as a practicing buddhist is a prayer answered the same as prayer of other religions,?

Question

rephrase the question to if you are a practising buddhist

Answer 1

Having read most of the answers, which seem to come primarily from non-Buddhists, I thought I might be able to give you a decent answer - however I don't believe I could do a better job than Lazarus.

As a Buddhist, when I 'pray', I do not ask for the assistance, gifts or intercession of a 'separate, independent creator', I simply wish for the blessing of peace, loving kindness, compassion, tolerance, acceptance and understanding of and to all beings.

Buddhists do not pray to or worship Buddha, or any other deity - generally (there are some sects that may be more in line with this notion).

This is my practice and hopefully is of some use to you.

Answer 2

As opposed to many of the previous responders, I'm actually going to try and answer your question.

Buddhists don't understand the individual as being somehow different from any sort of Absolute being that may (or may not exist). Thus prayer is not something that a Buddhist does to ask for special favors at the expense of others. Prayer is something done to cultivate virtue, to enjoin "right mind", to find strength, peace and grace within. So no, in a purely Buddhist understanding, prayer isn't answered with rewards by an external deity figure. It's an awakening of virtue within.

However, in places where Buddhism has fused to local folk religion, the understanding in many places is that one is asking for specific things from the Buddha as a deity figure. In those cases, it is similar to other religions.

I hope that helps.

Take care,

Lazarus

Answer 3

I always find it very interesting that evangelical Christians are the only ones who are experts on - not only their religion - but the religion of others. I always find it very interesting that evangelical Christians are the only ones who will break into a conversation on a spiritual subject on which they know nothing about and try to force their own interpretation of ONE holy book ( with many interpretations ) down another person s throat. I always find it very interesting that evangelical are the only ones who know EVRYTHING about God, and will be quick to immediately point out just how wrong you are about everything because they worship the ancient Hebrew God of War, Yahweh. As I do research, I am finding that almost all people who worship a diety and pray, get their prayers answered. How in the world can any man tell whether another man gets his prayers answered? Only the man doing the praying knows that. Unless, of course, you are an inerrantist, fundamentalist Christian.

Answer 4

buddha is NOT GOD, or a deity to be worshipped, or to be prayed to.




ABOUT BUDDHISM:

i was an ex-buddhist.
you need to know,

even Prince GAUTAMA (buddha) himself said that buddhism might be FLAWED.(have wrong teachings)

he said that his teachings might be wrong. he told us to use our brains to think, whether he was right or wrong.

Prince Gautama NEVER instituted a religion. he never said whether there is God, or whether there isn't, leaving buddhists quite confused today. some buddhists worship buddha as god among many gods, some buddhists do not worship God at all.

Prince Gautama in fact told people he is NOT the way, but he shows the way. He told people not to follow him too.

after PRINCE Gautama died, his disciples dispersed and no one wrote about him. not until FIVE HUNDRED YEARS LATER. by then, a lot of things have been added, and there already alot of discrepancies.

if you look at mainstream buddhism, you will know that buddha left the buddhists really confused. some buddhists have different forms of buddha, some worship one buddha. some believe there is the fat one, some the fierce one, some the thousand hand one, some the female buddha or goddess of mercy. some believe in gods, while othere do not . some believe in reincarnation but some do not. some buddhists believe in heaven and hell soem do not. some believe in evil spirits and demons, some do not. some strive for nothingness, some believe in prosperity. some burn joss and incense, some do not. some believe in statues, some do not.

so think again, like what Prince Gautama said. Prince Gautama DID not CREATE BUDDHISM. More importantly he said that not everything he said is correct. in other words, Buddhism is flawed!

Answer 5

Prayers aren't answered...There is no sky daddy listening.. and if there were, why weren't the prayers of 11 million people answered during the Holocaust.... If those didn't get answered, what are your little puny, selfish prayers worth? Get over it..

Buddhists don't pray to a god, they pray for inner strength, and for wisdom.

Answer 6

Yes I Believe so--there is the SuperSoul within the heart of all and He hears all of our prayers--the differences are with us--not with God who is in each of our hearts! Depending upon our path and upon what our spiritual guide teaches us -we will have different prayers--some pray for food and material things, some pray for liberation, and some very fortunate souls pray for pure devotion and love -- If we are on the right path we will pray for the right things-

Answer 7

The only way a prayer is heard is through the intercessor, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is sitting at the right hand of God the Father making intercession for us. Only prayers that are heard can be answered. If you don't pray through Jesus you might as well be praying to a rock. Rocks aren't well known for answering prayer.

Answer 8

Yes, but it probably comes in the way of a joke, or humor to be more precise. Buddhist humor is always ironic, most of the time!

Answer 9

It depends on who you pray to. As a Buddhist, I assume you pray to Buddha. However, there is only one true God who came to earth as a man, died, and lived again. Although Buddha was a wise man, he did not conquer death. He still died. But Jesus Christ lives today and he will listen to you if you pray to Him.

Answer 10

No, the bible says Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life no man comes to the Father except by me. If you are not praying through Jesus Christ and are a believer in him you are just talking to the air.