concept of a jinx within Buddhism

vintagelot

Is there such a thing about a jinx within Buddhism. I visited a group of friends I made at a sangha I visited a while ago and while we met at a coffee shop I was sitting back and thinking that let me just sit here and have a liberal open mind to everyones strict practice but you know what I'm actually now very confused about the seeking of refuge and the concept of a prayer!

One guy said he seeks refuge in the three jewels at least six times a day and then this very strange debate started where another lady said she seeks refuge and then recites other things like a prayer- I'm totally confused about that. She said its like 'please reduce the suffering of all living beings in the universe...' I asked her what the whole verse was and it was something like a prayer and nothing like loving kindness meditation.

Is there a massive piece of the puzzle I'm missing here as a newbie? I just have an issue with worshiping of gods like that of hinduism - I already have that issue with my yoga class!!

vintagelot

Addition - To enhance my state of confusion another person at the lunch said how she was wrong and was bringing evils spirits towards her and possibly a jinx at which stage i just went quiet as Im not that clued up with all the traditions of buddhism to join the debate.

Tosh

I believe that the deeper meaning of seeking refuge in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha), is that we take refuge in ourselves.

What does this mean?

I don't know to be honest; only that some people take refuge in a god, and I used to take refuge in alcohol. I guess it's that I'm to learn and practise Dharma, from the Buddha, and that a spiritual community is conducive to that; but basically the onus is on 'me' to find peace and contentment.

Maybe someone who knows what I'm talking about could help?

Jeffrey

Prayer is included in mahayana buddism. You don't have to do anything that you don't feel comfortable with, otherwise that would not be in the spirit of prayer. Some people have different beliefs which you may call superstitions.

taiyaki

when life is good we bless the gods for our great fortune.

when life sucks we blame it on bad luck.

when we get that promotion we see clearly how our causes (working hard and being flexible) created the effect (promotion).

in buddhism there is only cause/effect.

prayer in buddhism functions to keep the mind peaceful and to bring/invest in thoughts that are wholesome. in doing so our actions will be wholesome. in a way we are creating the causes for future effects of positivity.

if i were to constantly pray for the beings that are suffering such desire should manifest in my actions as well. but ultimately the prayer should be the starting point for a stronger practice. prayer and intention for me are the same.

if i truly believe that i am jinxed or have bad luck then such reality will manifest. it is my clinging towards such belief that can force myself to experience such reality. by clinging/believing i create the causes. when the cause meets the right condition we have the effect.

no one knows when a cause will turn into an effect. the conditions have to be right.

so cause/effect. study it. see it.

vintagelot

Thanks for the replies - it made it clear that I was in a group of advanced level Buddhists and also that I may need get to basics and stop attending all these talks.

Jeffrey

Or it may just mean you are more comfortable with the formless essence of buddhism, the mindfulness and so forth. Whatever you do in buddhism, that is your practice. Its not true to say that you should believe in mystical things to become advanced. Some people really enjoy that but there are masters who do not much care for the mystical things.

compassionate_warrior

To answer your question in the heading of your OP: I would attribute a jinx as the result of some specific past life circumstance (or a serious of related circumstances) that is ripening in the current life.

vintagelot

the concept of a jinx was meant to be more as an evil spirit, maybe I should have questioned them there instead of now wondering what exactly was meant. I did say her verse reminded me of my grandparents testing the kids on the prayers when I was a lot younger. It sounded just like a prayer and then the comment made from someone else that she shouldnt be recieting these verses as she could be praying to an evil force and become jinxed! :eek:

zombiegirl

it is my opinion that in christianity, prayers go to god. it's like a request for things to happen. in buddhism, prayers are said for ourselves, to keep what is important in the front of our mind. for example, wishing well for sentient beings. it's not meant to be some sort of universal request, we just do it to keep ourselves focused on compassion.

taiyaki

if there were god outside of us, there may be and there may not be...
they would of already have done the good thing or bad thing to you already.
but the buddhas, gods, bodhisattvas, etc all point and teach us all how "we" can change ourselves.

they cannot do anything for us. they cannot give us peace of mind or freedom. these are things we all must attain through the practice and teaching given to us.

the buddha acknowledged gods, demi gods, etc. but they didn't matter because they were quite indifferent. so the buddha made it his duty to find the cause and solution to suffering.

thus you have buddhism.

Jeffrey

The prayers are sometimes to the buddhas and bodhisattvas. Who we have mysterious connections to. We are on the path from our side. But the mandala of awakening is also helping from its own side.