Prayer in Buddhist context

Thich Nhat Hanh · March 7, 1996 · Upper Hamlet, Plum Village, France

The role of prayer is not merely to ask for blessings or outcomes according to our wishes, but is a sincere practice that combines self-power and other-power, nourishing the energies of mindfulness, concentration, insight, and compassion, generating immediate inner peace. The effectiveness of prayer arises from an open heart, when there is the energy of full presence, not from blind faith or superstition.

In the Buddhist tradition, chanting and praying are broader forms of prayer, based on the harmonious practice of self-power and other-power, while contemplating the interbeing between the one who venerates and the object of veneration:

  1. the one who venerates, the object of veneration, both have the nature of emptiness 

  2. mindfulness, concentration, insight, and loving kindness, compassion 

  3. understanding clearly “to whom are we praying” – Buddha, Bodhisattva, or God are not separate from ourselves 

  4. recognizing that karma is not unchangeable, it can be transformed through sincere practice and prayer 

True prayer helps us make a pact to live peacefully with illness and suffering, not running away from reality, but knowing how to cherish the conditions for practice, nurturing harmonious relationships with all beings, and moving toward liberation and collective awakening.

The Practice of Prayer

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Dear sangha, today is the 7th of March, 1996. We are at Upper Hamlet. Today, we will learn aboutprayer.

During the last winter retreat, we spoke about meditation as a tradition that relies more on self-power than on other-power. We must take our destiny into our own hands, and not depend onsomeone else.

But if that is so, then what is the role of prayer? Do we pray? And what do we pray for, to whom dowe pray, and does our prayer bring any result?

I still remember the day when the two younger brothers, Sister Dinh Nghiem and Sister GiaiNghiem, came back from Saint Étienne. They said that they admired the nuns in the conventbecause they completely entrusted everything to God. They didn’t have to do anything at all. But inour Buddhist tradition, we have to take care of everything ourselves. We have to practice walkingmeditation, sitting meditation, we have to practice diligently, and we must hold our destiny in ourown hands. Sometimes, it feels a bit tiring. On the other side, they entrust everything to God, sothey seem so relaxed, and we can’t help but feel a little envious.

So that statement has stayed in Thầy’s heart, and today Thầy will answer those two about thequestion they raised.

This

To ask Blue Cliff for Prayers, send an email to the office (office@bluecliffmonastery.org) with the following details in their request.

Full name of person (self or other), or family of someone.

Age

Location

A few lines about the challenging circumstance

Here is an amalgam of examples that we have received in the past:

(Namo Shakyamunaye Buddhaya) 

Dear Respected Teacher,

Dear Noble Sangha,

Please send compassionate and (healing / peaceful) energy to (NAME / the family of NAME), who (is / passed away at) the age of AGE, in (CITY or STATE).  They (are currently in hospice care / are about to undergo surgery / had a recent stroke / just passed away today...). //  They are survived by their FAMILY RELATIONS.  Thank you, dear Sangha.

With gratitude,

REQUESTER

Dear Kaira Jewel, thank your for always bringing comfort to those in need.

With love,

cthen

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