Originally Posted by
Zencat 
I will use a mantra for creating personal transformation instead of petitioning a God/HP to do the job for me.
Same here, if I meditate I will use a mantra at times, but it certainly is not prayer... just a repeated phrase that calms me and perhaps penetrates my subconscious.
Is there some other powerful entity or entities that is listening in to my thoughts?
I suppose I don't have proof that that isn't the case, but it doesn't strike me as very likely, given the state of the world around us, the senseless suffering and the utter lack of concern nature displays to the wants, needs, pains, and desires of sentient creatures.