► The Kahuna: Importance of Prayer

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Monday,June 15, 1959 - Clarice B. Taylor's "Tales about Hawaii"

     "Daddy Bray, how many of these haole "seekers of the truth" ask you about prayer?"

     "To date there have boon only four," he replied. I asked:

     "Isn't it prayer that unlocks the secrets of the ancient Kahuna?"

     "Yes," he said. "I try to tell them - but a man has to have a certain spiritual development before he is willing to ask. Each of these seekers for truth has to learn that they do not know all and that they must learn from a higher power.

OPEN BIBLE

     "I try to tell them that they d not need to pray to Kane, Ku or Lono. They have only to open their Bibles and truth will be unfolded.

     "I give them certain chapters to read. If they are sick or in trouble, I tell them I will assume their burdens for a certain length of time... after that, it is up to them.

     "To help them focus their minds, I give them simple little rituals to carry out at the time they read the Bible.

     "I teach them about the four elements of the Hawaiian - earth, air, fire and water. These four elements account for all life. Then there are the upper and the lower forces.

     "Upper forces come from the heaven. They bring enlightenment and harmony. Lower forces are of the earth - they bring greed envy and hate.

HUMBLENESS

     "The Kahuna approaches God in humbleness. He prays to know his own sins then asks forgiveness for them. He them seeks harmony between himself and the people amongst whom he lives. It is only them the Kahuna achieves harmony with God.

     "It is only then that the Kahuna can ask for blessings or the knowledge of how to treat the sick or those in trouble.

     "Most people do not know how to pray. They pray aloud to be heard. They make demands upon God.

     "As a result, they make a god of themselves and they arose hate in themselves and in others.

     "Instead of receiving an answer to their prayer, they become confused - for hatred breeds confusion."

NEXT: The rathole

► The Kahuna and the Scientific Hypnotist

The Saturday Star-Bulletin, Honolulu,T.H, June 13, 1959 - Clarice B. Taylor's "Tales about Hawaii"

     "the trouble with the hypnotist is that he is an egotist that depends upon himself alone. He calls hypnotism a science and recognizes no higher power."

     That is what Daddy (David K. ) Bray says of many hypnotists who consult him hoping to learn the secrets of the Hawaiian Kahuna.

     "The hypnotist does good as long as he uses his own power to heal. But he must learn that there is a greater power and he must learn that he cannot use hi power for self glory - else it will strike him back."

TELLS EXPERIENCE
     Daddy Bray then told of his own experience on the coast with one of the best know hypnotists. This man refused to acknowledge a higher power. He too believed his powers to be the result of science.

     When he wanted to hypnotize Daddy Bray, Daddy Bray said to him: "All right my mind is yours, my body is yours. I will relax - but, I will call my aumakua to stand as a curtain between us."

     The hypnotist worked for 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. trying to put Daddy Bray to sleep. Finally he gave up and Daddy Bray said:

     "My aumakua is too powerful for you.

     "You are making a god of yourself. You do not know how to pray - when you pray, you do not demand. Who are you to make demands?

ASK FORGIVENESS
     "You must learn to be humble. Thank god for his protection and then ask for forgiveness.

     "Sit down and ask yourself, "What have I done for mankind? Where have I made mistakes?'

    "Remember that he who makes demands of God is making a god of himself."

NEXT: Prayer