Icon Saint
What are some prayer focus' (icons, statues, candles, saints) for Buddhism?
The buddhist term for prayer literally translates "heart-wish", so you don't actually direct your prayers to something outside (like God, statues or other religious objects), but use it as a means of cultivating your own mind to become more loving, compassionate, generous, and so on.
Examples of Buddhist prayer phrases are:
"May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness"
"May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering"
"May I become a buddha for the benefit of all sentient beings"
You can also personalize your prayers by including specific persons or situations, like
"May the marriage of my parents heal"
"May aunt Judith be free from the pain she suffers"
"May the elections in Afghanistan proceed peacefully"
or whatever you have in mind.
The ultimate point of Buddhist prayer is cultivating your heart and mind so you actually become a person who not focuses egocentrically on your own wants, but actually uses your energy to help others - by cultivating positive qualities like compassion and love, and by gaining wisdom and understanding about how you CAN help others.
Here's an example of how a great Tibetan master, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, even uses the wonderful prayer of St. Francis in a Buddhist context (lower part of the yellow field), slightly supplemented by Lama Zopa Rinpoche himself:
http://www.liberationprisonproject.org/ourteachers/tenzine_yonten.php
About statues, pictures, and so on, you can use them as a help to focus your mind and get inspiration, but you never, ever use them as a focus for your prayers. Your focus is your own mind, or the beings you pray for, depending on how you see it.
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Le Nouvel An, a typically French celebration
Paris is undoubtedly one of the best known cities in the world, a globally recognized centre of business and culture, with a strong influence on education, politics, entertainment, fashion, media, the arts and science. The Paris urban area is Europe’s second largest city economy and the fifth largest worldwide. The city area has been inhabited for many centuries, with an eventful and dramatic history. Paris is one of the most popular destinations for tourism, attracting millions of visitors from around the world.
The New Year, known locally as Jour des Etrennes, is celebrated with great joy throughout France. One of France’s oldest festivals, the New Year is welcomed in vibrant fashion with many special customs and traditions. The New Year holidays extend till January 6, on which day a special kind of cake called ‘galette des rois’ is cut and enjoyed by the family members.
New Year’s Eve, referred to as ‘la Saint-Sylvestre’, is celebrated with a festive feast known as ‘le Réveillon de Saint-Sylvestre’, traditionally featuring such items as foie gras, pancakes and champagne. This special meal is supposed to bring prosperity to the household in the coming year.
In France New Year is usually a private occasion when people enjoy dining with their loved ones and often participate in a ball known as ‘une soirée dansante’. In the south-western region of France people often attend evening mass and form a torchlight procession to the vineyards to enjoy the wine of the region.
The French enjoy every moment of New Year’s Day and are in high spirits throughout the holiday. Gift giving is also a part of the celebrations and the French enthusiastically exchange presents, the custom being considered auspicious. Lately there has been a trend towards enjoying a river cruise during New Year.
Paris is the scene for the exciting New Year’s Day parade, a tumultuous two-day festival. Performers in their thousands – dancers, singers and entertainers – provide a grand spectacle. The procession winds its way through the streets of the capital, passing through Chantilly and ending in Trocadero under the Eiffel Tower.
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About the Author
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.