In a message dated 8/10/03 10:00:25 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< How does this square with the fact that the Buddha does not really seem to
have encouraged prayer? >>
There is much in Buddhist practice and writing involving prayer. If you visit
the most sacred of Buddhist sites, those in India, for example, you can
observe it first hand among the Tibetans who have taken up there. It struct me as
more extreme in form than what I have witnessed among the Western religions.
Also, there is a Buddhist prayer book that you may find of
interest--"Daily Buddhist Devotions" (Venerable K Sri Dhammananda, Buddhist Missionary
Society, Malaysia, 1991). But I think prayer is not entirely just a matter of
suplication, but rather a matter of contemplation, a turning of the mind and heart
to the divine ideal. If one accepts that, then prayer is at the heart of
Buddha's teaching. Another book you may find of interest is "The Liturgy of the
Order of Buddhist Contemplatives for the Laity" (Shasta Abbey Press, California,
1990).
Warmest,
Michael
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