From Konchog of Dreaming of Danzan Ravjaa this beautiful comment about prayer...
Prayer, to well-trained Buddhists, is not always a petition to another being to do something on your, or someone else's, behalf. And certainly not with the idea of a definitely separate, omnipotent being.
The idea we work with is that, ultimately, we are inseparable. So merit generated through prayer, mantra, stupa circumambulation, whatever, dedicated intentionally to another, can have some positive effect. It may be limited (even the fully enlightened Buddha couldn't liberate others without their cooperation) but it's not non-existent either.
Inseparable. I wonder where the idea of the separateness of the omnipotent being came from. Possibly from a desire to evoke the being's holiness but in turn losing sight of the being within us. Prayer may not be about drawing us into a unity with an omnipotent being but more about expressing our inseparableness from that being. Silence in God is beautiful.
To some extent the charismatic christian movement may be regaining this inseparableness but it is still dogged by notions of christian superiority as evidenced by the behaviour of some evangelicals. The only real intrinsic difference christianity may have from other faiths and beliefs is its claim to a unique witness of Jesus, but this is not a call to boast, but a call to humility. I still hear some christians gloat about the offence of the Gospel which does make me cringe.
Some christian perspectives about prayer acknowledge mantras and even circumambulation of their blessed sites such as Croagh Patrick in Ireland.
Perhaps there is something within european culture which tends towards separation of ideas rather than integration.
Ah Croagh Patrick and Konchog in the same post. Weirdly wonderful!
I think God would have had Jesus born on the edge of Clew Bay in Murrisk underneath that glorious mountain if only he could have found three wisemen to visit him.
This post reminds me of how dreadfully inactive we are as Christians when it comes to prayer.
Posted by: zoommayo | Friday, 20 July 2007 at 05:05 PM