Prayer and Practice

A comparison of the Bible's prayer and Buddhist practice. We explore what both traditions teach about communication with the divine.

The Beginning of Prayer and Meditation

Bible

σὺ δὲ ὅταν προσεύχῃ, εἴσελθε εἰς τὸ ταμεῖόν σου καὶ κλείσας τὴν θύραν σου πρόσευξαι τῷ πατρί σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ· καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ ἀποδώσει σοι.

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Sutra

汝等當知，一切衆生，從無始來，生死相續，皆由不知常住真心性淨明體，用諸妄想

“You should know: all sentient beings have been continuing in the cycle of birth and death from beginningless time because they do not know the always-abiding true mind, the pure and luminous essence, and instead use deluded thoughts.”

Comparison

Jesus's closet prayer and Buddhist meditation are both acts of withdrawing from external commotion and entering into inner stillness. Christian prayer is a dialogue directed toward a personal God; Buddhist meditation is a practice of recovering the originally pure essence of the mind. The starting points differ, but both traditions know that the deepest truth is encountered in the place of quiet solitude.

Stillness and Silence

Bible

הַרְפּוּ וּדְעוּ כִּי־אָנֹכִי אֱלֹהִים אָרוּם בַּגּוֹיִם אָרוּם בָּאָרֶץ׃

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Sutra

維摩默然

“Vimalakirti remained silent.”

Comparison

The Psalm's 'be still' and Vimalakirti's 'silence' both witness together that there is a deeper truth beyond language and busyness. Christian silence is a posture of reception that acknowledges God as God; Buddhist silence is standing before the non-dual truth that transcends discrimination and concept. In the midst of modern noise and busyness, both traditions speak with one voice: only by stopping can one finally hear.

Ceaseless Practice

Bible

ἀδιαλείπτως προσεύχεσθε.

“Pray without ceasing.”

Sutra

我深敬汝等，不敢輕慢，所以者何，汝等皆行菩薩道，當得作佛

“I deeply respect you and dare not look down on you, for you are all practicing the bodhisattva path and shall attain buddhahood.”

Comparison

Paul's command to 'pray without ceasing' and Bodhisattva Never Disparaging's unceasing veneration both say that spiritual practice should not be a part of life but the whole of life. Ceaseless prayer in Christianity is the maintenance of an unbroken relationship with God; ceaseless practice in Buddhism is tireless reverence directed toward the buddha-nature within every sentient being. Both traditions teach, transcending formal religious acts, that every moment of life can be both practice and prayer.