By Venerable Master Hsing Yun
Founder of Fo Guang Shan
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
You once said:
“It is hard to encounter the Dharma,
It is hard to aspire for a wholesome mind,
It is hard to be born in a peaceful country,
It is hard to obtain the human body.”
Therefore, we feel extremely fortunate to be Buddhists!
Today, we, your lay devotees, would like to pray to you:
May we follow your teachings,
Believe in cause and effect and uphold the five precepts;
May we all be devoted to our parents and dedicated to our children;
May we all show love and respect to our siblings and spouses;
May we all encourage each other as friends
And be open-hearted towards our superiors and subordinates;
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
Sincere devotees are like a clear stream in the world:
Some of them write diligently or teach the Dharma through writing;
Some of them put their eloquence to use or help to propagate Buddhism;
Some donate money or devote their efforts to monasteries;
Some offer their bodies and minds to benefit all beings.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
We would like to pray for all devotees.
May they emulate wise people of the past:
To cultivate the Threefold Training,
To promote the Six Paramitas,
To emphasis both practice and understanding
To cultivate both merit and wisdom.
In the process of initiating their vow,
They may meet with many trials;
On the path to their belief,
They may encounter many adversities.
Oh, Buddha,
Please help us to strengthen our faith,
Please help us to break through our challenges;
May we improve with each experience
May we cultivate merits through each adversity.
Furthermore, we pray for your great protection:
May we be free from worries and attain equanimity;
May we achieve bodhi and bring benefits to the world;
May the Sangha and the devotees join hands and advance together to propagate Buddhism;
May the Sangha and the devotees help and cooperate with each other to create a pure land.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha,
Please accept our sincerest prayer!
Oh great, compassionate Buddha,
Please accept our sincerest prayer!
Namo Sakyamuni Buddha
(Excerpted from “A Prayer for Lay Devotees (為在家信眾祈願文)” from Pearls of Wisdom: Prayers for Engaged Living II by Venerable Master Hsing Yun)