Why do we use our hands to pray?

Each part of the prayer has a hand movement that has meaning, even without the words we speak. For example when we speak the word evil, our hands in the prayer position go downward. When we say sweep away, our hands make a sweeping motion toward our hearts. When we are asking God to Save us, our hand our placed palms up in the asking position, and finally when we mention God, our hands are also in the asking position with the palms up.

There is a verse in the Tip of the Writing Brush that makes reference to how even a person who is not able to talk is able to pray.

This service is the path for salvation of the world                  IV-91

Even a mute, will be able to pray.

Personally,  when I use to pray, I use to lose focus, and my mind would wander to extraneous subjects. But  by looking at my hands while I pray,  it reinforces what comes out of my mouth. It gives me focus, to sincerely pray for God’s blessings.

“Evil sweeping, save us please, Universal Saving God”

Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo     Heaven’s Truth Church     Tenrikyo