Wishing and Aspiration Prayers

[Dhara]

Some people are surprised that Buddhist pray. They figure if you don't believe in God, who or what is it you pray to?

There are several kinds of Buddhist prayers. One kind is a wishing prayer:

May you be happy. May you be free of suffering. May you find peace.

Another is an aspiration prayer:

May I be enlightened. May I develop wholly positive qualities and eliminate negative ones.

A lineage prayer calls on the teacher, both actual in this life, and the Buddha himself.

Finally, a dedication prayer asks that all merit accumulated by practicing generosity and other virtues be dedicated to the enlightenment of each and every sentient being without exception.

What prayers inspire you?

 

[Pogo]

The pre-existing Judeo-Christian construct unfortunately leads to limitations in thought, such as what 'prayer' means. I've come to think of it simply as a positive energy, or 'thoughtform' in the Euro-pagan tradition.

My personal invocation involves bathing in and basking in positive light. It isn't connected to any deity, nor does it find any need to be. At the most it taps the energy of Nature, but it's internally directed, and a voluntary attitude.

 

[Pogo]

This is a nice prayer song:

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[Dhara]

Shantideva's Dedication
May all beings everywhere,
Plagued by sufferings of body and mind,
Obtain an ocean of happiness and joy
By virtue of my merits.
May no living creature suffer,
Commit evil or ever fall ill.
May no one be afraid or belittled,
With a mind weighed down by depression.

May the blind see forms
And the deaf hear sounds.
May those whose bodies are worn with toil
Be restored on finding repose.

May the naked find clothing,
The hungry find food.
May the thirsty find water
And delicious drinks.

May the poor find wealth,
Those weak with sorrow find joy.
May the forlorn find hope,
Constant happiness and prosperity.

May there be timely rains
And bountiful harvests.
May all medicines be effective
And wholesome prayers bear fruit.

May all who are sick and ill
Quickly be freed from their ailments.
Whatever diseases there are in the world,
May they never occur again.

May the frightened cease to be afraid
And those bound be freed.
May the powerless find power
And may people think of benefiting each other.

For as long as space remains,
For as long as sentient beings remain,
Until then, may I too remain,
To dispel the misery of the world.

 

[Bruce_T_Laney]

Some people are surprised that Buddhist pray. They figure if you don't believe in God, who or what is it you pray to?

There are several kinds of Buddhist prayers. One kind is a wishing prayer:

May you be happy. May you be free of suffering. May you find peace.

Another is an aspiration prayer:

May I be enlightened. May I develop wholly positive qualities and eliminate negative ones.

A lineage prayer calls on the teacher, both actual in this life, and the Buddha himself.

Finally, a dedication prayer asks that all merit accumulated by practicing generosity and other virtues be dedicated to the enlightenment of each and every sentient being without exception.

What prayers inspire you?

Prayer for Tranquility...