prayer

I don't 'pray'... so to speak. More like I 'talk' to God on the soliitude of the beach or whenever i feel I need to say something... which, isn't that often.
I don't say a prayer before a meal because... to me, it seems a bit silly to thank God for these two chili dogs and a Coke. But, I have no quarrels with anyone who does.

I say a prayer of thanks before every meal, and try to say a prayer everyday at least at bedtime. I try to stick to giving thanks for what I and others have, ask forgiveness for my shortcomings and find the strength to be the person I should be. Depending on what's going on in my life I may ask for strength for me or others to deal with what life has presented them with and the strength to make the right choices.

I'm not big on asking God for things like good health or money or stuff like that. I try to stick to the wisdom and strength to deal with life as I should.

I was at a catholic's place a few weeks ago for dinner and they all thanked God for the food. I thanked them for the feast. God has never invited me over for dinner.

Ahnimus wrote:

I was at a catholic's place a few weeks ago for dinner and they all thanked God for the food. I thanked them for the feast. God has never invited me over for dinner.

The wine is probably excellent...

My prayers generally consist of giving thanks for blessings, asking for help in using those blessings for good purposes, asking forgiveness and praying for friends, family and co-workers to have peace and faith in their lives.

Sometimes impromptu prayers occur when I see someone who is suffering or having a rough time. I usually ask for them to be lifted up and helped.

What a great thread! Thank you, Collin, for starting it.
I think everyone prays in a way. According to Longman dictionary of contemporary English, to pray means 1) to speak to God in order to ask for help or give thanks. 2) to wish or hope very strongly that something will happen. I definitely have to go with the second definition because to me, a prayer is like a wish. Regardless of religion, everyone has wishes, right? As for myself, I have been practicing Nichiren Buddhism for quite a few years now and I chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (the Law of the Universe) every day so that I can strengthen my wisdom and vital life force. “In Nichiren Buddhism, the faithful are self-reliant, not dependent on an external force. Their prayer -- unlike the begging of the powerless -- issues from their resolve to awaken their innate Buddhahood. Their prayer, in turn, fuels their actions to conquer the causes of unhappiness for both themselves and many others. Faith expresses itself in prayer, and prayer leads to action. This is an unchanging formula of Nichiren Buddhists for winning in life." Prayer without action will not accomplish much. It’s like having a dream but not taking action to make that dream come true.
OK. Before I wrap this up, I would like to share something that happened to me while I was visiting someone in Victoria, Canada, who did not know I am a Buddhist. So, as we sat at the dinner table this lady I was visiting said, “Let’s say a prayer before we eat, and how about having Eliana do that?” Well, I was a little shy as I was not used to that sort of thing, but I gladly accepted her request, and all I did was just thank her for the meal, and then I wished everyone health and happiness.

Peace,

Eliana

cornnifer wrote:

Here's a newsflash. i pray.
For guidance, assistance, and in thanksgiving. i don't pray in an attempt to renew my faith, i pray because i have it.
Do i pray for people who don't share my faith? Yes. Not for their salvation, or that they will come to share my faith, but for some of the same reasons i pray for myself. It is sincere and heartfelt.
By the same token, i greatly appreciate it when people pray for me. i also appreciate it when people who don't share MY faith, do whatever is THEY do, even if i don't personally practice it, in my behalf.
So whatever it is you do, i invite you to think of me once in awhile
Light a candle, do a dance, smoke a doobie, burn some incense or do some type of well wishing incantation Whatever.
i have an issue with self deprecation and loathing. Just throwing it out there

I pray for you.

onelongsong wrote:

i haven't read the thread but i want to address your question. first; i think prayer takes many forms. seeing the sun come up over the mountains and being thankful for it's beauty is prayer. when i pray for an atheist; i simply say to myself "i hope they find enlightenment". when i see a calf being born and a tear comes to my eye as it struggles to get to it's feet; i say thank you for letting me be here to experience it. prayer is being thankful. maybe you don't know who you're thanking. who do you thank for the sunrise?
so prayer is different for different people.

I'm not sure it really IS different for different people... I'm not religious but more spiritual but I pray... I pray in the same way everyone else on this thread said they pray... and we're all of pretty much different beliefs. Maybe it's just talking to myself and reminding myself how lucky I am and hoping that others could be as lucky as me - a kinda pep talk I suppose. OR maybe a higher body CAN hear me and I'm thanking him/her/it. I do ask/encourage myself to be brave and wise in certain situations. I also ask/wish that others have the same sense of contentment that I have - yes, even so called religious people. It's odd how they pray for my soul and I too pray for theirs . I ask/wish/pray that they could see past the book telling them how to live and actually start living and really seeing everything that's around them.

So yep, I'll pray for you all next time including you cornnifer

One of my roomies prays before she goes to her computer class. She asks God to give her the strength not to wish bad things on her wheelchair-bound professor. Whatever it takes, I guess.