An American Lama's

Thoughts on Prayer
Happy holydays! May
every day be a good one,
just being alive as the sun
dawns. Every morning I
wake and take a moment
to appreciate the lovely
view from my bedroom
window.

And every day, as I take in the stillness and beauty of my little pond and
surrounding woods, I wonder: Who made all of this? Wordless gratitude
fills my heart and mind, body and soul each day as I begin my morning
ritual, and I sense the sacred Presence transcendent over all of us yet
immanent in each and every one of us, by whatever name or image-ing.

Where'd it all come from, and where's it heading? The unspeakable
potency of this ancient, timeless mystery instantly makes me feel grateful,
standing awe-struck right amidst the miracle and amazing grace of it all.
Immediately I feel enveloped in what a Christian mystic once called the
cloud of unknowing, and know I don't really need to know. In this state I
sit naturally to meditate, in the very heart of the matter, at home and
unalone. This is what I term co-meditation, implying meditating with.

All my lineage teachers and gurus are there, all the enlightened ones and
spiritual benefactors, the entire invisible array. This co-meditation
embodies sublime solitude and sacred silence. You too are invited and
welcome to join, any time, any place spirit happens to find you.
Prayer and classical chanted liturgy plays an important role in Tibetan
Buddhism, although it was not much emphasized by the Buddha himself 2,600
years ago in his basic mindful awareness-cultivation teachings. Sometimes I like
to enjoy indulging my natural, innocent penchant for looking up to someone or
something by praying and contemplating in a theistic manner. It makes me happy
and fulfills my inner needs and longings, and-momentarily, at least, "All is well
and all shall be well in this, the best of all possible worlds." I'm sure many of my
friends and readers can relate to this, one way or another.

In fact, most western Buddhists are a lot more theistic in their thoughts and
feelings than they might think.

I pray in many ways, and not necessarily as my parents did or as I learned in
synagogue growing up. Or even as found in sacred books and Scriptures. There are
so many ways to kneel and worship, as the good poet-saint Rumi sings. Who can
limit this radiant/buoyant spirit? "Attentiveness is the natural prayer of the soul"
(Nicolas Malebranche).



Personally, I like to co-meditate with my higher, inner power and sacred source by
simply awakening in the Presence. After all, how long does it take to wake up? Only he is
truly alive who is truly awake. It feels a little exposed and vulnerable to share the
intimate details of my spiritual life, but people have been asking me for years and years;
and now that I approach the latter stages of life, perhaps it's time to get more real and
stop hiding my light under a bushel. It could be illumining.

Simply making the resolve to awaken in the Presence invokes That for me. It's not very
complicated. Of course this is quite personal and may not work well for everyone. I'm
one man alone before the Ultimate, and that's my true existential situation.

I have visited, prayed, chanted, bowed and meditated in many, if not most, of the great
houses of worship of this evanescent world. I resonate with the idea that a sacred space
is one which feels larger inside than outside -- for it makes us feel that way, too. In that
moment, that experience, is one's inherited acre of heaven, our backyard nirvana and
inner citadel, just as one's own home is greater than the architectural wonders of the
world -- or at least should feel so.

The ultimate aim in Buddhism is freedom from delusion and its attendant suffering.


The path of awakened enlightenment is one of daily, moment-to-moment spiritual
awareness practice, and the compassionate life that is naturally ensured as we find
ourselves interconnected and interdependent with others and the entire universe.
The purpose of Buddhist prayer is to consciously focus our attention, refine our
intention and elevate our altruistic enlightenment aspirations, thus awakening our
inherent inner capacities of strength, compassion and wisdom -- rather than to
petition external forces based on fear, idolizing, and worldly and/or heavenly gain.
Buddhist prayer is actually a form of contemplation akin to meditation, and a practice
of inner reconditioning and deconditioning. Buddhist prayer replaces the negative
with the virtuous and orients our hearts and minds, body and soul, energy and spirit
toward the blessings and wonder of life. Christian "centering prayer" is very similar to
Buddhist meditation.

In Western terms, Buddhism is known of as a non-theistic tradition. Across the
spectrum of the different Buddhist lineages, there is no reference or recourse made
to a creator deity. But then, who do Buddhists pray to, and what do they pray for?
Buddhists pray for blessings from Buddhas, lineage gurus and Bodhisattvas (beings
who live to serve). And, being human, they pray for many of the same things people
pray for in other religions: for healing, safety, for light and strength, for understanding
and for ordinary things as well.
People may ask, "Isn't this all imagination?" which is a very good question. I believe
it is up to those of us who are interested to answer it.

At this holy time of year I send my warmest wishes and prayers for your health and
well-being and share with you my favorite anonymous prayer:

I am the place where God shines through
He and I are one not two
He needs me where and as I am
I need not think nor fear nor plan
If I can be relaxed and free
He'll work his plan of love through me

Visit his website at www.surya.org.
For more information on Surya's books- visit www.surya.org/books/
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