After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, many people said there was nothing they could do but pray. And so they did, In record numbers, they flocked to churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples. Something curious happened. People who said they didn't belong to an organized religion or know how to pray turned up at sidewalk vigils. They, too, wanted in on the spiritual action. But many said they didn't know where to begin. Marcus Braybrooke's new book, "Learn to Pray: A Practical Guide to Faith and Inspiration" (Chronicle Books, $14.95) is geared for people who are drawn to spirituality but not organized religion. The book doesn't push any one type of spirituality, and it doesn't proselytize. It simply walks the uninitiated through many different approaches to prayer. "Sit quietly and comfortable, close your eyes, and picture yourself walking into a beautiful sunset," the author suggests in one of the mnay prayer exercises offered in the book. The book's tone is objective and nonjudgmental. Readers will learn the approaches to prayer used in traditional religions. They'll be given examples of different kinds of prayer. And then they're gently nudged to discover a prayer that works for them. The book stresses that prayer is not just words but silence. It tells the difference between Eastern and Western meditation and provides readers a step-by-step guide to each. Another chapter emphasizes the importance of approaching each day with gratitude. Prayer is an interior journey, it says, that will transform the heart. One of the most significant chapters is on body postures used for prayer. Some believers kneel, some kneel and touch their foreheads to the ground, and others sit cross-legged or stand. Whatever the path, the use of the body has long been seen as an important expression of spirituality. "Although submissive, bear in mind that kneeling is also the posture for receiving ennoblement," Mr. Braybrooke writes. The book is richly illustrated and easy to read. Mr. Braybrooke integrates practices of the world's religions into his presentation as a way of background. He also provides quotations from several spiritual figures, such as this one attributed to the Prophet Muhammad: "Take one step toward God and God will take a thousand steps toward you." -The Dallas Morning News
