The importance of prayer in Buddhism?

Answer 1

There is no importance of prayer. The whole idea of Buddhism is to accept things as they are, to remove desire. Doesn't seem a little immature that people go around getting upset about all these little things. I mean, babies cry when they spill milk. Buddhists act if they can change something, if they can't they accept it, but they don't cry over it. Why get upset about all these different things if it doesn't help the situation and only makes you sad?

Answer 2

Buddhist prayer is completely different than prayer in the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam).

In the Abrahamic religions a person prays to god or some saint for insight, or forgiveness or for some action to be taken on their behalf. That is, they are praying for some supernatural being to intercede for them.

In Buddhism a prayer is more like a mantra in which the person praying is reciting a lesson (sutra) or guideline which tells them how to behave and act. For example, a prayer for compassion is "may all beings be well, happy and peaceful". The idea behind this prayer is for the person praying to develop compassion and loving kindness to all. Therefore prayer in Buddhism is self-directed.

Answer 3

Buddhism sees that it is imortant to provide a route to the cessation of pain for all sentient beings. This is provided by the realization of the Four Noble Truths and following the Eightfold Path.

Answer 4

A:There is a philosophical branch of Buddhism, in which there is no requirement to worship, because philosophical Buddhism has no god. Other Buddhists, including those in China and south-East Asia worship for the same reason that Christians worship - to please the gods and seek favours in this life or the next. A:There is no requirement for worship in philosophical Buddhism.

Buddhists do not worship in the western sense of the word. Worship requires a deity and Buddhism has none,

Buddhists do revere the Buddha and tend to spend some time thinking on his examples and teachings. They also value the community of fellow Buddhists fir support and teaching. None of these would count as worship.

Some Buddhists spend time in meditation. This is an inward direction of one's thoughts, again not worship.

Answer 5

Meditation is necessary for the seventh (mindfulness) and eighth (concentration or one-pointedness or absorption) points of the Noble Eightfold Path. So it is necessary to attain enlightenment (nibbana) or the end of suffering, the ultimate goal of Buddhism.

Answer 6

Meditation is a mental and physical course of action that a person uses to separate themselves from their thoughts and feelings in order to become fully aware.

Answer 7

to get love of god.