"Your cravings as a human animal do not become a prayer just because it is God whom you ask to attend to them"

Dag Hammarskjöld's quote, "Your cravings as a human animal do not become a prayer even if it is God whom you ask to attend to them", brings a profound message about the nature of human desires and the spiritual measurement of prayer.

At its core, the quote distinguishes between simple human desires and the spiritual act of prayer. Hammarskjöld describes "cravings as a human animal" to highlight the base, instinctual, and typically self-indulgent nature of numerous human desires. These cravings can be for physical comforts, product ownerships, status, or any kind of personal satisfaction. These desires are intrinsic to the human condition-- a part of our animalistic nature concentrated on survival, pleasure, and self-interest.

Nevertheless, the act of changing these desires into prayer involves a much deeper, more intentional procedure than simply voicing desires in the presence of the divine. Hammarskjöld suggests that invoking God does not automatically sanctify these desires or transform them into something holier or more legitimate. Prayer, in its truest sense, is a sacred practice that involves sincerity, humbleness, and a real positioning of one's will with a higher function or divine will. It suggests a shift from a focus on self-centered desires to a broader understanding and approval of one's location within the magnificent order.

Hammarskjöld's insight calls for introspection. It challenges people to analyze the nature and intent of their prayers. Are these prayers an authentic reflection of one's spiritual journey, looking for knowledge, growth, and positioning with a higher purpose? Or are they simple efforts to use magnificent power as a means to meet fundamental, often superficial, desires?

In essence, the quote invites a more mindful and self-aware method to prayer and spiritual practice, encouraging people to increase above their fundamental yearnings and pursue a much deeper, more authentic relationship with the divine that transcends simple personal gain.