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