Contrasting Islam Salat With Buddhist Prayer

Humans are inherited curious beings, and are given to have the potential to contemplate and transcend. They have used their knowledge to ponder the question of existence. Unfortunately, the evolution of man has not brought them any closer to realizing its purpose on earth. Although modern science had advanced technology to its extreme, where we cannot imagine how languishing our modern life is.

When we think of our very fundamental needs such as food, water, shelter and health further on to our desirable wants such as education, entertainment, sport, travelling, exploration etc., our mind explodes when we contrast the contradiction between the people from today’s world and the people of the pre-modern world. Most of us would go vertigo say “Wow” I am living the life of a king or queen and it’s true because our modern life is so luxurious. However, this does not answer the question man has long sought.

Having science and technology answers to most of our modern lives’ concerns and needs, but still, there are questions that science cannot respond to such as the needs for spiritual and mental well-being.

So what is it about religion that makes people talk or act the way they behave? Some might devote a few minutes each day, other dedicate a life time to it practices, some even go further by sacrificing themselves in its name, while there are others who does not have time for it. In this essay, we will be exploring the aspiration of Islam Salat and contrast it with Buddhist prayer (chanting) from a theologian perspective.

In our lives we are so busy with our daily activities that we tend to forget our obligation. Therefore, a Salat intention is to bring us back with Allah and reminded us that we are his servants and for us...

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