I know that's probably a stupid question on the face of it.
My understanding of prayer, from my western upbringing, is that there are two types. There is the formulaic prayer, like the Lord's Prayer, aka the Our Father; and the Hail Mary. There are many others in Christianity and Islam and Judaism. They are all recited the same way, like you'd recite a mantra.
Then there is the conversation-with-God kind of prayer. I think most people don't hear God's answers because they are too busy talking, and asking God and not letting Him answer.
Jesus (whom I believe was a great teacher and prophet sent by God) said that when you pray, don't make a big speech, just let God know what you want, though He already knows. You know, when you were 17 your dad knew you wanted the car keys, but you still asked him. And then you thanked him.
So that's what I think of as prayer.
Now, are there special ways of praying in Hinduism? If I chanted each of the mantras I use (in my sig.) on a mālā, does that constitute a form of prayer, or is it meditation or is it something in between? Or is that "overdoing" it?
When I meditate (which I really must start doing), can I listen to the recorded mantras and bhajans (am I using the right word for songs?) and feel what the words and music are conveying? I have a whole collection in iTunes, about three hours worth. Some are happy, some are solemn. I listened to them one time through and I felt really peaceful.
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