Prayers, fasting, ablutions and so on

"Prayers, fasting, ablutions and so on, in fact all the practices
recommended by religions throughout the world, serve to prepare
people to receive the currents and messages from heaven
correctly. Actually, the main thing is not the practices
themselves but the willingness to undertake an inner work of
self-examination and purification so as to improve one's
thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
Those who are not determined to carry out this work would do
better to leave spirituality alone; otherwise they will become a
danger to themselves and others. As long as we have not rid
ourselves of certain prejudices and bias, there is nothing more
dangerous than religious practices: they give those who do them
the illusion that they are messengers, instruments of heaven.
Thus we have seen people become torturers of their family or even
of their people. Only those who have worked to become selfless
and loving toward others are able to hear and pass on messages
from heaven."

Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov