Aspirations Are Not Obtained by Means of Prayer

Householder, there are these five things that are wished for, desired, agreeable, and rarely gained in the world.

What five?

(1) Long life, Householder, is wished for, desired, agreeable, and rarely gained in the world.

(2) Beauty, Householder, is wished for, desired, agreeable, and rarely gained in the world.

(3) Peacefulness, Householder, is wished for, desired, agreeable, and rarely gained in the world.

(4) Fame, Householder, is wished for, desired, agreeable, and rarely gained in the world.

(5) The heavens are wished for, desired, agreeable, and rarely gained in the world.

These are the five things that are wished for, desired, agreeable, and rarely gained in the world.

These five things, Householder, that are wished for, desired, agreeable, and rarely gained in the world, I say, are not obtained by means of prayers or aspirations.

If these five things that are wished for, desired, agreeable, and rarely gained in the world could be obtained by means of prayers or aspirations, who here would be lacking in anything?

—————

(1) Householder, the Noble Disciple who aspires long life ought not to pray for long life or excite in it or [passively] yearn for it. A Noble Disciple who aspires long life should practice the way conducive to long life.

For when he practices the way conducive to long life, it leads to obtaining long life, and he gains long life either heavenly or human.

(2) Householder, the Noble Disciple who aspires beauty ought not to pray for beauty or excite in it or [passively] yearn for it. A Noble Disciple who aspires beauty should practice the way conducive to beauty.

For when he practices the way conducive to beauty, it leads to obtaining beauty, and he gains beauty either heavenly or human.

(3) Householder, the Noble Disciple who aspires peacefulness ought not to pray for peacefulness or excite in it or [passively] yearn for it. A Noble Disciple who aspires peacefulness should practice the way conducive to peacefulness.

For when he practices the way conducive to peacefulness, it leads to obtaining peacefulness, and he gains peacefulness either heavenly or human.

(4) Householder, the Noble Disciple who aspires fame ought not to pray for fame or excite in it or [passively] yearn for it. A Noble Disciple who aspires fame should practice the way conducive to fame.

For when he practices the way conducive to fame, it leads to obtaining fame, and he gains fame either heavenly or human.

(5) Householder, the Noble Disciple who aspires the heavens ought not to pray for the heavens or excite in them or [passively] yearn for them. A Noble Disciple who aspires the heavens should practice the way conducive to heaven.

For when he practices the way conducive to heaven, it leads to obtaining the heavens, and he gains the heavens.

For one desiring long life, beauty, fame,

acclaim, heaven, high families,

and lofty delights

following in succession,

the wise praise motivation

in doing deeds of merit.

Being motivated, the wise person

secures both kinds of good:

the good in this life,

and the good of the future life.

By attaining the good, the steadfast one

is called one of wisdom.

(Reference: AN 5.43)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how one is unable to acquire the objectives of their affection through prayer.

He helps Students understand this through sharing “If these five things that are wished for, desired, agreeable, and rarely gained in the world could be obtained by means of prayers or aspirations, who here would be lacking in anything”?

In other words, if it was as easy to acquire the objectives of one’s affection through prayer, then you would already have everything you want. One could pray right now, treating God like a genie in a bottle, and all your wishes would come true.

Did you try it? Did it work?

Of course not, one cannot obtain one’s aspirations through prayer. There needs to be learning, reflecting, and practicing of these Teachings to improve the condition of the mind to experience improved outcomes in this life. It is through our actions that we experience beneficial results.

Through making wise wholesome decisions, we experience wholesome outcomes (i.e. wholesome Kamma). Through making unwise unwholesome decisions, we experience unwholesome outcomes (i.e. unwholesome Kamma).

As a Practitioner acquires wisdom, they are then equipped to make free will choices that are wise leading to wholesome outcomes (i.e. wholesome Kamma).

If one is wishing for a long life, beauty, peacefulness, fame, or a heavenly rebirth, then it will never occur because it is one’s own actions through wise decisions that produces these results, not prayer. If one is wishing for these outcomes, they might consider whether these are cravings/desires/attachments.

There might be an interest to acquire these results that can be pursued as goals or objectives. But, if there is craving/desiring for these outcomes, this will produce unwholesome decisions leading to unwholesome results (i.e. unwholesome Kamma).

A wise Practitioner would apply determination, dedication, diligence to learning, reflecting, and practicing to obtain improvements to the condition of the mind and one’s life through wise decision making based on The Three Wholesome Roots of generosity, loving-kindness, and wisdom.