Prayer Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Eastern religions== {{further|Eastern religions|Meditation|Mantra}} In both [[Buddhism]] and [[Hinduism]], the repetition of [[mantra]]s is closely related to the practice of repetitive prayer in Western religion ([[rosary]], [[Jesus prayer]]) but Buddhists do not pray to a higher deity. Many of the most widespread Hindu and Buddhist mantras are in origin invocations of deities, e.g. [[Gayatri Mantra]] dedicated to [[Savitr]], [[Pavamana Mantra]] to [[Soma (drink)|Soma Pavamana]], and many of the Buddhist [[Dhāraṇī]] originate as recitations of lists of names or attributes of deities. Most of the shorter Buddhist mantras originate as the invocation of the name of a specific deity or ''[[bodhisattva]]'', such as ''[[Om mani padme hum]]'' being in origin the invocation of a ''bodhisattva'' called ''Maṇipadma''. However, from an early time these mantras were interpreted in the context of mystical [[sound symbolism]]. The most extreme example of this is the [[om]] syllable, which as early as in the [[Aitareya Brahmana]] was claimed as equivalent to the entire [[Vedas]] (collection of ritual hymns).<ref>Aitareya Brahmana 5.32, Arthur Berriedale Keith, ''The Aitareya and Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇas of the Rigveda''. Harvard University Press, 1920, p. 256.</ref> ===Buddhism=== [[File:Incense-LE.jpg|thumb|Buddhists praying with incense at [[Wat Phra Kaew]], Thailand]] In the earliest Buddhist tradition, the [[Theravada]], and in the later [[Mahayana]] tradition of [[Zen]] (or [[Chán]]), prayer plays only an ancillary role. It is largely a ritual expression of wishes for success in the practice and in helping all beings.<ref>{{cite book| last=Collins|first=Steven|title=Selfless Persons| url=https://archive.org/details/selflesspersonsi0000coll| url-access=registration|publisher=Cambridge University Press| year=1982|location=Cambridge|page=[https://archive.org/details/selflesspersonsi0000coll/page/6 6]|isbn=978-0-521-39726-1}}</ref>{{request quotation|date=June 2018}} The [[Upāya|skillful means]] (Sanskrit: ''upāya'') of the transfer of merit (Sanskrit: ''[[pariṇāmanā]]'') is an [[evocation]] and prayer. Moreover, indeterminate buddhas are available for intercession as they reside in awoken-fields (Sanskrit: ''buddha-kshetra''). The ''[[Trikaya|nirmānakāya]]'' of an awoken-field is what is generally known and understood as a [[mandala]]. The opening and closing of the ring (Sanskrit: ''maṇḍala'') is an active prayer. An active prayer is a mindful activity, an activity in which [[Mindfulness (Buddhism)|mindfulness]] is not just cultivated but ''is''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sangharakshita|first=Bhikshu|title=A Survey of Buddhism|publisher=Windhorse Publications|year=1993|location=Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom|pages=449–60|isbn=978-0-904766-65-3}}</ref> A common prayer is "May the merit of my practice, adorn Buddhas' Pure Lands, requite the fourfold kindness from above, and relieve the suffering of the three life-journeys below. Universally wishing sentient beings, Friends, foes, and [[Karma in Buddhism|karmic creditors]], all to activate the [[Bodhi]] mind, and all to be reborn in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss." (願以此功德 莊嚴佛淨土 上報四重恩 下濟三途苦 普願諸眾生 冤親諸債主 悉發菩提心 同生極樂國)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sutrasmantras.info/prayers.html|title=Buddhist Prayers}}</ref> The [[Generation Stage]] (Sanskrit: ''utpatti-krama'') of [[Vajrayana]] involves prayer elements.<ref>Keown, Damien (ed.) with Hodge, Stephen; Jones, Charles; Tinti, Paola (2003). ''A Dictionary of Buddhism''. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 100. {{ISBN|0-19-860560-9}}</ref> The [[Tibetan Buddhism]] tradition emphasizes an instructive and devotional relationship to a guru; this may involve devotional practices known as [[guru yoga]] which are congruent with prayer. It also appears that Tibetan Buddhism posits the existence of various deities, but the peak view of the tradition is that the deities or ''[[yidam]]'' are no more existent or real than the continuity (Sanskrit: ''santana''; refer [[mindstream]]) of the practitioner, environment and activity. But how practitioners engage ''yidam'' or [[tutelary deities]] will depend upon the level or more appropriately ''[[yana (Buddhism)|yana]]'' at which they are practicing. At one level, one may pray to a deity for protection or assistance, taking a more subordinate role. At another level, one may invoke the deity, on a more equal footing. And at a higher level one may deliberately cultivate the idea that one has become the deity, whilst remaining aware that its ultimate nature is ''[[śūnyatā]]''. The views of the more esoteric ''yana'' are impenetrable for those without direct experience and empowerment. [[Pure Land Buddhism]] emphasizes the recitation by devotees of prayer-like [[mantra]]s, a practice often called ''[[Nembutsu]]''.<ref name=smithnovak03>"The Flowering of Faith: Buddhism's Pure Land Tradition" (pp. 185–98) in {{cite book |title=Buddhism: A concise introduction |last=Smith |first=Huston |author-link=Huston Smith |author2=Philip Novak|author2-link=Philip Novak |year=2003 |publisher=HarperSanFrancisco |location=San Francisco |isbn= 978-0-06-050696-4 |url=https://www.google.com/search?q=Smith+novak+isbn%3A0060506962+&btnG=Search+Books }}</ref>{{rp|190}} On one level it is said that reciting these mantras can ensure rebirth into a ''[[Sambhogakāya]]'' land (Sanskrit: ''buddha-kshetra'') after bodily dissolution, a sheer ball spontaneously co-emergent to a Buddha's [[Bodhicitta|enlightened intention]]. According to [[Shinran]], the founder of the [[Pure Land Buddhism]] tradition that is most prevalent in the US,<ref name=smithnovak03/>{{rp|193}}<ref>Smith and Novak (2003) state that "Pure Land Buddhism has entered America almost exclusively from Japan, and the church Shinran founded is the largest Pure Land presence on this continent" (p. 193).</ref> "for the long haul nothing is as efficacious as the Nembutsu."<ref name=smithnovak03/>{{rp|197}}<ref>This quotation is Smith and Novak's paraphrase of Shinran's teaching.</ref> On another, the practice is a form of meditation aimed at achieving realization.<ref>Caldwell, Xenia (2016). "All About Importance of Prayers in Religion". {{ISBN|978-1-283-49986-6}}</ref> But beyond all these practices the Buddha emphasized the primacy of individual practice and experience. He said that supplication to gods or deities was not necessary. Nevertheless, today many lay people in East Asian countries pray to the Buddha in ways that resemble Western prayer—asking for intervention and offering devotion. ===Hinduism=== {{Main|Prayer in Hinduism}} [[File:Bangladesh Prayer.jpg|thumb|[[Shaktism|Shakta]] Hindus in [[Dhaka]], Bangladesh, pray to the goddess during ''[[Durga Puja]]''. October 2003.]] [[Hinduism]] has incorporated many kinds of prayer (Sanskrit: ''prārthanā''), from fire-based [[yajna|rituals]] to philosophical musings. While chanting involves 'by dictum' recitation of timeless verses or verses with timings and notations, ''[[Dhyāna in Hinduism|dhyanam]]'' involves deep meditation (however short or long) on the preferred deity/God. Again the object to which prayers are offered could be a persons referred as ''devtas'', trinity or incarnation of either ''devtas'' or trinity or simply plain formless meditation as practiced by the ancient sages. These prayers can be directed to fulfilling personal needs or [[moksha|liberation]], and also for the benefit of others. Ritual [[invocation]] was part and parcel of the [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic religion]] and as such permeated their sacred texts. Indeed, the highest sacred texts of the Hindus, the [[Vedas]], are a large collection of [[mantra]]s and prayer rituals. Classical Hinduism came to focus on extolling a single supreme force, [[Brahman]], that is made manifest in several lower forms as the familiar gods of the [[Hindu pantheon]]{{Dubious|date=February 2009}}. Hindus in [[India]] have numerous devotional movements. Hindus may pray to the highest absolute God Brahman, or more commonly to its three manifestations, a creator god called [[Brahma (god)|Brahma]], a preserver god called [[Vishnu]] and a destroyer god (so that the creation cycle can start afresh) [[Shiva]], and at the next level to Vishnu's avatars (earthly appearances) [[Rama]] and [[Krishna]] or to many other male or female deities. Typically, Hindus pray with their hands (the palms) joined in ''[[pranam]]''.<ref>{{cite book| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=a5732hIV03kC&dq=false&pg=PA44| title = Stephen Jacobs (2010), ''Hinduism Today: An Introduction'', Continuum International Publishing Group, p. 44| isbn = 9780826430656| last1 = Jacobs| first1 = Stephen| date = 24 June 2010| publisher = A&C Black}}</ref> The hand gesture is similar to the popular Indian greeting ''[[namaste]]''. ===Sikhism=== [[File:BhaiSahibJiArdas.jpg|thumb|A [[Sikh]] holy man, doing Sikh prayer ([[Ardās]])]] The ''[[Ardās]]'' (Punjabi: ਅਰਦਾਸ) is a [[Sikh]] prayer that is done before performing or after undertaking any significant task; after reciting the daily ''[[Banis]]'' (prayers); or completion of a service like the ''[[Paath]]'' (scripture reading/recitation), ''[[kirtan]]'' (hymn-singing) program or any other religious program. In Sikhism, these prayers are also said before and after eating. The prayer is a plea to God to support and help the devotee with whatever he or she is about to undertake or has done. The ''Ardas'' is usually always done standing up with folded hands. The beginning of the ''Ardas'' is strictly set by the tenth Sikh Guru, [[Guru Gobind Singh]]. When it comes to conclusion of this prayer, the devotee uses words like "[[Waheguru]] please bless me in the task that I am about to undertake" when starting a new task or "[[Akal Purakh]], having completed the hymn-singing, we ask for your continued blessings so that we can continue with your memory and remember you at all times", etc. The word "Ardās" is derived from Persian word 'Arazdashat', meaning a request, supplication, prayer, petition or an address to a superior authority. Ardās is a unique prayer based on the fact that it is one of the few well-known prayers in the Sikh religion that was not written in its entirety by the Gurus. The Ardās cannot be found within the pages of the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] because it is a continually changing devotional text that has evolved over time in order for it to encompass the feats, accomplishments, and feelings of all generations of Sikhs within its lines. Taking the various derivation of the word Ardās into account, the basic purpose of this prayer is an appeal to Waheguru for his protection and care, as well as being a plea for the welfare and prosperity of all mankind, and a means for the Sikhs to thank Waheguru for all that he has done.<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.sgpc.net/ardas/index.asp |title= Ardas |work= sgpc.net |publisher= [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee]] |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060806235347/http://www.sgpc.net/ardas/index.asp |archive-date= 2006-08-06 }}</ref><ref>{{citation |url= http://new.sgpc.net/ardas/# |title= Learn and recite the Holy Ardas |work= sgpc.net |publisher= [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee]] }}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. 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