I have seen people bow down and prostrate to Buddha like Muslims prostrate to Allah. Ofcourse, it wasn't identical but at times I heard some Buddhists do more prostrations than the amount Muslims do in a day.
Why pray to Buddha or why ask Buddha for forgiveness or blessings? Can Buddha alter karma for sentient beings?
Also all that I ask about a Bodisatva?
Is all that something that came out recently or is that what actual Sakyamuni Buddha taught?
Why do some pray to Buddha?
Re: Why do some pray to Buddha?
The practices above were not taught by the Buddha:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
These five things are welcome, agreeable, pleasant, and hard to obtain in the world. Which five? Long life... beauty... pleasure... status... rebirth in heaven... Now, I tell you, these five things are not to be obtained by reason of prayers or wishes. If they were to be obtained by reason of prayers or wishes, who here would lack them? It is not fitting for the noble disciple who desires long life to pray for it or to delight in doing so. Instead, the noble disciple who desires long life should follow the path of practice leading to long life. In so doing, he will attain long life, either human or divine. (Similarly with beauty, pleasure, status, and rebirth in heaven.)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.
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Re: Why do some pray to Buddha?
Personally I do not pray to the Buddha, but I have been known to offer prayers to Artemis Ephesus.
BB
BB
Author of Redneck Buddhism: or Will You Reincarnate as Your Own Cousin?
Re: Why do some pray to Buddha?
People can have similar bodily postures or movements but give them different meanings. The people I know that bow down before a Buddha statue are revering or thanking the Buddha, rather than praying in the way that Muslims do. Likewise, I don't know of any that ask for forgiveness or blessings, but if there are any, they would have to give you their own story.Ervin wrote:I have seen people bow down and prostrate to Buddha like Muslims prostrate to Allah. Ofcourse, it wasn't identical but at times I heard some Buddhists do more prostrations than the amount Muslims do in a day.
Why pray to Buddha or why ask Buddha for forgiveness or blessings? Can Buddha alter karma for sentient beings?
Also all that I ask about a Bodisatva?
Is all that something that came out recently or is that what actual Sakyamuni Buddha taught?
According to some Suttas, the Buddha did refer to himself as a Bodhisattva when looking back on the time before his enlightenment.
Re: Why do some pray to Buddha?
It all depends on whether one has the proper intention or attitude while doing those devotional practices:
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/his ... vances.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
There're many sutta instances where the Buddha recalled His previous lives starting with: "Before my Awakening, when I was still an unawakened Bodhisatta":
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/search_r ... ght.org%2F" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/his ... vances.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
There're many sutta instances where the Buddha recalled His previous lives starting with: "Before my Awakening, when I was still an unawakened Bodhisatta":
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/search_r ... ght.org%2F" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Why do some pray to Buddha?
As Sam says, reverence is not the same as praying for an outcome.
Here is some advice from the Suttas:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... all-Buddha" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Mike
Here is some advice from the Suttas:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... all-Buddha" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"There is the case where the disciple of the noble ones recollects the Tathagata, thus: 'Indeed, the Blessed One is worthy and rightly self-awakened, consummate in knowledge & conduct, well-gone, an expert with regard to the world, unexcelled as a trainer for those people fit to be tamed, the Teacher of divine & human beings, awakened, blessed.' As he is recollecting the Tathagata, his mind is calmed, and joy arises; the defilements of his mind are abandoned, just as when the head is cleansed through the proper technique.
Mike