor to come, an old school white dude, respected but also prickly as hell, known both for being a stickler but also for his bad temper, and you're trying to remember what to do: definitely come early; come prepared with a question but not a provocative one; for the love of all that is holy be sure that you've done the reader; do not talk in class, etc. OK, you revere your professor, but isn't that reverence based on fear? Even if you secretly love the professor and appreciate what the professor has to say, aren't you simply trying to curry favor by fastidiously following the rules? That can't be what we mean when we revere God. And this is another one of the dangers of picturing God in a physical form, especially a strictly patriarchal form. If God doesn't have a form, and is, instead, as I would argue, the present but intangible quiet kindness at the center of all things, then revering God would not be sitting up straight physically, but instead sitting up straight morally. I think you revere God by approaching each moment of the day with the solemnity they deserve and focusing on how you make the lives of others better. There is a presentness and intentionality that every moment requires and I think that is reverence. So, I think prayer requires the same sort of reverence. You're not quiet and humble because you're in the presence of God at that moment during prayer, because aren't you in the presence of God every moment of every day. At that quiet, meditative moment you're focusing on the gifts of your life and thanking God for them, and also reflecting upon your shortcomings and vowing, if only to yourself, to become a better person. That moment of utter truth is reverence.
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