Praying to a saviour?

[tellyontellyon]

Can Buddhists pray to a deity, Buddha, the Noble Sangha etc. etc. for help with dealing with spiritual and psychological problems?

Sometimes I feel so weak and at the mercy of my conditioning that I despair of myself and feel I need someone to save me... is this possible?

Thanks in advance

[Malcolm]

Can Buddhists pray to a deity, Buddha, the Noble Sangha etc. etc. for help with dealing with spiritual and psychological problems?

Sometimes I feel so weak and at the mercy of my conditioning that I despair of myself and feel I need someone to save me... is this possible?

Thanks in advance

This is what Tāra is for.

[Queequeg]

Alternatively, Avalokitesvara.

[Grigoris]

Amitabha anyone?

"Vow 18 
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of the ten quarters who after having heard my name, and thus awakened their highest faith and aspiration of re-birth in that country of mine, even they have recollected such a thought for ten times only, they are destined to be born there, with the exception of those who have committed the five deadly sins (Anantarya), and who have blasphemed the orthodox Law (Dharma), otherwise may I not attain the enlightenment."

[tellyontellyon]

thank you folks.

[sillyrabbit]

Medicine Buddha.

[pael]

Can Buddhists pray to a deity, Buddha, the Noble Sangha etc. etc. for help with dealing with spiritual and psychological problems?

Sometimes I feel so weak and at the mercy of my conditioning that I despair of myself and feel I need someone to save me... is this possible?

Thanks in advance

This is what Tāra is for.

How to pray Tara? Does it need empowerment or lung? How to pray Tara without empowerment or lung?

[Grigoris]

Can Buddhists pray to a deity, Buddha, the Noble Sangha etc. etc. for help with dealing with spiritual and psychological problems?

Sometimes I feel so weak and at the mercy of my conditioning that I despair of myself and feel I need someone to save me... is this possible?

Thanks in advance

This is what Tāra is for.

How to pray Tara? Does it need empowerment or lung? How to pray Tara without empowerment or lung?

You need a lung for the sadhana. As for the mantra: some teachers say it needs empowerment, some say it doesn't need empowerment.

An Amitabha practice, based on the Sutra approach, does not need empowerment.

[Soma999]

Tara is the Mother. Mother is full of compassion. Just love her if your heart want to express love.

I practiced Tara without empowerement or any lungs, i felt very good things. Others persons did with the same results. Then after some years i did it after receiving the empowerment and lung, it's still very good.

Anyway, an empowerment by a true master can help your mind mature and you will find much more easily Tara inside. It can really quickens the process. A true Guru helps your mind mature, like a cristal that shines its radiance and help you find your own light inside.

Anyway, true empowerment is not a ceremony, it's a process. It can happens in many different forms.

Don't take an empowerment like a "diploma" or permission, it's the best way to completly miss the point, like those who accumulate ngondro just like a diploma and instead of disapearing in the light of their Guru (ngondro is Guru yoga), they just cristallise something very negative about their ego. Energy can be dangerous, intention is extremly important. Just my opinion still.

[明安 Myoan]

Amitabha anyone?

"Vow 18 
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of the ten quarters who after having heard my name, and thus awakened their highest faith and aspiration of re-birth in that country of mine, even they have recollected such a thought for ten times only, they are destined to be born there, with the exception of those who have committed the five deadly sins (Anantarya), and who have blasphemed the orthodox Law (Dharma), otherwise may I not attain the enlightenment."

Yes indeed, this is the foundation for practice in Pure Land schools such as Jodo-shu, Shinshu, and Chinese Pure Land.

Vow 33 is a good one too
"If, when I attain Buddhahood, sentient beings in the immeasurable and inconceivable Buddha-lands of the ten quarters, who have been touched by my light, should not feel peace and happiness in their bodies and minds surpassing those of humans and devas, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment."

I too have felt "so weak and at the mercy of my conditioning that I despair of myself and feel I need someone to save me".
Those with this kind of challenge and awareness of their limitations can find much relief in trying buddha-remembrance of Amitabha, even for a little while.
Amitabha is often compared to a swift ship which carries even heavy boulders across the ocean of suffering with ease.

I have also had positive experiences with Chenrezig.
Whichever seems to "click" for you! You'll know

I hope you feel better, tellyon!

[Konchog1]

I treasure this quote

Please look at an image of Padmasambhava, or of your teacher, or of your yidam.

I can assure you that you are loved unconditionally. I can absolutely promise you this.

There is no mistake. Somewhere in this universe, you are loved unconditionally.

What you must do is learn to gradually exchange your experience of broken love

for this other love -- this unconditional love that is continually being offered

to you by all the buddhas and bodhisattvas of the ten directions.

-Bill Cassidy

[Schrödinger’s Yidam]

When I Googled Bill Cassidy I got a U.S Senator from Louisiana. Is that who you are quoting?

[Tiago Simões]

Amitabha anyone?

"Vow 18 
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of the ten quarters who after having heard my name, and thus awakened their highest faith and aspiration of re-birth in that country of mine, even they have recollected such a thought for ten times only, they are destined to be born there, with the exception of those who have committed the five deadly sins (Anantarya), and who have blasphemed the orthodox Law (Dharma), otherwise may I not attain the enlightenment."

Since Guru Rinpoche is an emanation of Buddha Amitabha, he would work to, no?

[Konchog1]

Please look at an image of Padmasambhava, or of your teacher, or of your yidam. I can assure you that you are loved unconditionally. I can absolutely promise you this. There is no mistake. Somewhere in this universe, you are loved unconditionally. What you must do is learn to gradually exchange your experience of broken love for this other love -- this unconditional love that is continually being offered to you by all the buddhas and bodhisattvas of the ten directions.

-Bill C@ssidy

[Grigoris]

Amitabha anyone?

"Vow 18 
Provided I become a Buddha, if the beings of the ten quarters who after having heard my name, and thus awakened their highest faith and aspiration of re-birth in that country of mine, even they have recollected such a thought for ten times only, they are destined to be born there, with the exception of those who have committed the five deadly sins (Anantarya), and who have blasphemed the orthodox Law (Dharma), otherwise may I not attain the enlightenment."

Since Guru Rinpoche is an emanation of Buddha Amitabha, he would work to, no?

Sure, but you would need lung for the mantra.

[明安 Myoan]

To clarify too for the original poster, one does not need any kind of empowerment to call on Amitabha directly.
Even a bare recitation of "Amitabha! Amitabha!" with sincere aspiration in any time, any place, and any state of mind is enough to begin.
Learning more through reading the Pure Land sutras or commentaries by masters such as Shantao, Honen, Shinran, or other lineages like Thich Thien Tam can deepen this practice as well if you find affinity for it.