The following two Christian prayers were written shortly after experiencing our painful financial scam. These are followed by a Buddhist perspective on prayer from Thich Nhat Hanh. Finally, an Afterword by Eva ends this section.
Prayer for the Scammers (and Ourselves)
Dear Heavenly Father,
While I am going through waves of not feeling well and being heavy-hearted, I pray for Veronica and her accomplices who took our money. I pray that they can swiftly see that a life of crime is not going to help them in the long run, certainly not in the next world – because there are definite consequences involving suffering. I pray that they can come to heartfelt regret and remorse over their actions and that they will change their ways while they can.
I pray for other people who have been scammed and bitterly lost much more than us. We are not alone in this. I pray not just for ourselves to retrieve our money, but especially for those who have lost far more of their money and are now significantly hurting. Despite our financial setback, there is still much to be grateful for.
I don’t quite understand why I am feeling bad and hurting – perhaps it is a form of grief and hurt since we have experienced a loss. Thank you, however, for the understanding we now have about how clever and devious manipulation works and how we can all potentially become victims.
I pray for ourselves to heal and be able to go on – and for a good outcome after all, both for ourselves and all those involved. I pray for forgiveness of any unethical behaviour that I have even unknowingly committed, and I forgive all the perpetrators of this scam crime against us. Let me not feel any hate or even anger toward them.
I pray that the bank will be able to recover our money and restore it to our account. I pray for peace and calmness. Again, I am deeply grateful that our loss was not worse – and for the mercy that we have been wonderfully shown.
I pray that Veronica is influenced from beyond by loving heavenly beings in a positive way, and for her to change her ways before it is too late in her life – and that she is open to this influence with her free will.
May it be so – Amen.
Eva Peck
Prayer for Ourselves (and Others)
Dear Heavenly Father,
We have been unwittingly conned, deceived and robbed – unfortunately and ironically with our own cooperation. It has affected us deeply and we need healing of our hearts and minds.
Despite our financial loss, we are grateful that we didn’t suffer a far greater setback, such as having all our savings mercilessly taken away. We pray for those who have been scammed out of their life or retirement savings – and we pray for the scammers that they will be dealt with mercifully. Both the scammers and their victims all need help and compassion.
We are don’t know why this financial scam has beset us – it all occurred so swiftly. It is uncanny that we both did not catch on earlier in the process of being deceived.
Nonetheless, we are already gaining lessons and insights. We will certainly be more circumspect and careful from this moment on. Perhaps we were naïve and far too trusting of people we did not even know and who were only first-time contacts online. It is amazing and hard to believe, just how we were manipulated step by step into compliance.
You promise that all things work together for good, and that we will not be tested beyond our abilities. The latter has certainly been the case – and we deeply believe the former as well. We are getting a far more compassionate understanding of how the world operates and the evil that abounds – and how urgently we need to pray “Your Kingdom come.”
We remain hopeful that some or all of the money will be recovered. In the meantime, we are grateful that it was not a far worse and devastating setback.
May we focus on the many, many good things and the blessings in our lives and not on this issue – even though we feel violated, taken advantage of, betrayed, and perhaps a somewhat angry.
Help us to remember – and be deeply grateful for – that we were recently protected from three near-accidents that we know of. For some reason we were not protected from this situation, but almost led into it. It is so puzzling, but perhaps there is a purpose working out.
We pray for healing for ourselves, as well as forgiveness and compassion for the perpetrators – and, more importantly, for others that have been scammed in a far more painful and excruciating way.
Finally, may the law enforcement agencies be blessed in their work of dealing with all types of scam situations – that are sadly abounding more and more.
Amen – may it be so.
Eva Peck
The Approach to Prayer in Buddhism
Earlier this year (2022), one of the most influential Zen masters of our time, Thich Nhat Hanh, departed his physical body at age 96. Here is some of his advice on the “right way to pray.”
“If you are standing on one shore and want to cross over to the other shore, you have to use a boat or swim across. You cannot just pray, ‘Oh, other shore, please come over here for me to step across!’
To a Buddhist, praying without also practicing is not real prayer. In a real prayer, you ask only for the things you really need, things that are necessary for your well-being, such as peace, solidity, and freedom … freedom from anger, fear and craving. Happiness and well-being are not possible without peace, solidity and freedom. Most of our desires are not for our peace, solidity and freedom.
While you pray, you are deeply aware of what you really need and what is just the object of your desire. This kind of prayer is the light of God that shines upon you, telling you which way to go in order to obtain peace, solidity and freedom.
In a real prayer, you also touch the wholesome seeds in your consciousness and water them. These are seeds of compassion, love, understanding, forgiveness and joy. If while praying you can recognize these seeds in you and help them grow, your prayer is already a deep practice.”
Also from Thich Nhat Hanh are the following Nine Prayers:
The Nine Prayers
May I be peaceful, happy, and light in body and spirit.
May I be free from injury. May I live in safety.
May I be free from disturbance, fear, anxiety, and worry.
May I learn to look at myself with the eyes of understanding and love.
May I be able to recognize and touch the seeds of joy and happiness in myself.
May I learn to identify and see the sources of anger, craving, and delusion in myself.
May I know how to nourish the seeds of joy in myself every day.
May I be able to live fresh, solid, and free.
May I be free from attachment and aversion, but not be indifferent.
(Source: Based on https://www.stillnessspeaks.com/nine-prayers-thich-nhat-hanh/)
Afterword
I would like to end this book with the following thoughts and a Bible promise that has been remarkably fulfilled.
Despite the setback and initial trauma, our story shows that a trial can indeed work for the good and bring about spiritual growth that would otherwise not have occurred.
As Aurora Winter advises in her Peace Method (described earlier in this book), we learnt the following: Why not consider the contrary to the initial feelings and emotions? Why not appreciate the good parts of what happened, rather than focusing on the worst of it? Why not be grateful that the trial was not worse, but rather was tempered by mercy? Why not keep reminding ourselves of the blessings of life and to be grateful for them all?
Once we consider the suffering and plight of so many in the world, our problem will appear small, or even insignificant, in comparison. Rather than feeling sorry for ourselves, we can start feeling compassion for others and look for ways to make their heavy burdens more bearable. This can start with prayer, and if feasible, include physical or financial help.
I am certain that our prayer shortly after being scammed has been answered. It included the following quoted reflections and requests:
“[The scam] has affected us deeply and we need healing of our hearts and feelings.”
We can honestly write that we have received healing in that the hurtful emotions have subsided and we are able to move on with life. There may still be occasional triggers or flashbacks, but overall, we feel much better. We can also see the good that has come out of the experience, mostly wisdom and spiritual growth.
“We are uncertain why it had happened; it was all so uncanny that we both didn’t catch on earlier. But there are already lessons and insights.”
A new perspective we have gained is that there was a purpose for it and good has come out of it. Our insights have resulted in this book and a website with similar information that my husband has created. We hope that both sources of information will help others – those been scammed, and those who are working through other losses and hardships.
“It is amazing and hard to believe, just how we were manipulated into compliance. You [Father] promise that all things work together for good, and that we won’t be tested beyond our abilities. The latter has certainly been the case and the former as well. Perhaps we are getting a more compassionate understanding about how the world operates and the evil that abounds.”
This is still truly valid – both the good that has come from the experience in terms of learning and spiritual growth, and the fact that while difficult, the situation was not unbearable. The cover picture is symbolic of our journey from darkness to light, from a dark night through dawn to sunrise on a new day.
“Help us to remember and be grateful that we were protected from three near-accidents that we know of. For some reason we were not protected from this situation, but almost led into it. It is so puzzling, but perhaps there is a purpose working out.”
One of the purposes we see is sharing the information in this book with others to help ease their burdens. Our experience indeed shows that while we were scammed, we were clearly protected from a far worse situation, and we remain immensely grateful for that. In the overall scheme of things, especially considering the afterlife into which we cannot take any of our earthly possessions, this scam loss is of minor significance.
“We pray for healing for ourselves, forgiveness for the perpetrators, as well as compassion. Compassion is especially needed for others that have been scammed in a far more painful way, as this is a very common problem and becoming more so.”
I do not feel anger or hate for the perpetrators, and certainly have more compassion for those who are losing money through scams – but, more importantly, also those who have lost belongings, and even loved ones, through earthquakes, floods, fires, wars, terrorism, crime, accidents, and the many other tragedies that are a part of this world’s ocean of suffering.
To end on a positive and hopeful note, I believe that this world is going, and will continue to go, through a transition and transformation into a better world. It may well go through yet greater darkness, before the dawn comes and the sun rises. But, as with other civilizations before ours, there will not be a permanent end and annihilation. I believe that a remnant of humanity will survive whatever catastrophes – man-made, natural, or supernatural – may be ahead. Such events tend to cause people to consider higher realities and seek help from Beyond. Some of the survivors will have learned vital lessons and be able to lead others into a better world based on love and harmony.
I also believe that this world is not all there is. There is an afterlife, where the situation that each of us will find ourselves in will depend on how we lived in this life. Due to the law of causality, if we have done well, we will enter a realm of joy and happiness. If we have lived in an unwholesome way, there will be penalties to be paid – but then also opportunities for progression from darkness to light. No one is destined for everlasting punishment in hell, but all will have opportunities to reach a place of happiness. We are the architects of our future existence.
So whatever challenges and trials we encounter during this short and fleeting earthly existence, each can be seen as a bump in the road, a possible detour, a learning experience – all training for what is going to be a far more lasting reality. In the overall scheme of things, as time goes on, what seemed like a big deal or major drama at the time will fade into near insignificance.
I would like to end with a scripture that I find most encouraging: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
If we can believe this, and look for the good in each trial and setback, we will be able to give thanks as we see the fulfillment of this universal promise in our lives.
I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind …
Oh, yes I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I’ve been praying for
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
(Song by Jimmy Cliff)
Eva Peck
December 2022