The Gift of Prayer
Sojong Reminder from Anam Thubten
Dear Dharma friends,
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Very recently, the Dharmata sangha in France held an in-person meditation retreat at a monastery there. This was the first time our sangha has organized an in-person public retreat since the pandemic began. The realization of the importance of human connection was quite vivid in the minds of many of us. The joy of being in the presence of dharma friends was palpable. Enjoying a meal together created a heart-warming ambience of community. Towards the end of the retreat, we offered prayers for the deceased ones and for the wellbeing of the world with a traditional butter lamp prayer. It felt like the right thing to do.
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With all of the suffering of human loss from war and the pandemic and from food shortages caused by political turmoil and natural disaster, this world seems to be descending into an abyss of problems. From the beginning of time, there have always been ups and downs in the world. This has to do with the fact that its nature is Anitya (sanskrit for impermanence) in which all conditions are changing at both a personal and global level. In today’s world, information travels so quickly that we’re constantly aware of much of what is going on around the world. This sometimes leaves us thinking that the world is ensnarled in more problems than ever. It can tend to paint a bleak outlook for the future of humanity. It can also keep us from noticing all of the good things that are happening right now in the world as well.
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Whether we’re overwhelmed or not with all the dismal news, there is a way to stay open-hearted and not get caught-up in pessimism and despondency. Prayer is a good way to keep aspiration alive when human suffering becomes overwhelming. Prayer doesn’t have to be a religious practice, but can be done based on a non-theistic or spiritual foundation. Prayer is a big part of Buddhism as a means for opening our hearts and invoking the wisdom and courage within. For example, you can pray for all beings to be free and happy. With such a prayer, you might then feel that you’re not trapped in a state of hopelessness, but rather that the world is held in your compassionate heart.
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Prayer can be practiced either out loud or in silence. You can compose your own prayers or use an existing liturgy, such as the Four Immeasurables prayer. You might like to spend some time each day holding the world, or someone who is sick or dealing with a loss, in your prayers. That person can be anyone - your friend, a family member, or a stranger. You can pray for people in war zones who are living in terror everyday. It feels that this is an especially important time for us to pray for the well-being of humanity.
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During this Sojong, we can hold the whole world in our hearts and pray for the end of war, violence, and poverty, and for peace, happiness, and prosperity to abound. Let’s remember that prayer is a blessing and a gift we can offer to everyone at any given moment.
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With palms joined,
Anam Thubten
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