When I lived in Thailand, I noticed that there was something in common between the Buddhist monks and the Christian missionaries in their use of a particular word. The Thai Buddhists often discussed the importance of making adhitthan, which is the Thai version of the Pali word adhitthana. In Theravadin Buddhism, adhitthana means a conscious determined intention to practise with effort and dedication. Thai Christians used this very same word – adhitthan – when they talked about prayer.
Ven. Ajahn Munindo
This morning, while making my usual rounds of the Buddhist websites I visit, I stumbled across a piece written by Ven. Ajahn Munindo which I had read long ago but for which my mind seemed to have be an especially primed to receive today. In it, he speaks to the nature of Buddhist prayer as being one of making inward resolves and asseverations rather than petitions to an other. I find that it sums up quite nicely my own approach to the practice of the brahmaviharas and inspires me to further explore and deepen this style of practice. I hope you will have a chance to read the full article here: http://nanda.online-dhamma.net/lib/authors/munindo/Unexpected_Freeodm/English/12.htm Sukhi hotu!
Leave a Reply