More on Community Prayer

3 Comments

1. Also, there is a practice I have REALLY enjoyed called gathas, or mindfulness poems which are a lot like prayer. Each time you engage in a particular action, you say one of the these gathas.

   Here are some of them… http://www.plumvillage.org/HTML/practice/html/gathas.htm (more are on the left side of link interspersed with other practices).

   Pray on!

   Greg

2. Before a meal we would all say this wonderful prayer, then eat in silence for the first 20 minutes of the meal, then after that, mindful chatting. The silent time is to reflect on the sources of our food, where it comes from, and how we are interdependent with it, connected to the entire cosmos.

   http://www.plumvillage.org/HTML/practice/html/eatingTogether.htm

3. I believe in ‘the power of prayer’ and, as a Buddhist, I like to do it especially before each meal. Also, I think it is important to do it in the context of basic fundamental ethical precepts, such as reverence for life (don’t kill), generosity (don’t steal), sexual responsibility (don’t cheat on your spouse and prevent sexual abuse, etc.), mindful consumption (don’t eat, drink, or have conversations that will harm your body or mind), mindful speech (don’t use speech that might hurt yourself or otherssomeone else – see http://www.cnvc.org). These derive from the original teachings of the Buddha, but can also be found in the ten commandments (liberal interpretation), and other world religions. For more information on these precepts, visit http://www.plumvillage.org and look for The Five Mindfulness Trainings and The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings at the top of the left side.

   Go here: http://www.plumvillage.org/HTML/practice.htm

   Also, there is some great books I have enjoyed on prayer listed below:

   Larry Dossey’s, Prayer is Good Medicine
   http://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Good-Medicine-Healing-Benefits/dp/0062514245/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244858327&sr=1-2

   Thich Nhat Hahn’s, The Energy of Prayer: How to Deepen Your Spiritual Practice
   http://www.amazon.com/Energy-Prayer-Deepen-Spiritual-Practice/dp/1888375558/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1244858260&sr=8-1

   Pray on!

   Greg

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