A Prayer To Buddha For the Ancestors

 

Fig 1 Picture of Buddha is from an email that I received

 

A Prayer for Ancestors throughout the Generations

By Venerable Master Hsing Yun

Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
We would like to express to you
Our gratitude to our relatives and
Ask blessings for them throughout the generations:
We attribute our ability to live and work
In peace and contentment now
To the diligence and efforts of our relatives
Throughout the generations.
They left abundant fortunes for us
So that we can live a civilized life;
They established fine lives for us
So that we can enjoy a life of convenience.

For the happiness of future generations,
Some toiled as pioneers to cultivate the land, and
Some fought bloody battles to resist foreign aggression.
For the future of their descendant,
Some migrated overseas to toil and strive, and
Some devoted all their efforts to create and invent.

Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
Although our ancestors are gone,
Their example remains before our eyes.
We are willing to take as a model our ancestors’ virtue of benefiting others;
We are willing to learn from our ancestors’ example of solidarity;
We are willing to inherit our ancestors’ model of determination;
We are willing to accept our ancestors’ teachings and admonitions.

Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
In order to expand the boundaries and territory of our nation,
Our ancestors continuously fought battles everywhere;
In order to increase wealth,
Our ancestors continuously toiled.
All their past actions
Whether merits or mistakes,
Were intended for the good of future generations
Their bounty is higher than mountains and deeper than oceans.

Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
Please allow us to pray and repent for them;
Please allow us to pray for them to transcend suffering in future lives;
Please allow us to take refuge in the Triple Gem on their behalf;
Please allow us to ask for forgiveness on their behalf.

Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
May those who were in the lower realms of transmigration,
Be reborn as heavenly and human beings,
And hear the superior, wonderful music of the higher realms;
May those who were in the heavenly and human realms
Be able to take refuge and believe in the Triple Gem,
And never regress or become idle.

Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
Among our ancestors throughout the generations,
Some were unfortunate and died in despondency;
Some suffered injustice and died bearing resentment;
Some had talent but no opportunity to use it
And were disappointed all their lives;
Some endured natural and manmade calamities
And were separated from their spouses and children.

We pray to you, Buddha, to bless and protect them:
May they understand the cause and effect of karmic retribution from the three time periods of past, present, and future;
May they understand the right way of putting an end to karma according to circumstances;
May they transcend suffering in their future lives;
May their spirit attain purification.

Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
How fortune we are to have you to rely upon today.
We are also willing to take our ancestors’ virtues as a model
To benefit and aid future generations.

Oh Buddha! Please bless and support us:
We are willing to avoid evil
And to do good;
We are willing to purify our intentions
And become models for future generations;
We are willing to contribute our strength
And serve the masses;
We are willing to benefit all human beings
And not waste this life.

Oh great, compassionate Buddha,
Please accept our sincerest prayer!
Oh great, compassionate Buddha,
Please accept our sincerest prayer!

Namo Shakyamuni Buddha.

I found this prayer to be peaceful and focused.  It comes from the website below:

 https://prayersmantrasspirituallyrics.wordpress.com/2011/03/05/prayers-for-ancestors/

Namaste