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Can Prayers Be Answered? Buddhism for Beginners Book Excerpt
The following passage is taken from Buddhism for Beginners, by Thubten Chodron
There are many kinds of prayers. Some are designed to direct and inspire our minds toward a certain spiritual quality or aim, inspiring our mind to work to develop it and thus creating the causes for us to attain this. An example is praying to be more tolerant and compassionate toward others. Other prayers are for specific people or situations, for example praying for a person's illness to be cured or for that person's mind to be peaceful and his life meaningful in spite of the illness.
For any prayer to be fulfilled, prayer alone isn't sufficient. The appropriate causes must also be created. We can't simply think, "Please, Buddha, make this and that happen. I'll relax and have tea while you do the work!" For example, if we pray to be more loving and compassionate and yet make no effort to control our anger, we aren't creating the cause for that prayer to be fulfilled. The transformation of our minds comes from our own effort, but we can pray for the Buddhas' inspiration to do so. |
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Receiving the blessings of the Buddhas doesn't mean that something tangible comes from the Buddha and goes into us. It means that our minds are transformed through the combined effort of the teachings, the guidance of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, and our own practice. "Requesting the Buddhas' blessings" has the connotation of requesting to be inspired by them, so that our minds and actions are transformed and become more beneficial.
Some Buddhist practitioners seek to be born in a pure land in their next life because all the conditions there are conducive for Dharma practice and developing wisdom and compassion are comparatively easy. But we cannot pray to be born in a pure land and expect the Buddhas and bodhisattvas to make it happen! We must also make effort to actualize the teachings by not selfishly clinging to worldly pleasures and by generating compassion and an understanding of emptiness. If we do our part, then praying will have a profound effect on our minds. On the other hand, if we make no attempt to correct our harmful habits and if our minds are distracted while we pray, the effect is minimal.
Some people pray for another's sickness to be cured, for the family finances to improve, or for a deceased relative to have a good rebirth. For these things to occur, the other people involved must have created the necessary causes. If they have, our prayers provide the condition for the seed of constructive actions they did in the past to ripen into that result. However, if they haven't created the causal seeds through their own positive past actions, it's difficult for our prayers to be fulfilled. We can put fertilizer and water on the ground, but if the farmer hasn't planted the seed, nothing will grow.
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Venerable Thubten Chodron |
When the Buddha described the working of cause and effect in our mindstreams, he said that killing causes us to have short lives or much illness. Abandoning killing and saving the lives of others causes us to have a long life, free from illness. If we neglect to follow this basic advice and yet pray for a long and healthy life, we have missed the point! On the other hand, if we abandon killing and save lives, prayers can help those positive seeds to ripen.
In addition, the Buddha said generosity is the cause of wealth. If we have been generous in a past life and now pray for our wealth to increase, our finances could improve. Yet, if we are miserly now, we are creating the cause for poverty, not wealth, in the future. In this case, no matter how much we pray to be financially comfortable, our actions are creating the cause for the opposite result. Instead we need to cultivate generosity--helping those in need and sharing what we have.
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More about the book . . .
Buddhism for Beginners answers the fundamental questions and issues that arise in the minds of modern Western individuals who are new to this tradition of practical spirituality. Written in clear and engaging language, this book presents the Buddhist approach to the fundamental issues and concerns of daily life. Thubten Chodron guides us through the basic tenets of Buddhism, encouraging and instructing us in how to live a more peaceful, mindful and satisfying life. She untangles our confusions and leads us through the most basic aspects of this rich, living spiritual tradition.
"This book is written for people wanting to understand basic Buddhist principles and how to integrate them into their lives...it will be of much benefit to its readers."--the Dalai Lama
"Thubten Chodron has presented the Buddhist view on essential issues of spiritual development...a tremendous resource for those interested in Buddhist practice."--Karma Lekshe Tsomo, Author and President of Sakyadhita, International Association of Buddhist Women
"A very compassionate book. Her approach is nonsectarian and emphasizes the basic unity found within Buddhism."--Ryo Imamura, Jodo Shin Priest and Professor of Psychology at Evergreen State College
"A beginner's guide to making life more simple and joyful."--Elizabeth Barker, New Age Journal
"Ven. Thubten Chodron is especially skilled in presenting Buddhist philosophy and practices in ways that are easily accessible and practical for Buddhists who live in the Western world."--Ven. Hung I Shih, Abbot, Jade Buddha Temple, Houston
"By answering the most basic questions, Thubten Chodron helps practitioners dispel confusion and gain a realistic, down-to-earth approach to the Buddhist path."--Alexander Berzin
"A beautifully simple book for the curious, beginner, or anyone who has ever thought about practicing. This book allows the reader to go from cover to cover, or skip to the chapters that truly interest them. There are no mystical words, no vague references or language problems. It's simple, basic English that will answer almost all the questions you have ever wanted to ask about Buddhism, but didn't know which book to read or who to ask."--Amazon Books
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More about the author . . .
American-born Tibetan Buddhist nun Thubten Chodron has studied and practiced Buddhism in India and Nepal and travels worldwide teaching Buddhism and meditation. She is the author of Open Heart, Clear Mind and lives in Seattle, Washington.
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