Prayer

Setsu SG

Another question has been bugging me, it's about prayer - let's say to the Buddhist gods, or even all gods in general.

When you pray, you ask for favours. But since this is one-sided, then we give offerings to the gods like food, money, maybe servitude.

Why do we give material goods back to the gods? Do you give material offerings for material prayers? What do the gods actually want from us in return for granting our prayers?

An Eternal Now SG

Buddhists do not pray to gods, we however pay reverance, respect to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Buddhas and gods are not the same. Buddha is someone enlightened and liberated from the wheel of samsara (the world of suffering) and rebirth. However, gods are still within the wheel of samsara, and have not been liberated from rebirth.

We too, are taught to practice and attain Buddhahood for ourselves. All of us have Buddha-Nature, and can attain Buddhahood.

Buddhists do not give material goods back to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

You're mistaking the Chinese folk religion with Buddhism.