Prayers, Scriptures
and Reflections
from many traditions
Now under
the loving kindness and care of the Buddha, each believer of religion in the
world transcends the differences of religion, race and nationality, discards
small differences and unites in oneness to discuss sincerely how to annihilate
strife from the earth, how to reconstruct a world without arms, and how to
build welfare and peace of mankind, so that never-ending light and happiness
can be obtained for the world of the future.
May the
Lord Buddha give His loving kindness and blessing to us for the realization of
our prayers.
-- from
Buddhist Prayers in *Religion for Peace*, 1973, WCRP
A
NATIVE AMERICAN PRAYER
Let us
know peace. For as long as the moon shall rise, For as long as the rivers shall
flow, For as long as the sun will shine, For as long as the grass shall grow,
Let us know peace.
--
CHEYENNE INDIAN
A
CHRISTIAN PROMISE
In the
tender compassion of our God, the dawn from heaven will break upon us, to shine
on those who live in darkness, under the shadow of death, and to guide our feet
into the way of peace.
-- from
"Song of Zechariah" in Luke 1: 78-79, the Bible
A HINDU
PRAYER
May the
winds, the oceans, the herbs, the nights and days, the mother earth, the father
heaven, all vegetation, the sun, be all sweet to us. Let us follow the path of
goodness for all times, like the sun and the moon moving eternally in the sky.
Let us be charitable to one another. Let us not kill or be violent with one
another. Let us know and appreciate the points of view of others. And let us
unite. May the God who is friendly, benevolent, all-encompassing, measurer of
everything, the sovereign, the lord of speech, may He shower His blessings on
us. . .
Oh Lord,
remove my indiscretion and arrogance; control my mind. Put an end to the snare
of endless desires. Broaden the sphere of compassion and help me to cross the
ocean of existence.
--
excerpted from Hindu Prayers in *Religion for Peace*, 1973, WCRP
ISLAMIC
PRAYER
Oh God,
You are Peace. From You comes Peace, To You Returns Peace. Revive us with a
salutation of Peace, and lead us to your abode of Peace.
-- a
saying from The Prophet, used in daily prayer by Muslims
In that
hour when the Egyptians died in the Red Sea, the ministers wished to sing the
song of praise before the Holy One, but he rebuked them saying: "My
handiwork is drowning in the sea; would you utter a song before me in honor of
that?"
-- from
the SANHEDRIN
A
TAOIST TEACHING
I have
three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the
second is frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself
before others.
Be
gentle, and you can be bold; be frugal, and you can be liberal; avoid putting
yourself before others, and you can become a leader of men.
Gentleness
brings victory to him who attacks, and safety to him who defends.
Those
whom Heaven would save, it fences round with gentleness. The greatest
conquerors are those who overcome their enemies without strife.
-- LAO TSE
A
JAIN (UNIVERSAL) PRAYER FOR PEACE
Lead me
from Death to Life, from Falsehood to Truth. Lead me from Despair to Hope, From
Fear to Trust. Lead me from Hate to Love, from War to Peace. Let Peace fill our
Heart, our World, Our Universe. -- SATISH KUMAR
A
SHINTO PRAYER
O Most
High, help to bring thy Light into the darkened conditions of the world! Be
gracious to us thy humble servants and bless us with illumination as to that
which is Divinely relevant to the fulfilment of thy will!
O Most
High, inspire thy servants throughout the world to further efforts towards
leading back thy children who are led astray to the right way, and to live and
act on the faith of what has been taught by the great founders of the
religions!
Bless all
spiritual leaders with thy power and enable them to give help, joy, comfort and
reassurance to those suffering, to whom they minister!
--
excerpted from Shinto Prayers in *Religions for Peace*, 1973, WCRP
A
BAHA'I TEACHING
When love
is realized and the ideal spiritual bonds unite the hearts of men, the whole
human race will be uplifted, the world will continually grow more spiritual and
radiant, and the happiness and tranquillity of mankind be immeasurably
increased.
Warfare
and strife will be uprooted, disagreement and dissension pass away, and
Universal Peace unite the nations and peoples of the world.
All
mankind will dwell together as one family, blend as the waves of one sea, shine
as stars of one firmament, and appear as fruits of the same tree.
This is
the happiness and felicity of humankind. This is the illumination of man, the
glory eternal and life everlasting; this is the divine bestowal.
--
`ABDU'L-BAHA, *The Promulgation of Universal Peace*
A
SIKH PRAYER
May the
kingdom of justice prevail! May the believers be united in love! May the hearts
of the believers be humble, high their wisdom, and may they be guided in their
wisdom by the Lord.
O Khalsa,
say "Wahiguru, Glory be to God!" . . . Entrust unto the Lord what
thou wishest to be accomplished. The Lord will bring all matters to fulfilment:
Know this as truth evidenced by Himself.
--
excerpted from Sikh Prayers in *Religion for Peace*, 1973, WCRP
A
ZOROASTRIAN PRAYER
With
bended knees, with hands outstretched, do I yearn for the effective expression
of the holy spirit working within me: For this love and understanding, truth
and justice; for wisdom to know the apparent from the real that I might
alleviate the sufferings of men on earth. . . .
God is
love, understanding, wisdom and virtue. Let us love one another, let us practice
mercy and forgiveness, let us have peace, born of fellow-feeling. . . .
Let my
joy be of altruistic living, of doing good to others. Happiness is unto him
from who happiness proceeds to any other human being.
RESPONSE:
We will practice what we profess.
--
excerpted from the Avesta prayer in Zoroastrian Prayers, in Religion for Peace,
1973, WCRP
PRAYER
FOR THE SACRED COMMUNITY
O Blessed
Source, eternal Lord of creation, sustainer of all worlds, you embrace the
whole cosmos within yourself, for everything exists in you. Let your winds come
and breathe your everlasting Spirit in us.
Let us
inhale your divine Spirit and be inspired. Enlighten us in your truth. Pour
your grace into our hearts.
Wipe away
our sin and all negativity. Transform us into your Love, and let us radiate
that Love to all others.
Inflame
us with your unending life. Dissolve our limited way of being. Elevate us into
your divine Life.
Give us
your capacity to share that Life with everyone.
Shape us
in your wisdom. Grant us your joy and laughter. Let us become that divine
wisdom, sensitivity, laughter and joy for all beings.
Let us
realize fully that we are members of that Sacred Community with all humankind,
with other species, with nature and the entire cosmos.
Grant us
a heart that can embrace them all in you. Let us be in communion with you
forever in the bliss of that Love:
the Love
that sustains all and transforms all into your Divine Radiance.
-- by BROTHER WAYNE TEASDALE