The essence of Buddhist Prayers is the fact that our thoughts can directly influence and help the other sentient beings. Buddhist prayers are a way to express good wishes as Buddhism is based on a non-theistic tradition. The word for prayer in Tibetan is ‘Mantra’ meaning an intention that is focused.

The prayer books that Buddhists use as guides are called Sadhanas. ‘Sadhana’ means the method of attainment.

Buddhism is based on a very practical philosophy. Like everything else, Prayers also have a very practical purpose of transforming one’s neutral or negative state into a positive state of being. Prayers aim at increasing the positivities in life including compassion, love and wisdom. In Buddhism, meditation is silently practiced while prayers are chanted aloud.

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The institutions and religious doctrine of Buddhists, which is a characteristic of Tibet and places like Nepal, Bhutan and Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh of India and certain regions in the Himalayas forms Tibetan Buddhism. People practicing Tibetan Buddhism are also observed in certain parts of Russia like Tuva, Buryatia and Kalmykia, in countries like Mongolia and Northeastern China.

It is basically divided into four traditions namely, Nyingma, Kagyu, Gelug and Sakya. These schools include the teachings of the three Buddhism vehicles that are the foundational vehicle, the Mahayana and the Vajrayana. In Gelug, however, Vajrayana is considered to be a part of Mahayana.

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