An American Lama's Thoughts on Prayer

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An American Lama's Thoughts on Prayer

• Happy holydays! May every day be a good one, just
  being alive as the sun dawns. Every morning I
  wake and take a moment to appreciate the lovely
  view from my bedroom window.

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And every day, as I take in the stillness and
beauty of my little pond and surrounding woods, I
wonder Who made all of this? Wordless gratitude
fills my heart and mind, body and soul each day
as I begin my morning ritual, and I sense the
sacred Presence transcendent over all of us yet
immanent in each and every one of us, by whatever
name or image-ing.   Where'd it all come from,
and where's it heading? The unspeakable potency
of this ancient, timeless mystery instantly makes
me feel grateful, standing awe-struck right
amidst the miracle and amazing grace of it all.
Immediately I feel enveloped in what a Christian
mystic once called the cloud of unknowing, and
know I don't really need to know. In this state I
sit naturally to meditate, in the very heart of
the matter, at home and unalone. This is what I
term co-meditation, implying meditating with.
All my lineage teachers and gurus are there,
all the enlightened ones and spiritual
benefactors, the entire invisible array. This
co-meditation embodies sublime solitude and
sacred silence. You too are invited and welcome
to join, any time, any place spirit happens to
find you.
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Prayer and classical chanted liturgy plays an
important role in Tibetan Buddhism, although it
was not much emphasized by the Buddha himself
2,600 years ago in his basic mindful
awareness-cultivation teachings. Sometimes I like
to enjoy indulging my natural, innocent penchant
for looking up to someone or something by praying
and contemplating in a theistic manner. It makes
me happy and fulfills my inner needs and
longings, and-momentarily, at least, "All is well
and all shall be well in this, the best of all
possible worlds." I'm sure many of my friends and
readers can relate to this, one way or another.
In fact, most western Buddhists are a lot more
theistic in their thoughts and feelings than they
might think. I pray in many ways, and not
necessarily as my parents did or as I learned in
synagogue growing up. Or even as found in sacred
books and Scriptures. There are so many ways to
kneel and worship, as the good poet-saint Rumi
sings. Who can limit this radiant/buoyant spirit?
"Attentiveness is the natural prayer of the soul"
(Nicolas Malebranche).
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Personally, I like to co-meditate with my
higher, inner power and sacred source by simply
awakening in the Presence. After all, how long
does it take to wake up? Only he is truly alive
who is truly awake. It feels a little exposed and
vulnerable to share the intimate details of my
spiritual life, but people have been asking me
for years and years and now that I approach the
latter stages of life, perhaps it's time to get
more real and stop hiding my light under a
bushel. It could be illumining.   Simply making
the resolve to awaken in the Presence invokes
That for me. It's not very complicated. Of course
this is quite personal and may not work well for
everyone. I'm one man alone before the Ultimate,
and that's my true existential situation.   I
have visited, prayed, chanted, bowed and
meditated in many, if not most, of the great
houses of worship of this evanescent world. I
resonate with the idea that a sacred space is one
which feels larger inside than outside -- for it
makes us feel that way, too. In that moment, that
experience, is one's inherited acre of heaven,
our backyard nirvana and inner citadel, just as
one's own home is greater than the architectural
wonders of the world -- or at least should feel
so. The ultimate aim in Buddhism is freedom from
delusion and its attendant suffering.
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The path of awakened enlightenment is one of
daily, moment-to-moment spiritual awareness
practice, and the compassionate life that is
naturally ensured as we find ourselves
interconnected and interdependent with others and
the entire universe. The purpose of Buddhist
prayer is to consciously focus our attention,
refine our intention and elevate our altruistic
enlightenment aspirations, thus awakening our
inherent inner capacities of strength, compassion
and wisdom -- rather than to petition external
forces based on fear, idolizing, and worldly
and/or heavenly gain. Buddhist prayer is actually
a form of contemplation akin to meditation, and a
practice of inner reconditioning and
deconditioning. Buddhist prayer replaces the
negative with the virtuous and orients our hearts
and minds, body and soul, energy and spirit
toward the blessings and wonder of life.
Christian "centering prayer" is very similar to
Buddhist meditation. In Western terms, Buddhism
is known of as a non-theistic tradition. Across
the spectrum of the different Buddhist lineages,
there is no reference or recourse made to a
creator deity. But then, who do Buddhists pray
to, and what do they pray for? Buddhists pray
for blessings from Buddhas, lineage gurus and
Bodhisattvas (beings who live to serve). And,
being human, they pray for many of the same
things people pray for in other religions for
healing, safety, for light and strength, for
understanding and for ordinary things as well.
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People may ask, "Isn't this all imagination?"
which is a very good question. I believe it is up
to those of us who are interested to answer
it. At this holy time of year I send my warmest
wishes and prayers for your health and well-being
and share with you my favorite anonymous
prayer I am the place where God shines
through He and I are one not two He needs me
where and as I am I need not think nor fear nor
plan If I can be relaxed and free He'll work his
plan of love through me Visit his website
at www.surya.org. For more information on Surya's
books- visit www.surya.org/books/ You can also
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