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Newguest Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

Aligning/recognition

Hi

In the book about magic the author writes:

Prayer before meals should be directed toward aligning with the food to be consumed, whether through recognition of a supreme being or a simple chant directed toward the food.

Could "aligning" mean here "harmonizing"?

Does "recognition" mean here "acknowledgement" or maybe "understanding" or maybe "awareness" "Awareness of a supreme being"

Thanks
  

Top answer

Hi The ideas are complicated. If you google "grace prayer wikipedia" there is a discussion there that I think is good if you wish to look at the subject in detail I think "aligning" means that there is, metaphorically, a straight line between the deity who provides the food; the food itself; the people who are to consume it; and the purposes and principles that they will follow. To realise that this is so is "to align" "Recognition" may just mean the same thing.

— Dave_anon

  • Hi The ideas are complicated.
  • If you google "grace prayer wikipedia" there is a discussion there that I think is good if you wish to look at the subject in detail I think "aligning" means that there is, metaphorically, a straight line between the deity who provides the food; the food itself; the people who are to consume it; and the purposes and principles that they will follow.
  • To realise that this is so is "to align" "Recognition" may just mean the same thing.
  • But in some religions it may also be a recognition that if people gather together to eat then their *** is present also It is interesting that, in some traditions, the prayer is composed on the spot ("ad libbed").
  • I think this is close to your idea of harmonising: the prayer reminds those present of how the eating of the food fits into their current circumstances Hope this helps, Dave
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4 Answers
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Hi

The ideas are complicated. If you google "grace prayer wikipedia" there is a discussion there that I think is good if you wish to look at the subject in detail

I think "aligning" means that there is, metaphorically, a straight line between the deity who provides the food; the food itself; the people who are to consume it; and the purposes and principles that they will follow.
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Hi Dave

Thanks for the answer, but if you were to replace the words "align" and "recognition" with some other words, which words would you use in the above sentence?

Thanks
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Hi

I think it's quite difficult to take a word or phrase in a religious or mystical context and replace it with another. But I'll have a go..

- Prayer before meals should be directed toward aligning with the food to be consumed

- Prayer before meals should bring you into accord with the food that you are about to eat

- ..whether through recognition of a supreme
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Thank you very much for this helpful answer, Dave!
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