What to do if followers of other religions say that they pray for us

A friend recently wrote to me and said that he feels insulted by the fact that some of his Christian or Muslim co-workers often tell him that they are praying for him to abandon his Buddhist Path and turn to their god. This was my answer:

Try to not become upset, but have compassion for them like a grown up towards ignorant children or like a sober person towards a drunken fellow who doesn't know what he's saying.

Shakyamuni Buddha said in the Sutra on the Questions of Maudgalyayana (as quoted by Shinran in his Kyogyoshinsho, chapter II) that those who "follow the ninety-five wrong paths" are blind and deaf. He said: " I call such people 'those without eyes' and 'those without ears'."

The "ninety-five wrong paths' ' represent nonbuddhist religions. Thus, nonbuddhists are people without eyes and ears for the true teaching. They may know many things and obtain good karma, even a good rebirth after death if they do good deeds and lead a virtuous life but because they do not receive the Buddhist teaching in their hearts they are blind and deaf for the highest goal of liberation from birth and death.

 However, because they pray for you and so they keep you in their minds, they create a karmic connection with you. Any thought somebody sends towards you or any little act, good or bad,  is creating a karmic connection. This is very good and useful! Why do I say so? Because if you have faith in Amida Buddha you yourself will become a Buddha after you leave this present body and are reborn in the Pure Land of Amida. Then, as a Buddha, you will manifest in all the infinite worlds of the ten directions where there are suffering sentient beings and guide them to faith in Amida and birth in the same Pure Land. Not all the beings you encounter will be open to your message of salvation or be able to see you but the monotheists who prayed for you in this life will be more close to you than others. Even if their minds might be again influenced by wrong religions they will be more open to you and, as a Buddha in disguise, you will be more capable to turn their minds towards faith in Amida.  Now as long as you are still unenlightened you cannot know their thoughts and their minds, as a Buddha knows, and so you do not know exactly how to influence them, but after you attain Buddhahood in the Pure Land your vision will be unobstructed and you will know exactly what to say and what to do to help them make even one more step towards the Light of Amida Buddha. 

So, do not be angry when some Christians or Muslims say that they will pray for you. I know they think their religion is the best and you might feel insulted when they look to you as to a poor lost soul or when they start preaching to you without being asked and when it's obvious that  you are not interested in their religion. It happens to me often with some Christians. As long as you know that you are established in your faith in Amida Buddha and you understand the teaching on karmic connections as well as their pitiful situation of beings who are blind and deaf to the true teaching, just accept them as they are and be happy that they make another important step towards their salvation without them knowing this. It is really funny to realize that those who want to make Amida devotees go away from Him are the ones who are coming closer to Amida by praying for them! 

Shinran Shonin said in Notes on Once-calling and Many-callings:

"Protected' means that the Buddha protects the person of shinjin (faith in Amida Buddha) without pause - in all places, at all times, and without discrimination among people. 'Protected' means that one cannot be deterred by those who have taken up other teachings and beliefs (nonbuddhist religions), nor obstructed by those of different understandings and practices; one is not threatened by the heavenly demon Papiyas, nor troubled by evil gods and demons.”

He also said in chapter seven of Tannisho:

"To practicers who have realized shinjin (faith), nonbuddhists present no obstruction."

So, relax and let the bombastic words of monotheists come and go while you focus on Amida Buddha's Holy Name. They and their pitiful gods or spirits have no power over you.

Namo Amida Bu