Question: Since Buddhists do not pray to Buddha or any Gods, how do you receive blessings and fortunes in life?

We receive blessings and good fortune through merits. 

When we act, speak, and think in a manner that is beneficial to ourselves and others, the latent potential of our action, speech, and thought is known as merit. 

Our deeds may bring worldly benefits to others and they may also benefit others to progress towards enlightenment. For example, when a Buddhist orphanage takes care of orphans. It brings worldly benefits to them. Some of them may develop faith in Buddha’s message and decide to become enlightened too.

Another example. When we share Dharma with people, it may inspire them to practice positive actions, speech, and thoughts. When they live by Dharma, they will also enjoy worldly benefits such as better relationships with families and friends.

The above is how we can benefit others. So how does benefiting others benefit us?

When we perform meritorious actions, speech, and mind, we are also engaging in self-improvement. This process of self-perfection is ultimately beneficial for our enlightenment. For example, we learn to be less selfish and be more generous in action, speech and thoughts.

As we benefit the people around us, they will reciprocate our kindness. Thus, what we give others, we will receive in return. This is a worldly benefit. Sometimes, the benefit is immediate, sometimes it has to wait. Furthermore, if we promote and encourage meritorious deeds in family and society, we will witness a positive change in our environment too. 

The meritorious deeds that we do has a latent potential that is similar to a seed that we plant in the field, when the conditions are right, it will sprout and produce fruits and crops.

However, the type of benefits will change if our actions, speech, and thoughts are tainted with unwholesomeness. For example, if we do charity with an ulterior selfish motive in our mind. Then our meritorious deeds will not have a positive impact on our future enlightenment. This is because we are not conditioning our minds towards the enlightened state.

In summary, Buddha taught that blessings and fortunes are created through our own deeds. Meritorious deeds will result in good fortune and blessings.

May all be well and happy.