Discuss the various dimensions of prayer for layfolk and Buddhist monks.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

For monks, prayer has a highly meditational dimension. For layfolk, however, Buddhist prayer means expressing praise and requests to a supernatural power or being. Lay Buddhists do not meditate regularly. Buddhism does not have a main deity on whom the religion centers and to whom worship and prayer are offered. But Buddhists do pray, which raises—at least for us—this question: To whom do Buddhists pray, and for what do they pray? Mostly, Buddhists pray for blessings from the Buddha, other buddhas, and bodhisattvas, and ask especially for help toward enlightenment. Some Tibetan Buddhists have "minor" gods, both male and female, to whom prayer is made for blessing and protection. They also pray for the same things people pray for in other religions: for health and healing, safety, spiritual strength, and for understanding.