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Praying

VagabondVagabond Explorer
edited August 2010 in Buddhism Basics
First off, I'm new here and have been interested in Buddhism for about a year, reading up on it when I can, forgetting most :eek:

Anyway,
I was wondering who Buddhists generally pray to when they pray, since the Buddha said nothing of God

Any information will be helpful

Thanks

Peace & One

Comments

  • ChrysalidChrysalid Veteran
    edited August 2010
    Vagabond wrote: »
    First off, I'm new here and have been interested in Buddhism for about a year, reading up on it when I can, forgetting most :eek:

    Anyway,
    I was wondering who Buddhists generally pray to when they pray, since the Buddha said nothing of God

    Any information will be helpful

    Thanks

    Peace & One
    I'm pretty new too. I think the answer depends on the tradition, and I think the prayers are different to theistic ones. In some Mahayana schools they pray to Bodhisattvas, beings who have delayed their own enlightenment to help others along the path. I don't know about Theravada.
  • VagabondVagabond Explorer
    edited August 2010
    Yeah I'm still confused as to what a Bodhisattva is. The internet can be pretty unreliable lol. Idk if its a person who has reached Nirvana but decided on their own to continue in the cycle of Samsara or what. I remember hearing something along those lines and a few other things completely different, so it kinda delays me understanding other things within Buddhism too
  • ChrysalidChrysalid Veteran
    edited August 2010
    Vagabond wrote: »
    Yeah I'm still confused as to what a Bodhisattva is. The internet can be pretty unreliable lol. Idk if its a person who has reached Nirvana but decided on their own to continue in the cycle of Samsara or what. I remember hearing something along those lines and a few other things completely different, so it kinda delays me understanding other things within Buddhism too
    I'm not sure there's actually consensus, take Tara for example. I've read that she was a princess from another world in another universe who achieved enlightenment and became a Bodhisattva, but I've also read she was created from the tears of Avalokitesvara.
    I'm not sure the origin story is as important as what they represent, Tara represents the wisdom and compassion of a Buddha, so when people pray to her they are really praying to bring out the wisdom and compassion that resides within themselves.
  • VagabondVagabond Explorer
    edited August 2010
    Okay, so are they praying to human beings or how Hindu's prayed to "Icons" or different Gods that represent characteristics of life? Sorry for the questions btw
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    edited August 2010
    Chrysalid wrote: »
    Tara represents the wisdom and compassion of a Buddha, so when people pray to her they are really praying to bring out the wisdom and compassion that resides within themselves.
  • cazcaz Veteran United Kingdom Veteran
    edited August 2010
    People pray to Buddha, Mainly it is for spiritual fullfilment who better to request for help and guidance then those who have already perfected the path ? :)
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    edited August 2010
    caz namyaw wrote: »
    People pray to Buddha, Mainly it is for spiritual fullfilment who better to request for help and guidance then those who have already perfected the path ? :)

    Did Gautama Buddha teach us to pray to him? Rhetorical question.
  • VagabondVagabond Explorer
    edited August 2010
    If people pray to Buddha, where do they assume he is at? Since he had reached Nirvana and ended the cycle of Samsara, do they believe he is in some sort of Heaven?
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    edited August 2010
    The historical Buddha taught that people should not pray to him. Period.

    Again,

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  • cazcaz Veteran United Kingdom Veteran
    edited August 2010
    SherabDorje wrote: »
    Did Gautama Buddha teach us to pray to him? Rhetorical question.

    Of course not...Rhetorical answer. :)
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