Peace begins with 'me'

 

image courtesy of debdarter

We all want peace - to live in harmony without war, oppression, fear, strife.   Respect for each other and ourselves is a fundamental part of bringing world peace about.  Today heralds a global commitment to do just that. 

All around the world people, groups, communities, congregations are joining together - physically or in spirit,  with that thought in mind. Each individual comes with one pointed intention - 'to do my bit for world peace'.  Individual intentions combine into a collective force for good, a powerful global energy that encompasses and enriches our world today. 

It is a non-violent, kind, universal message that resonates from the heart, acknowledges our shared humanity, speaks to us all, 'Peace is what we want.  Peace is what we stand for.  Peace is the legacy we envision for future generations. Heed our call'.

World peace starts with each and everyone of us.  To do that we have to look within.  We have to correct thoughts and actions and behaviours that are counterproductive to ourselves, to others, to the world at large. 

We have to see ourselves reflected in each other, understand that we are all small but integral parts of a much bigger whole.  Individual yet intimately interconnected.  Individual yet interdependent - we simply cannot do without each other.

With this method, in this manner, we will come to know peace.  In this way, the world will come to know it to.  This blog is committed to that end.

praying hands: Albert Durer 1508

 

 

'Om Shalom, Shanti, Salaam. Peace unto all'

Muslim 'Prayer for Peace'

In the name of Allah,
the beneficent, the merciful.
Praise be to the Lord of the Universe
who has created us and made us into tribes and nations,
That we may know each other, not that
we may despise each other.
If the enemy incline towards peace, do
thou also incline towards peace,
And trust God, for the Lord is the one that
heareth and knoweth all things.
And the servants of God,
Most Gracious are those who walk on the Earth in humility,
And when we address them,
we say "Peace."

Jewish Prayer for Peace

Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
that we may walk the paths of the Most High.
And we shall beat our swords into ploughshares,
and our spears into pruning hooks.
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
And none shall be afraid,
for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts has spoken.

Sufi ‘Prayer for Peace’

Send Thy peace, O Lord, which is perfect and everlasting,
that our souls may radiate peace.
Send Thy peace, O Lord, that we may think, act,
and speak harmoniously.
Send Thy peace, O Lord, that we may be contented
and thankful for Thy bountiful gifts.
Send Thy peace, O Lord, that amidst our worldly strife
we may enjoy thy bliss.
Send Thy peace, O Lord, that we may endure all,
tolerate all in the thought of thy grace and mercy.
Send Thy peace, O Lord, that our lives may become a
divine vision, and in Thy light all darkness may vanish.
Send Thy peace, O Lord, our Father and Mother, that we
Thy children on earth may all unite in one family.

Hindu ‘Prayer for peace’

Oh God, lead us from the unreal to the real
Oh God, lead us from the darkness to the light
Lead us from death unto immortality
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti unto all
Peace, Peace, Peace unto all Oh Lord God almighty,
May there be peace in celestial regions.
May there be peace on Earth.
May the waters be appeasing.
May herbs be wholesome, and may trees and plants bring peace to all.
May all beneficent beings bring peace to us.
May thy Vedic Law propagate peace all through the world.
May all things be a source of peace to us.
And may thy peace itself, bestow peace on all
and may that peace come to me also

Baha'i Prayer for Peace

Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity
Be fair in judgement, and guarded in thy speech.
Be a lamp unto those who walk in darkness,
and a home to the stranger.
Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light
unto the feet of the erring.
Be a breath of life to the body of humankind,
a dew to the soil of the human heart,
and a fruit upon the tree of humility.
 

click 'labels' below to see what other leaders and peace activists have said.  See also 'Prayers for Peace' in Pages

Be the Peace Poster

 

  

Peace Day Reflection - 'the Dalai Lama'

 

  



If we view the world’s religions from the widest possible viewpoint and examine their ultimate goal, we find that all of the major world religions, whether Christianity or Islam, Hinduism or Buddhism, are dedicated to the achievement of permanent human happiness. They are all directed toward that goal. All religions emphasize the fact that the true follower must be honest and gentle, in other words, that a truly religious person must always strive to be a better human being. To this end, the different world religions teach different doctrines which will help transform the person. In this regard, all religions are the same, there is no conflict. This is something we must emphasize. We must consider the question of religious diversity from this viewpoint. And when we do, we find no conflict.

 

 - HH. Dalai Lama

Indigenous Wisdom - 'Maisie Cavanagh'

 

 

 

imagesourced:AustralianGeographic

 

Our Spirituality

 

For us Aboriginal people our spirituality
 

Is the dance that we dance and the song that we sing

 

Even though others around us cannot hear the melody

 

It is the very thread that weaves our identity

 

And enables us to make that inward journey

 

To experience and know the rapture of being alive.

 

It is not only what connects us to the landscape

 

It is also what connects us

 

To each other.
 

It enables us to be lifted to those higher places

 Where judgment of others

 

Is nonexistent and only kindness matters

 

It makes known to us the way to those sacred places

 

For peace and reflection.

 

 And it tells us the stories that give us the guide signs

 

That lead us through the passageways

 

As we journey through our lives.

 

Our Spirituality evokes our prayers for understanding

 

Respect and recognition for the landscape that we share

 

It brings forth the awareness in our hearts

 

That you and I drink the same water

 

And breathe the same air

 

If we stood on the moon looking down at the Mother Earth

 

We could not see any division of states or nations

 

Only a oneness

 

And the world can be that spiritual symbol that

Reminds us that you and I really are one.

 

- Maisie Cavanagh

You might also like 'Aboriginal Liturgy - Maisie Cavanagh' in June Archives.

Insight - 'The Oneness University'

imagesourced: freedigitalphotos.net

'It has often been said that if you take one step towards God/Goddess/All that is, then the Divine will take a hundred steps towards you. We have so many ways to take a step towards the divine: prayer, meditation, singing, chanting, dancing— in fact every kind of spiritual practice in every tradition’ .

- the Oneness University

International Day of Peace - September 21st

 

 

 

image courtesy of debdarter

 

Better than if there were thousands
of meaningless words
is one meaningful word
that on hearing

brings peace.

Better than if there were thousands
of meaningless verses

is one meaningful verse
that on hearing
brings peace.

And better than chanting hundreds
of meaningless verses

is one Dhamma-saying
that on hearing
brings peace.

 

Dhammapada - viii - thousands

The United Nations' International Day of Peace is celebrated on September 21st each year to recognize the efforts of all those who have - and continue to work hard, to end conflict and promote peace.

'World Meet for Peace and Harmony' - India

 

 

"Namaste" to all my Indian readers.  You may be interested in this wonderful and worthwhile event which will be held September 11-12 at Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi.  To learn more about the program head to http://www.rkmdelhi.org/newsitem/world-meet-for-peace-and-harmony-invitation-sep-11-12-2012/