This is a really silly story...

Post sayings or stories from Buddhist traditions which you find interesting, inspiring or useful. (Your own stories are welcome on DW, but in the Creative Writing or Personal Experience forums rather than here.)
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Redfaery
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This is a really silly story...

Post by Redfaery »

So, I've had some hangups that've held me back in a pretty big way. Namely, I have HUUUGE hangups about praying, because of where I was raised and where I went to school. Although I live in a very liberal area now, I was raised in a small town in a mostly rural area where I, as a Catholic, did not fit in. I was bullied throughout grade school, first for my social awkwardness, and then for my faith. The second part is what has held me back. I went to a fundamentalist, evangelical Christian high school. It was the kind of place where "I'll pray for you" is not always meant well...basically I'm used to having prayer used against me and others like me as if it were a weapon.

I've felt stuck in a rut for the past few days and haven't been able to figure out why. But this morning I decided to set aside some of my breakfast as an offering....and, I prayed. I asked that the merit from the offering I was giving be used to benefit all sentient creatures. Then I ate, and afterwards, I scattered the offering portion outside for the birds and bugs and other critters.

I feel wonderful, like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, because now I know that my prayers are for everyone, not just people like me.
NAMO SARASWATI DEVI
Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. - GANDHI
I am a delicate feminine flower!!!!
Punya
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Re: This is a really silly story...

Post by Punya »

Not so silly. Finding ways to move on is truly wonderful. :twothumbsup:
We abide nowhere. We possess nothing.
~Chatral Rinpoche
Jesse
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Re: This is a really silly story...

Post by Jesse »

It's bodhichitta (sp?) I guess you can just call it compassion. When we get over our hangups and are able to be compassionate even a little bit, we will normally feel much better. This is also why metta meditation and other compassion based meditations will often make us feel good, or even euphoric.
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Thus shall ye think of all this fleeting world:
A star at dawn, a bubble in a stream;
A flash of lightning in a summer cloud,
A flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream.
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Johnny Dangerous
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Re: This is a really silly story...

Post by Johnny Dangerous »

Question: What is prayer?

Answer: The yearning for bountiful results (of spiritual practice).

(Sakya Pandita)

I think prayer in Buddhism can be said to differ from Christianity in a number of ways.
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when afflicted by disease

Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad

Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs

Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared

-Khunu Lama
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Redfaery
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Re: This is a really silly story...

Post by Redfaery »

Johnny Dangerous wrote:Question: What is prayer?

Answer: The yearning for bountiful results (of spiritual practice).

(Sakya Pandita)

I think prayer in Buddhism can be said to differ from Christianity in a number of ways.
Indeed. :namaste: I was used to "I will pray for you" being meant as "you are going to hell" that even in Japan, when I gave alms to a monk, when he said "I will pray for you" the familiar choking in my throat overwhelmed the feeling of joy I'd gotten from his blessing.
NAMO SARASWATI DEVI
Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. - GANDHI
I am a delicate feminine flower!!!!
sunguru4
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Re: This is a really silly story...

Post by sunguru4 »

beautiful story not silly story this http://www.heavensinspirations.com/empty-chair.html is another inspiring story but coming from someone here that actually experienced it is way more meanignful
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avisitor
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Re: This is a really silly story...

Post by avisitor »

Redfaery wrote:It was the kind of place where "I'll pray for you" is not always meant well...basically I'm used to having prayer used against me and others like me as if it were a weapon.
The old saying, ...
sticks and stone may break my bones but names will never hurt me
comes to mind ...
If my name is dirt then when people call me dirt then it is only may name
How can one hurt me by calling me my name??

If every time someone said "I'll pray for you" and meant it in a bad way
All one has to do is to say thank you for your prayers
Often misunderstanding someone on purpose does more to frustrate them than any come back line

Holding hurt feelings because someone else said something ... only hurts you
Freeing yourself by letting it go and wish others well ... it releases all that heavy stuff

Wish you well
Schrödinger’s Yidam
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Re: This is a really silly story...

Post by Schrödinger’s Yidam »

I didn't think that was silly. I thought that was beautiful.
1.The problem isn’t ‘ignorance’. The problem is the mind you have right now. (H.H. Karmapa XVII @NYC 2/4/18)
2. I support Mingyur R and HHDL in their positions against lama abuse.
3. Student: Lama, I thought I might die but then I realized that the 3 Jewels would protect me.
Lama: Even If you had died the 3 Jewels would still have protected you. (DW post by Fortyeightvows)
joy&peace
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Re: This is a really silly story...

Post by joy&peace »

It's a very good story :)

thank you for sharing.
Om Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate bodhi svaha
SeekerNo1000003
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Re: This is a really silly story...

Post by SeekerNo1000003 »

Beautiful story. To me praying to a guru or a deity is like calling them up, asking them to kindly listen. I think it's just a way to connect.
gloriasteinem
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Re: This is a really silly story...

Post by gloriasteinem »

Well, to me, Christianity on contrary helped me to pray better. I think in Christianity it is the prayer that is the most powerful since there isn't really meditative practice.
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Kim O'Hara
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Re: This is a really silly story...

Post by Kim O'Hara »

gloriasteinem wrote:Well, to me, Christianity on contrary helped me to pray better.
Good. Pick up helpful practices wherever you find them.
gloriasteinem wrote:I think in Christianity it is the prayer that is the most powerful since there isn't really meditative practice.
That's not true, actually. It may not be widely encouraged in churches you've been to, but the tradition is old and still strong. Wikipedia's overview - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_meditation - is good, although they could have said more about the differences between 'meditation' (which is primarily verbal) and 'contemplative prayer' (which isn't). The second of these is closer to Buddhist meditation.

:namaste:
Kim
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