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Instead of praying, what can I do for wishing wealthy and happiness for someone? Anumodana?

snGussnGus Veteran
edited April 2012 in Buddhism Basics
By living in a Christian society I lived with the idea that if you know someone who you love and who is suffering you should pray for this person wishing him/her wealthy and happiness. This is a very common practice among Christians.

But I myself don't agree with many Christian beliefs and ideas. Otherwise I agree and believe in the Buddhist Damma.

By studying the Damma for more than an year now I learned that the suffering experienced by someone is a result if his/her kamma.

So I presumed so far that there is no point in praying or wishing wealthy and happiness for someone under the Buddhist concepts. (Is that right?)

But I've been reading a book by Bhikkhu Khantipalo at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khantipalo/wheel206.html and he says that after meditation we might do the Anumodana which is the act of "asking beings to rejoice in the good kamma which one has made and so benefit themselves".

According to this text I could dedicate any good kamma to other beings or individuals to benefit them.

He explains that this does not mean cutting up my kamma like it was a cake and giving slices to others. He says it's a matter of dedicating good kamma for them and once they accept it they would be benefited.

What do you think of this? To be honest this is something really new for me. I never heard of it even after being reading about the Damma for more than an year.

Is Anumodana universally recognized among Buddhists? Or is it a particularity of an specific Buddhist school? And what school or tradition would that be?

I've been using New Buddhist to gather information regarding the Damma when I feel that I need the help of more experienced people and sometimes people provide me with great information here. That's why a recur to you folks again...

Comments

  • vinlynvinlyn Colorado...for now Veteran
    ^^ I've never ascribed to the concept that you can give good kamma to others. To me it goes against what we say we admire about Buddhism -- that it puts the responsibility on the individual. Frankly, as far as giving good kamma to others, prayer sounds more logical.
  • personperson Don't believe everything you think The liminal space Veteran
    So I presumed so far that there is no point in praying or wishing wealthy and happiness for someone under the Buddhist concepts. (Is that right?)
    There is a point, but that point isn't to benefit others directly. The point is to develop love and compassion for others, to wish them well. Praying for the benefit of others is a large part of Tibetan Buddhism.

    I don't know that we can actually give karma to others, that doesn't really seem to agree with general Buddhist teachings on karma. I do feel that praying for others has some benefit for them, maybe in sending out positive vibes to them. If they already have some positive karma to be helped in this way then maybe it could ripen that karma for them, but I doubt you could literally give them karma.
  • DavidDavid A human residing in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Ancestral territory of the Erie, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Mississauga and Neutral First Nations Veteran
    edited April 2012
    I learned a meditative technique from one of Thich Nhat Hanhs books although I've forgotten the name of the book, haha.

    Breathing in, I take in the suffering of the world... I transform it to compassion and breathing out, I envelope the world with it.

    I suppose we could focus on one person and do the same thing.

    I don't pray to God, I pray through God.
  • snGussnGus Veteran
    God?
  • DavidDavid A human residing in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Ancestral territory of the Erie, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Mississauga and Neutral First Nations Veteran
    Not the Biblical God or anything like that... Just for lack of a better word.

    I don't know what else to call the universe on a process of awakening.
  • snGussnGus Veteran
    I see. I understand what you mean. I don't know a term for that either, but if I was to call it something I would use the word "nature" or maybe even "samsara". But that's only my opinion, I don't know what others would think.
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    If you cultivate a wish to help another being that seed is in your mind. It will sprout when you meet someone who reminds you or is that being. This is how it seems to me and it is not very complicated. If you believe in sidhis there is also some capacity to affect beings at a distance as well.
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    Metta meditation + acts of compassion = peace for all beings involved.
  • PravardigarPravardigar New
    By praying to the Medicine Buddha, i ask that i and all those around me are protected and feel the power of the Buddha for their benefit. So while I'm not particularly giving them my Karma i am trying to give them many blessings.
    ccheers
  • snGussnGus Veteran
    By praying to the Medicine Buddha, i ask that i and all those around me are protected and feel the power of the Buddha for their benefit. So while I'm not particularly giving them my Karma i am trying to give them many blessings.
    ccheers
    Medicine Buddha? I've heard of him before but I don't understand what he is. Maybe because it is from a particular Buddhist tradition rather than the Buddhism mainframe? Would you care to tell me a little about the Medicine Buddha plz?
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