Chapter 06
IA, THE MOST WELL-KNOWN PRAYERS OF THE MOST UNIVERSAL RELIGIONS
In religious or spiritual contexts, prayer is a practice that allows a person to communicate with the divine or express reflections, thanks and requests.
Prayer in the religious context
In spiritual traditions, prayer is a practice of communication with the divine or a higher source. It can be personal or communal, and is used to praise, ask, give thanks, or reflect. There are different types of prayers in different religions, such as:
Praise prayers : used to honor a deity.
Prayers of petition : to request something specific, such as health or guidance.
Prayers of thanks : express gratitude for blessings received.
Meditative prayers : focus on introspection and contemplation.
Benefits of (spiritual) prayer
Various studies and experiences have shown that the practice of prayer can offer benefits such as:
Stress reduction : helps the mind to relax and find peace.
Spiritual connection : strengthens the sense of belonging and faith.
Fostering gratitude : Develop a positive attitude by focusing on things to be grateful for.
The benefits of prayer can be spiritual, psychological and physical; some of the most notable benefits are:
Reducing stress and anxiety
Prayer can act as a mechanism to release tension and reduce stress levels. By spending time in prayer, people can feel relief from everyday worries and an inner calm, similar to what occurs in meditation.
Spiritual connection and meaning of life
Prayer strengthens your connection to the divine or a higher purpose. This practice can provide a sense of belonging and meaning, especially during times of uncertainty or difficulty. Feeling connected to something larger than yourself offers comfort and strength.
Improving emotional well-being
Prayer can promote positive emotions such as gratitude, hope, and compassion. These emotions contribute to overall well-being, fostering a more optimistic and resilient outlook in the face of life's challenges.
Developing gratitude
When prayer focuses on gratitude, it promotes a positive approach to life, acknowledging what one has rather than focusing only on what one lacks. The practice of gratitude is associated with higher levels of satisfaction and happiness.
Reinforcement of self-esteem and self-confidence
Prayer can help people feel valued and loved, which improves their self-esteem. The feeling of divine or spiritual support also increases self-confidence in facing challenges.
Developing patience and tolerance
Prayer can help cultivate virtues such as patience and tolerance because it involves time and reflection. By asking for guidance or strength, a person can learn to accept and handle situations more calmly.
Physical benefits
Some studies have indicated that people who practice prayer regularly may experience physical benefits such as lower blood pressure, better cardiovascular health, and a stronger immune system. This may be related to prayer's ability to reduce stress, which positively impacts physical health.
Fostering positive relationships
Collective prayers, such as in religious services or community gatherings, strengthen social bonds and create a sense of community. Sharing spiritual experiences with others can develop stronger bonds and foster empathy.
Mental clarity and decision making
Prayer can facilitate introspection, allowing a person to reflect on their thoughts and actions. This practice can be helpful in finding solutions to problems or making important decisions by creating a space of calm and focus.
Reducing depression
People who feel spiritually supported and practice prayer regularly have reported lower levels of depression. Prayer provides comfort, decreases feelings of loneliness, and increases perceptions of hope and control in life.
Prayer, in both religious and non-religious contexts, has a profound impact on the overall well-being of individuals. While the benefits may vary from person to person, many find in prayer a source of peace, strength, and hope.
The most commonly recited prayers vary according to the beliefs and traditions of the world's most widespread religions. These prayers and mantras form the basis of the spiritual practice of millions of people and are recited by devotees daily to strengthen their faith, obtain spiritual guidance and find peace and balance.
Some of the most representative of each religion:
Christianity
The Lord's Prayer : This is one of the most well-known and recited prayers in all Christian denominations. This prayer is attributed to Jesus and is found in the Gospel of Matthew (6:9-13) and in that of Luke (11:2-4). Its text is:
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
Forgive our trespasses,
just as we forgive those who offend us;
lead us not into temptation,
and deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Islam
The Shahada : Not a prayer in the sense of supplication, but the most important declaration of faith in Islam, recited by Muslims daily:
There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.
Surah Al-Fatihah : It is the first sura of the Quran and is recited in each of the five obligatory daily prayers (salat):
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
The Clement, the Merciful.
Owner of the Day of Judgment.
We worship only You and we implore only You for help.
Guide us on the straight path,
the path of those you have favored;
not those who have incurred Your wrath, nor those who have gone astray.
Judaism
The Shema Yisrael is a central prayer in Judaism, declared twice a day. Its main text is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9:
Shemá Israel, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Ejad.
(Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one.)
The Amidah : Known as the "Standing Prayer" or "The Eighteen Blessings," it is one of the most important prayers and is recited three times a day by observant Jews.
Hinduism
The Gayatri Mantra : is one of the most sacred mantras in Hinduism, found in the Rig Veda (3.62.10). It is recited to seek wisdom and is enlightening:
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Om bhur bhuvah svah
Tat is saved from varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Wash me, this is not good.
(Translation: We meditate on the glory of the supreme Creator, who is worthy of worship, who is the embodiment of knowledge and light, who is the remover of all sins and ignorance. May He enlighten our intellect.)
Buddhism
The Three Refuges Prayer : It is a daily recitation that expresses devotion and refuge in the Buddhist teachings:
I take refuge in the Buddha.
I take refuge in the Dharma.
I take refuge in the Sangha.
The Mantra of Compassion (Om Mani Padme Hum) : This mantra is one of the most popular among Buddhists, associated with the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteshvara.
Sikhism
Japji Sahib : It is the hymn composed by Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, and is recited at dawn. Its opening verses are:
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One on the one hand, the true doer
Nirbhau Nirvair Akaal Moorat
Ajooni Saibhang Gurprasad.
(Translation: There is only one God; His name is Truth. He is the Creator, fearless and hateless, immortal and formless, unborn and self-existent. He is known by the grace of the Guru.)
Artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly expanded the possibilities of accessing and understanding religious texts around the world; some tools and applications that stand out in this field:
Translation of religious texts
Google Translate – While a general translation tool, it has improved with advanced AI models that allow complex religious texts to be translated more accurately. However, for sacred texts that require specialized cultural and linguistic context, it can be useful but limited.
DeepL Translator – Delivers high-quality translations and is known for its accuracy in translating linguistic nuances, making it ideal for working with religious texts that require detailed and faithful understanding.
Modern MT – This tool allows machine translation to be adapted to the user’s specific context, which is valuable for preserving the essence and original intent of sacred texts.
Analysis of religious texts
IBM Watson Natural Language Understanding – uses natural language processing (NLP) to analyze text and extract themes, sentiments, and meanings. It can be applied to the study of religious texts, providing a deeper understanding of the emotions and teachings they contain.
GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) : Models like ChatGPT can analyze religious texts to help understand complex passages, identify parallels between different scriptures, and offer accessible explanations based on context.
Voyant Tools is a text analysis tool that allows you to study key words and phrases in religious scriptures, identifying patterns and comparisons in large corpora of texts.
Meditation and guided prayer apps
Headspace and Calm : While not specific to religious prayer, these apps use AI to personalize and recommend meditation sessions based on the user’s preferences and needs. Some of them include meditation practices inspired by mantras and teachings from different traditions.
Insight Timer : Offers guided meditations that include prayers and practices from different religions, and AI suggests sessions based on the user's history and preferences.
Soulspace : is a Christian meditation and prayer app that provides personalized content based on the user's practices and devotions, using algorithms to fine-tune the experience.
Tools for digitizing and preserving religious texts
Transkribus – used to transcribe ancient manuscripts with AI, helps digitize historical religious texts that would otherwise be difficult to access. Digitization allows more people to study and understand ancient scriptures.
Advanced OCR (optical character recognition) : Applications such as Adobe Acrobat and specialized OCR tools with AI can digitize old texts and convert them into editable files, facilitating their study and translation.
Virtual assistants and religious chatbots
Religious chatbots : Some communities have developed chatbots that can answer questions about religious scriptures and traditions. These bots use AI to offer answers based on databases of sacred texts, facilitating spiritual learning and guidance.
Alexa and Google Assistant : These can recite prayers, read passages from religious texts, and provide information about the religion. These tools can be customized to include prayers and practices specific to a tradition.
These tools and applications make access to religious texts and spiritual practice more accessible and understandable to people around the world, helping both scholars and practitioners on their spiritual path.
AI Opinion: José Saul Velásquez Restrepo's "AI, THE MOST WELL-KNOWN PRAYERS OF THE MOST UNIVERSAL RELIGIONS" is a fascinating and timely analysis that unites technology and spirituality, exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) can enrich the understanding and practice of religious traditions in today's world. Prayer, as a central expression of spiritual connection, is approached from a historical and cultural perspective that highlights its role in diverse religions such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, presenting their most emblematic prayers and mantras.
The article not only describes the most widely recognized prayers, but also provides a comprehensive perspective on how AI contributes to the study and practice of spirituality. The AI tools mentioned, such as Google Translate, DeepL, and Modern MT, do an excellent job of translating sacred texts, while other applications, such as IBM Watson analytics and models like GPT, provide deeper insights into religious texts.
The use of AI in meditation and prayer apps, such as Headspace, Calm and Insight Timer, also highlights how technology facilitates a personalized approach to spirituality, adapting to the user’s needs. The inclusion of tools to digitize and preserve texts, such as Transkribus and advanced OCR, demonstrates the importance of AI in preserving religious heritage, making it more accessible globally.
This balanced approach to the integration of AI and religious practices offers an encouraging glimpse into how technology can complement, rather than replace, the spiritual and cultural richness that prayers have conveyed over the centuries. It also underlines how these innovations can foster unity and understanding in a diverse and connected world.
