Unexpected Freedom

Prayer and DevotionAlthough it is difficult to cross over the storm-swept sea of passion,those who live in accord with the well-taught Way, arrive at the beyond.Dhammapada verse 86Question: Does prayer have any place or any part to play inTheravada Buddhism?Ajahn Munindo: I am happy this question has been asked.Although prayer might appear to belong to forms of spiritualpractice quite different to this one, it is a dimension ofspiritual work that personally I feel we are not wise todismiss. I can say for myself that for many years now hardlya day has gone by when I haven’t offered up some prayers.Although I may not have sat in formal meditation every day,I never forget my prayers. In other words I consider prayerlife to be essential. I can’t imagine living this life without aconscious engagement in this way.How does one talk about something so mysterious andintensely personal? It is difficult to say what prayer is, orhow we learn about it. During my Protestant upbringingthere was a general assumption that everybody knew howto pray. We sang hymns, I heard the Bible readings and theprayers during services, but nothing was said about how toenter into a conversation with the ‘divine principle’. Wewere told, ‘Ask and ye shall be given.’ But how exactly werewe to do the asking?129