Buddhist Prayers

An Invocation of Metta/Compassion

As we all gather here today in friendship and community, taking a moment out of our busy lives,… to learn, share and reflect on the insights, experiences and wisdom of others, we are reminded of how blessed we all are. In the current world around us there are many who suffer and face grave challenges. We stand in solidarity with them in compassion and by practicing loving kindness to ourselves and all those around us.

Taking a couple of stanzas from Metta or compassion meditation, let us engage in the power of prayer that connect us - irrespective of religion - with our beliefs and ideals more deeply helping us to hold them in our minds as we go about our daily business, and helping us to develop a stronger sense of conviction. Let us pray the following in the name of all that is good.

May we all be well, happy and peaceful, May no harm come to us,

May we all also have patience, courage, understanding, and determination to meet and overcome inevitable difficulties, problems, and failures in life.

May our parents, our teachers and mentors, our friends and may all living beings across the world…be well, happy and peaceful. May no harm come to them,

May they also have patience, courage, understanding, and determination to meet and overcome inevitable difficulties, problems, and failures in life.

- Thilini Ariyachandra

Praise to Buddha Shakyamuni

O Blessed One, Shakyamuni Buddha Precious treasury of compassion, Bestower of supreme inner peace,

You, who love all beings without exception, Are the source of happiness and goodness; And you guide us to the liberating path.

Your body is a wishfulfilling jewel, Your speech is supreme, purifying nectar, And your mind is refuge for all living beings.

With folded hands I turn to you, Supreme unchanging friend, I request from the depths of my heart:

Please give me the light of your wisdom To dispel the darkness of my mind And to heal my mental continuum.

Please nourish me with your goodness, That I in turn may nourish all beings With an unceasing banquet of delight.

Through your compassionate intention, Your blessings and virtuous deeds, And my strong wish to rely upon you,

May all suffering quickly cease And all happiness and joy be fulfilled; And may holy Dharma flourish for evermore.

- Author Unknown

The Buddha’s Words on Kindness (Metta Sutta)

This is what should be done By one who is skilled in goodness, And who knows the path of peace: Let them be able and upright, Straightforward and gentle in speech. Humble and not conceited, Contented and easily satisfied. Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways. Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful, Not proud and demanding in nature. Let them not do the slightest thing That the wise would later reprove. Wishing: In gladness and in safety, May all things be at ease. Whatever living beings there may be; Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none, The great or the mighty, medium, short or small, The seen and the unseen, Those living near and far away, Those born and to-be-born, May all things be at ease!

Let none deceive another, Or despise any being in any state. Let none through anger or ill-will Wish harm upon another. Even as a mother protects with her life Her child, her only child, So with a boundless heart Should one cherish all living beings: Radiating kindness over the entire world Spreading upwards to the skies, And downwards to the depths; Outwards and unbounded, Freed from hatred and ill-will. Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down Free from drowsiness, One should sustain this recollection. This is said to be the sublime abiding. By not holding to fixed views, The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision, Being freed from all sense desires, Is not born again into this world.

- Author Unknown

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.

- Buddha

Meal Time Prayer

This food is the gift of the whole universe, Each morsel is a sacrifice of life, May I be worthy to receive it. May the energy in this food, Give me the strength, To transform my unwholesome qualities into wholesome ones. I am grateful for this food, May I realize the Path of Awakening, For the sake of all beings.

The joys and pains of all beings are present in the gift of this food. Let us receive it in love and gratitude…

And in mindfulness of our sisters and brothers among living beings of every kind who are hungry or homeless, sick or injured, or suffering in any way.

- Author Unknown

Tibetan Buddhist Mealtime Prayer

TONPA LA MED SANG GYAY RINPOCHE KYOBPA LA MED DAM CHHO RINPOCHE DRENPA LA MED GEDUN RINPOCHE KYAB NAY KON CHHOK SUM LA CHHOD PA BUL

To the precious Buddha, unsurpassable Teacher, to the precious Dharma, unsurpassable Refuge, to the precious Sangha, unsurpassable Guide, to the three Jewels, the sources of Refuge, I make this Offering.

- Author Unknown

Traditional Buddhist Prayer

May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness; May all be free from sorrow and the causes of sorrow; May all never be separated from the sacred happiness which is sorrowless; And may all live in equanimity, without too much attachment and too much aversion, And live believing in the equality of all that lives.