[Dndjzirw]

Dear David, the BB forum is for relaxed debating which relates to the topic in some way. Defining terminology is ok, I can't see why that would be a problem.

My experience has been that when I'm engaged in nit picking terminology, I tend to miss the very message the words are trying to impart.

[TimoPizaz]

Defining what we are all talking about is also important, especially since the internet is global. "Prayer" is a very loaded term. If you pray for someone to get well, are you praying for the mass slaughter of tiny little microbes? Is affirmation the opposite of flaccidity?

[finasteridonline]

My experience has been that when I'm engaged in nit picking terminology, I tend to miss the very message the words are trying to impart.

Personally my experience has been that its good not to take these discussions too seriously and to keep checking my own reactions .

[BariGrootrego]

Is affirmation the opposite of flaccidity?

Huh?

affirmation = making a declaration about something.

flaccidity = limpness, floppyness, drooping.

[Uttephabeta]

My experience has been that when I'm engaged in nit picking terminology, I tend to miss the very message the words are trying to impart.

My experience has been that when folks are not clear on the terms they are using, they tend to talk past each other and no communication happens. It is quite possible to be using the same terms and be talking about completely different concepts. And neither party know it at all. One example would be the idea of "emptiness", which for some is a metaphysical foo-foo term, and for the Buddha simply was an indictment of illusions of status and ownership..

[Flatlytaize]

Huh?

affirmation = making a declaration about something.

flaccidity = limpness, floppyness, drooping.

affirmation: to make firm

[GECEDEANY]

My experience has been that when folks are not clear on the terms they are using, they tend to talk past each other and no communication happens.

This is correct. It is quite common within religious believes [or believers] to read that words are meaningless... but, as an example, I have seen here some members with knowledge in Pali terms to hold a precise understanding of what the teaching is about guiding its practice to Noble results and clearly verifiable. If the concept is clear, sharp, direct and simple, then, the understanding will be; as the understanding is clear, sharp, direct and simple, then, practice will and results will lead directly to liberation.

[JonatonM]

"The meaning of a word is its use in language." Wittgenstein, Investigations

[EtellaObtaite]

"The meaning of a word is its use in language." Wittgenstein, Investigations

He also stated: "The meaning of a word is what is explained by the explanation of the meaning." -- i.e. if you want to understand the use of the word 'meaning', look for what are called 'explanations of meaning'

(A Synopsis of Wittgenstein's Logic of Language)

Anyway, anyone want to add anything more about prayers and /or what I call affirmations/recollections ?

[Flikemommoilt]

“When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.” Oscar Wilde and...on non-prayer...
An expert is a man who tells you a simple thing in a confused way in such a fashion as to make you think the confusion is your own fault. ~William Castle

[JohnfAclambrJA]

Because a fish pees in his own drinking water, there is no difference between him and his entire universe.
If a buddhist starts from the view of non-duality (no self / no other) then the question of (there being any difference between) an external deity and one's own mind becomes moot. I think.

Praying to anything that one believes to exist outside the mind seems contrary to Buddhist teachings. On the other hand, if one is engaged the the parctice of mindful awareness when doing other activities such as chopping vegetables or sweeping the floor or whatever, then why should it matter whether the activity is an aspiration ("prayer") or cleaning a toilet? In other words, there is meditation (sammat. & vipp..) which, strictly speaking, is essentally what the Buddha taught, and then there is the question of where one's practice is when one is "off the cushion" as they say. So, can one "pray" and do so "mindfully"?

It's all so terribly subjective. If you tell me that as part of your practice you pray for hungry ghosts or for people who suffer from illness or disaster, maybe that doesn't sound so bad. If I then tell you that every I day rub the tummy of a plaster buddha statue and make a wish, it sounds like a promotional scheme for a new Chinese restaurant. Speaking of restaurants, I have some friends who are Thai monks (living in the United States). Every once in a while they accept the request to conduct a blessings ceremony for the opening of a new Thai restaurant. So, now there is this idea of 'prayers' and 'aspirations' and 'affirmations' and 'blessings' and then simply motivation and intention and how they manifest as the actions of one's speech, conduct and thought.

What differentiates a Buddha from someone who has (merely) ceased being attached to the temporary phenomena of our world? Does a Buddha break through all of our notions of conceptual time and space? Does anyone who becomes enlightened do this? If not, then what is enlightenement, and if so, can someone who "existed" in a body centuries ago still be generating something today that benefits people?

Not arguing one way or the other---just throwing some marshmallows into the fire.

Interesting thoughts - thanks for sharing with us the workings of your mind .... this is the stuff I love about online forums.
I agree it is about intention and how the actions benefit the actioner - discussing pray, praying and prayer directly refers to the offer of devout petition, praise, thanks, etc., to God or an object of worship but has been said here it is the intention of the action and it's benefit to the individual which is important .

[andrekuper]

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.

[ChebuRAtoR]

Buddho is my mantra of choice also ( in many situations ), and simple chants, such as breath, release .... in english or tibetan I find useful. ( as an aside, Bucky G your new avatar has significance due to the bands links to Henry Rollins and his music - quite a pleasant surprise tonight - thanks ).

[Agedprepdoock]

(as an aside, Bucky G your new avatar has significance due to the bands links to Henry Rollins and his music - quite a pleasant surprise tonight - thanks ).

You're welcome! His lyrics (& Tool's) and poems have served me as affirmations before (He's a big actor now! I liked his show on IFC.).

[drgshmcm]

Friends: these are my favorite Pali chants.
"Then, showing respect with your thoughts, words, and deeds, pay homage to the Buddha:

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma-sambuddhasa. (x3)"

("translation": Homage to the Blessed One, The Worthy One, the Rightly
Self-Awakened One.)

"And take refuge in the Triple Gem:

Buddham saranam gacchami.
Dhammam saranam gacchami.
Sangham saranam gacchami.

Dutiyampi buddham saranam gacchami.
Dutiyampi dhammam saranam gacchami.
Dutiyampi sangham saranam gacchami.

Tatiyampi buddham saranam gacchami.
Tatiyampi dhammam saranam gacchami.
Tatiyampi sangham saranam gacchami"

(My "translation": I go to the Buddha for refuge..., to the dhamma..., to the sangha....
A second time.... A third time....)

Sources:

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/t...nd.html#prelim
buddhanet.net
forestmeditation.com