camerata Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 In a talk I was listening to by Ajahn Amaro last night, he was talking about dedicating merit to others, alive or deceased, and he mentioned a study done at Harvard that showed prayer (I think he implied it could apply equally to metta meditation) was efficacious for sick people even when they are not aware of prayers being said on their behalf. When I went googling for this I found the opposite: The Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer indicated there were no benefits to be had and the article mentioned earlier "flawed" studies. Anyone heard of such a study showing benefits from prayer? I think it's unwise for Buddhist monks to quote scientific research in support of Buddhist practice unless the results have been repeated over a number of years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lannarebirth Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 I have only heard anecdotal accounts of prayer contributing to healing and I have seen the study you post, which may be the only one on the subject, that says prayer is not helpful to healing. Metta is a great way to heal ones self though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabaijai Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 In a talk I was listening to by Ajahn Amaro last night, he was talking about dedicating merit to others, alive or deceased, and he mentioned a study done at Harvard that showed prayer (I think he implied it could apply equally to metta meditation) was efficacious for sick people even when they are not aware of prayers being said on their behalf.When I went googling for this I found the opposite: The Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer indicated there were no benefits to be had and the article mentioned earlier "flawed" studies. Anyone heard of such a study showing benefits from prayer? I think it's unwise for Buddhist monks to quote scientific research in support of Buddhist practice unless the results have been repeated over a number of years. I agree, unwise. Perhaps someone needs to relay a link for this latest study to Aj Amaro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AYJAYDEE Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 In a talk I was listening to by Ajahn Amaro last night, he was talking about dedicating merit to others, alive or deceased, and he mentioned a study done at Harvard that showed prayer (I think he implied it could apply equally to metta meditation) was efficacious for sick people even when they are not aware of prayers being said on their behalf.When I went googling for this I found the opposite: The Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer indicated there were no benefits to be had and the article mentioned earlier "flawed" studies. Anyone heard of such a study showing benefits from prayer? I think it's unwise for Buddhist monks to quote scientific research in support of Buddhist practice unless the results have been repeated over a number of years. because this study claims the other studies were flawed doesnt make it true. perhaps the second study was flawed. if we waited for absolute proof of atomic theory etc we would still be living in the pre industrial age. practice metta and there will be benefits. how many and for who no one can know for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotYetArahan Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 Transferring merit or saying metta suttha in my opinion is a good practice for yourself to improve metta. If it helps for the other one that's fine. If not, you have helped yourself already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camerata Posted December 20, 2007 Author Share Posted December 20, 2007 As regards transferring merit to the deceased, I didn't realise that this only applied to a certain type of Peta called Paradattūpajīvino who live on the gifts of others. Apparently, these Petas are the ones who can share the merit performed by their living relatives in their names, and could thereby pass on to better states of happiness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ade100 Posted December 31, 2007 Share Posted December 31, 2007 The one thing I know for sure about chanting is that the effects are proportional to the conviction with which one chants. The experiment mentions that the prayers were offered by Christian groups who had no connection with the patients. I only have anecdotal evidence but when prayers are offered by the relatives and loved ones of the patients, effects can be dramatic. There is nothing like seeing the one you love in a hospital bed to make you chant with every last ounce of conviction that your heat can muster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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