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Prayer replaces the negative with virtue and points to the blessings of Life. It allows us to turn our hearts and minds to the beneficial, inspiring our thoughts and actions. |
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DAILY PRAYER OF METTA-KARUNA
O Amida,
Oneness of Life and Light,
Entrusting in your Great Compassion,
May you shed the foolishness in myself,
Transforming me into your conduit of Eternal Love.
May I be a medicine for the sick and weary,
Nursing their afflictions.
May I protect the helpless,
And guide all seekers to the Other Shore.
May I be a lamp for those who need your Light,
And a bed for those who need rest.
May all find happiness through my actions,
And let no one suffer because of me.
Whether they love or hate me,
Whether they hurt or wrong me,
May they all obtain true entrusting faith,
Through your Grace,
And realize Supreme Nirvana.
Namo Amida Buddha.
Adapted from Shantideva's Bodhicaryavatara 
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GOLDEN CHAIN PRAYER
We are a link in Amida's golden chain of love that stretches around the world, we will keep our link bright and strong.
We will be kind and gentle to every living thing and protect all who are weaker than ourselves.
We will think pure and beautiful thoughts, say pure and beautiful words, and do pure and beautiful deeds.
May every link in Amida's chain of love be bright and strong, and may we all attain perfect peace.
Namo Amida Buddha.
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A MEALTIME PRAYER
This food is the gift of the whole universe,
Each morsel is a sacrifice of life,
May we be worthy to receive it.
May the energy in this food,
Give us the strength,
To transform our unwholesome qualities
of greed, anger and hatred,
Into the wholesome ones of generosity,
love and compassion.
We are grateful for this food,
We accept this sacrifice,
Relying on the Boundless Heart,
May it help us realize the Path of Awakening,
For the sake of all beings.
Namo Amida Buddha.
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"Daily prayer is an important practice that serves to internalize the ideals of the Buddhist Path. It should be part of our spiritual journey, transforming confusion into clarity and suffering into joy. Some mistakenly believe that the Absolute is separate and different from us. Believing this, their prayers ask for favors, such as health, salvation, fame or the winning lottery numbers. They use prayer in order to manipulate their God to work for their benefit. Wanting Him to play favorites, they beg to be blessed by Him at the expense of others. However, this attitude defeats the power of prayer. We believe that in order for prayer to be effective it must be devoid of any self-centeredness and calculation, relying strictly on the Other Power."
From "On Amida, Practice, Faith and Realization"
by Source of Wisdom 
"Let the wise person do righteousness: A treasure that others can not share, which no thief can steal; a treasure which does not pass away."
Khuddakapatha 8:9
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