As a twelve-year-old novice monk, Venerable Master Hsing Yun discovered that personal prayer increased his strength and enhanced his faith. However, the long, profound monastic prayers recited publicly at the monastery were difficult for a beginner to understand. He made a vow then, over sixty years ago, to compose a set of accessible prayers through which Buddhists could express their hopes, celebrate achievements, and fulfill the needs of society. A lifetime of devotion to the Buddha and service to humanity has cultivated the Master's understanding of the importance, the usefulness, and the power of prayer. This book of prayers is the fruit of that cultivation, and the Master offers it to the world to help us in our daily practice. Prayer is not just a catch phrase; it is a practice to be integrated into one's life. With these prayers, readers can express hopes and needs about themselves, their families, their communities, their nations, and the world. The Master expresses his hope that we will recite one prayer each day, to "raise our faith to a higher lever, advance our compassionate virtues, be able to communicate with all Buddhas and bodhisattvas, and comprehend the needs of the masses of society."