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**andrekuper** · 05-20-2011, 05:03 PM

I was wondering, do you pray regularly as part of your Buddhist practice? If so, who are the prayers to?

Do you think there's a difference between chanting prayers and chanting affirmations in Buddhism?

Occasionally I select chants (I'd describe them as affirmations rather than prayers) from here:

http://www.amaravati.org/abmnew/docu..._Book_2006.pdf

I often briefly repeat the Refuge before meditation and a wish for peace and happiness for all beings.

I used to do pujas and prayers a lot when I was a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner, but not since I changed tradition. I just meditate instead.

I've used affirmations in one form or another for fifteen or so years. I started using a gatha by Thich Nhat Hanh before I'd drive about ten years ago. "When I drive, I know where I'm going. If the car goes fast, I go fast." He'd originally used it for when he rode his bike. Then I started using another gathha by him before I get out of bed, "Waking up this morning, I smile. I vow to live each moment fully & look at all being with eyes of compassion." To me this is an affirmation. Sometimes I'll add another of his gathas on self refuge where he corresponds "mindfulness" to the Buddha, anapanasati ("mindfulness" of breathing) to the Dhamma, and the five aggregates (khandas) to the Sangha (from Breathe! You Are Alive & Transformation & Healing). When I first started learning the chants in dharma circles it was more about getting the cadences right. Now they're feeling more affirmative. And phrases like, "Association with the disliked is dukkha, (stress/suffering); separation from the loved is dukkha" are not only affirmative to me but also valuable recollection. Sometimes at home I like to do a chant or two in Pali before I meditate, sometimes with an incense offering, which usually helps me with preliminary concentration establishment through "affirmative" intent and recollection. Sometimes, if I'm really restless, mentally repeat "buddho" with my breathing as I learned if from Ajaan Lee Dhammadaro's Keeping the Breathe In Mind.

05-20-2011, 05:03 PM	#32
andrekuper Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 496 Senior Member	I was wondering, do you pray regularly as part of your Buddhist practice? If so, who are the prayers to? Do you think there's a difference between chanting prayers and chanting affirmations in Buddhism? Occasionally I select chants (I'd describe them as affirmations rather than prayers) from here: http://www.amaravati.org/abmnew/docu..._Book_2006.pdf I often briefly repeat the Refuge before meditation and a wish for peace and happiness for all beings. I used to do pujas and prayers a lot when I was a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner, but not since I changed tradition. I just meditate instead. I've used affirmations in one form or another for fifteen or so years. I started using a gatha by Thich Nhat Hanh before I'd drive about ten years ago. "When I drive, I know where I'm going. If the car goes fast, I go fast." He'd originally used it for when he rode his bike. Then I started using another gathha by him before I get out of bed, "Waking up this morning, I smile. I vow to live each moment fully & look at all being with eyes of compassion." To me this is an affirmation. Sometimes I'll add another of his gathas on self refuge where he corresponds "mindfulness" to the Buddha, anapanasati ("mindfulness" of breathing) to the Dhamma, and the five aggregates (khandas) to the Sangha (from Breathe! You Are Alive & Transformation & Healing). When I first started learning the chants in dharma circles it was more about getting the cadences right. Now they're feeling more affirmative. And phrases like, "Association with the disliked is dukkha, (stress/suffering); separation from the loved is dukkha" are not only affirmative to me but also valuable recollection. Sometimes at home I like to do a chant or two in Pali before I meditate, sometimes with an incense offering, which usually helps me with preliminary concentration establishment through "affirmative" intent and recollection. Sometimes, if I'm really restless, mentally repeat "buddho" with my breathing as I learned if from Ajaan Lee Dhammadaro's Keeping the Breathe In Mind.
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