FAQ: Can we pray to Amitabha Buddha

FAQ: Hello, I'm new to Pure Land Buddhism. Are we able to "pray" to Amitabha Buddha? I know we practice Nianfo, but is he able to help us with issues in daily life? I'm not sure how all this works. I mean no disrespect, just trying to figure it all out.

Hello, yes, you can "pray" to Amitabha Buddha. When we chant the Name of Amitabha Buddha, it can also be seen as a form of prayer. The Buddha can indeed help us with issues in our daily life - by chanting/praying His Name, we can obtain peace of mind in the present, and it can help us transform any negative thoughts/emotions into positivity. This is a great way of helping already! 

But don't expect that the Buddha may always help us by delivering the results we expect - the Buddha can do that, but just know that sometimes when situations turn out "not in our favour," it may actually be good for us in hindsight! As ordinary beings, we cannot see the overall picture of the law of cause and effect, so sometimes even when things turn out to be not how we expect it, this can actually be good for us in hindsight. 

In short, you can pray to Amitabha Buddha, but it is better to not hope that you will always get the result you expect. And when you don't get the result you expect, don't think that the Buddha doesn't help or exist. Always feel that the Buddha knows best :) And always chant His Name to obtain peace of mind in the present, no matter what situations we may face in our daily life. 

Namo Amituofo

Namo Amitabha Buddha