Why do Buddhists pray and who do they pray to?

This may be difficult for the christian to understand because the core god-concept is so different, that it may make no sense.

Prayer is part of the Buddist's Journey. However, some mistakenly believe that the Absolute is separate and/or different from us. Believing this, their prayers ask for favors, such as health, salvation, fame, victory 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, Buddhists believe that this attitude defeats the power of prayer. So do I.

Buddhist prayer is a form of meditation; it is a practice of inner reconditioning. In fact, it is probably more like what Jesus used as prayer than what christians and the Jews they learned it from as prayer.

Buddhists believe in "the one", but it's a very different "one" than you probably do. Theirs is like the god that jesus (as opposed to Paul) talked about. All is one. Life is one. Light is one. You are part of that one - as am I. If you were Buddhist, you would be reminding YOURSELF (as part of the one) to be an instrument of peace and healing for the world.

Buddhist prayer is a practice to awaken our inherent inner capacities of strength, compassion and wisdom rather than to petition external forces based on fear, idolizing, and worldly and/or heavenly gain. Buddhist prayer is a form of meditation; it is a practice of inner reconditioning. Buddhist prayer replaces the negative with the virtuous and points us to the blessings of Life.

Inspirational

For Buddhists, prayer expresses an aspiration to pull something into one's life, like some new energy or purifying influence and share it with all beings. Likewise, prayer inspires our hearts towards wisdom and compassion for others and ourselves. It allows us to turn our hearts and minds to the beneficial, rousing our thoughts and actions towards Awakening. If we believe in something enough, it will take hold of us. In other words, believing in it, we will become what we believe. Our ability to be touched like this is evidence of the working of Great Compassion within us.

What's more, it can a function as a form of self-talking or self-therapy in which one mentally talks through a problem, or talks through it aloud, in the hope that some new insight will come or a better decision can be made. Prayer therefore frequently has the function of being part of a decision-making process.

Everywhere and Anytime

The wonderful thing about prayer practice is that we can do it everywhere and anytime, transforming the ordinary into the Path of Awakening. Prayer enriches our lives with deep spiritual connection and makes every moment specia.