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| - 'Wu Wei', meaning...without action. 'Wabi sabi'...the beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. The following is a Prayer for Peace that is traditionally included in the Shabbat (Saturday) service. It is chanted together and a lovely prayer, drawn as most prayers in Judaism, from Biblical sources. May these words come true: May we see the day when war and bloodshed cease when a great peace will embrace the whole world Then nation shall not threaten nation and humankind will not again know war. For all who live on earth shall realize we have not come into being to hate or destroy We have come into being to praise, to labour and to love. Compassionate God, bless all the leaders of all nations with the power of compassion. Fulfill the promise conveyed in Scripture: "I will bring peace to the land, and you shall lie down and no one shall terrify you. I will rid the land of vicious beasts and it shall not be ravaged by war." Let love and justice flow like a mighty stream. Let peace fill the earth as the waters fill the sea. And let us say: Amen (Contributed by Professor David Blades, University of Alberta) The following verse from the Holy Bible (Revised Standard Version, published in 1953 by Thomas Nelson & Sons, Toronto) is considered as a guiding principle for Christians (Isaiah I 2:4). He shall judge between nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Contributed by Professor Jim Robertson, University of Alberta) Allahumma ya mowlana antas-salaam, wa minkas-salaam, wa ilaika yarjaus-salaam, haiyyina rabbana bis-salaam, wa adkhilna daras-salaam, tabarakta rabbana wa-ta'laita, ya zal jalali wal ikram O God! O our Master! You are eternal life and everlasting peace by Your essence and attributes. The everlasting peace is from You and it returns to You. O our Sustainer! Grant us the life of true peace and usher us into the abode of peace. O Glorious and Bounteous One! You are blessed and sublime. (Contributed by Professor Noorallah Juma, University of Alberta and Professor Abdul S. Hassam, Stratford International University) 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. Image:Smokeylight.jpg Buddhist Prayer for Peace May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind quickly be freed from their illnesses. May those frightened cease to be afraid, and may those bound be free. May the powerless find power, and may people think of befriending one another. May those who find themselves in trackless, fearful wildernesses -the children, the aged, the unprotected - be guarded by beneficent celestials, and may they swiftly attain Buddhahood. Image:Hollybar.gif from Life Prayers from Around the World edited by Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon May I become at all times, both now and forever A protector for those without protection A guide for those who have lost their way A ship for those with oceans to cross A bridge for those with rivers to cross A sanctuary for those in danger A lamp for those without light A place of refuge for those who lack shelter And a servant to all in need. "What is the highest act a person can perform?" "Sitting in meditation." "Wouldn't that lead to inaction?""It IS inaction.""Is action, then, inferior?" "Inaction gives life to actions. Without it they are dead."- � � � � � � � � � - -Anthony de Mello, SJ Words - without action - are dead. - � � � � � � � � � � � � ---anon LoveShould come out of yourSilence, awareness, meditativeness.It is soft, it is unbindingBecause how can Love create fettersFor the one it loves?- � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � -- -Osho Action rightly renounced brings freedom. Action rightly performed brings freedom. Either is better ... Than mere shunning of Action. -BhagavadGita- Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love,Where there is injury, pardon;Where there is doubt, faith;Where there is despair, hope;Where there is darkness, light;And where there is sadness; joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so muchseek to be consoled as to console,to be understood as to understand,to be loved, as to love. Image:Sfrancis copy.jpg For it is in giving that we receive,it is in pardoning that we arepardoned,and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.- -- - ST FRANCIS of ASSISI O God, give me I pray Thee, light on my right hand and light on my left hand and light above me, and light beneath me, O Lord increase light within me and give me light and illuminate me. + - + -- - ASCRIBED TO MUHAMMAD Like a golden beacon signalling on a moonless night, Tao guides our passage through this transitory realm. In moments of darkness and pain remember all is cyclical. Sit quietly behind your wooden door: Spring will come again. - � � � � � � � � � -- - LOY CHING YUEN Image:Hollybar.gif Meditation, then, is bringing the mind home. - � � � � � � � � � � � -- -SOGYAL RINPOCHE O Hidden Life vibrant in every atom; O Hidden Light! shining in every creature; O Hidden Love! embracing all in Oneness; May each who feels himself as one with Thee, Know he is also one with every other. - � � � � � � � � + � � -- - ANNIE BESANT With your feet i walk I walk with your limbs I carry forth your body For me your mind Your voice speaks for me Beauty is before me And beauty is behind me Above and below me hovers the beautiful I am surrounded by it I am immersed in it In my youth I am aware of it And in old age I shall walk quietly The beautiful trail. Image:Sumrainbow4.jpgAt a certain point you say to the woods, to the sea, to the mountains, the world. Now I am ready. Now I will stop and be wholly attentive. You empty yourself and wait, listening. After a time you hear it: there is nothing there. There is nothing but thosethings only, those created objects, discrete, growing or holding, or swaying, being rained on or raining, held, flooding or ebbing, standing, or spread. You feel the world's word as a tension, a hum, a single chorused note everywhere the same. This is it: this hum is the silence. The silence is all there is. It is the alpha and the omega. It is God's brooding over the face of the waters; it is the blended note of the ten thousand things, the whine of wings. You take a step in the right direction to pray to this silence, and even to address the prayer to "World". Distinctions blur. Quit your tents. Pray without ceasing. - � � � � � � � � � � � � � � - -- - Annie Dillard - - ABOUT PRAYER:When I am liberated by silence, when I am no longer involved in the measurement of life, but in the living of it, I can discover a form of prayer in which there is effectively no distraction. My whole life becomes a prayer. My whole silence is full of prayer. the world of silence in which I am immersed contributes to my prayer. � � � � � � � � � � � � - THOMAS MERTON O Thou who art at home Deep in my heart Enable me to join you Deep in my heart.- � � � -- ---THE TALMUD NATIVE VALUES- � � � -By Dr. Walter Soboleff-1. Be obedient; the wise never test a rule.-2. Respect elders, parents, property and the world of nature. Also,-respect yourself so that others might respect you.-3. Be considerate and patient.-4. Be careful of how you speak, for words can be either pleasing orlike a club. Traditionally, when you speak, those listening canimagine seeing your clan family line.-5. Your food comes from the land and the sea. To abuse either maydiminish its generosity.-6. Pride in family, clan and traditions is found in love, loyalty and-generosity.-7. Share burdens and support each other. This is caring. -8. Trespass not onto other's rights, or offer royalty and/or restitution.-9. Parents and relatives are responsible for the family education ofchildren; men teaching the boys and women teaching the girls.-10. Care and good health is important for success of the person orclan.-11. Take not the property of others; an error reflects on the family and clan.-12. In peace, living is better.-13. Through famine, ice age, sickness, war and other obstacles, unityand self-determination are essential to survival.-14. Good conduct is encouraged to please the spirit we believe is near.-15. Humor. - -Adopted by Healthy Nations Program-Central Council of Tlinget and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska -1998 Image:Holinessmall.jpg-Dalai Lama with Hopi Elders "Native American Ten Commandments" ....Sacred Instructions Given By The Creator To Native People At The Time Of Creation.... -Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect. -Remain close to the Great Spirit. -Show great respect for your fellow beings. -Work together for the benefit of all Mankind. -Give assistance and kindness wherever needed. -Do what you know to be right. -Look after the well being of mind and body. -Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good. -Be truthful and honest at all times. -Take full responsibility for your actions. - - - -From the Lakotah: - -"akita mani yo" - -(see all things as you walk) - @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ "Acceptance" When the spent sun throws up its rays on cloud, And goes down burning into the gulf below, No voice in nature is heard to cry aloud At what has happened. Birds, at least, must know. It is the change of darkness in the sky. Murmuring something quiet in her breast, One bird begins to close a faded eye; Or overtaken too far from its nest, Hurrying low above the grove, some waif Swoops just in time to his remembered tree. At most he thinks or twitters softly, "Safe!" Now let the night be dark for all of me. Let the night be too dark for me to see Into the future. Let what will be, be. - � � � � -- ROBERT FROST -- May the Power of the One Life pour through the group of all true servers. May the Love of the One Soul characterize the lives of all who seek to aid the Great Ones. May we fulfill our part in the One Work through self-forgetfulness, harmlessness, and right speech. - � � � � � � � � � � � � � � - -World Servers Mantram Image:Moonlight2.jpgClouds come from time to time ---and bring a chance to restfrom looking at the moon.- � � � � � � � � -- ----BASHO
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* I pray not for wealth, I pray not for honours, I pray not for pleasures, or even the joys of poetry. I only praythat during all my life I may have love: that I may havepure love to love Thee.- � � � � � � � � � -- ---CHAITANYA O love, O pure deep love, be here, be now, Be all; worlds dissolve into your stainless, endless radiance, Frail living leaves burn with you brighter than cold stars: Make me your servant, your breath, your core. - � � � � � � � � � � � -- ---JELALUDDIN RUMI Image:Venus saxman.jpg'God's Grandeur' The world is charged with the grandeur of God. It will flame out, like shining from shook foil; It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod? Generations have trod, have trod, have trod; And all is seared with trade; bleared,smeared with toil; And wears man's smudges and sharesman's smell: the soil Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod. And for all this, nature is never spent; There lives the dearest freshness deep down things; And through the last lights off the black West went Oh, morning at the brown brink eastward, springs --- Because the Holy Ghost over the bent World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.- -- --- GERALD MANLY HOPKINS- � � � � � � -- SIR SPIRIT Sir spirit, forgive me my sins, Sir spirit give me your blessing again,Sir Spirit forgive my phantombody's demands,Sir Spirit thanks for your kindness past... - � � � � � � � � -- ALLEN GINSBURG - � � � � � � � � -- "Elegy for Neal Cassady" @]>->-->---@]>->-->---@]>->-->---@]>->-->---@]>->-->--- We rose before dawn to praise you, bringing our song to your Lotus Feet --- hear what we ask! Please listen, you who were born among us into this cowherding clan --- What choice do you have but to take us into your service, your heartfelt servants, your kin? We didn't come to receive the outer drum, the drum of a day, O Govinda --- We are yours for life. Make all desires be for you, it is you alone that we want. Hear our song! - � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � -----ANTAL --- <--<-<{@---<--<-<{@---<--<-<{@---<--<-<{@---<--<-<{@ Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glint on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain.� When you wake in the morning hush, I am the swift, uplifting rushOf quiet birds in circling flight.I am the soft starlight at night. Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there, I do not sleep.(Do not stand at my grave and cry. I am not there, I did not die!) - � � � � � � � � � -Text by Mary Frye (1932) I want to be saved... and I want to save, - � Amen. I want to be set free...and I want to free, - � Amen. I want to be born...and I want to give birth, - Amen. I want to hear... and I want to be heard, - Amen. Sweetness dances. I want to pipe; all of you - dance. Amen. I want to run away...and I want to stay. - Amen. I want to make you beautiful...and I want to - be beautiful. Amen. I want to join with you...and I want to be - joined. Amen. I have no house...and I have houses. Amen. I have no ground... and I have ground. Amen. I have no temple...and I have temples. Amen. If you look at me... I will be a lamp. Amen. If you see me... I will be a mirror. Amen. If you knock on me... I will be a door. Amen. If you are a traveller... I will be a road. Amen. This is my dance... Answer me with dancing. - � � � � � � � � � � � � --- THE ACTS OF JOHN ~Psalms 23:1-6~ The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. yea - even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies for Thy name's sake. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Amen. A Jain 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. Image:Newman.jpgKnowing We Are All Essentially Divine We All Are One Our Embodiment and Demonstration of The Principle of Goodwill Our Conscious Distribution of Goodwill Energies To all Endeavors Cooperating with The Healing of The Nations Will Lead to the Peace We All Desire So Be It Image:Low tide1.jpgPRAYER FOR COMPASSION Spirit of Life, I give thanks for the opportunities to love that present themselves in the turmoil of life. When the light catches the tears in another’s eyes, where hands are held and there are moments without words, let us be present then, and alive to the possibility of changing. Let us seek to make another’s well being the object of our concern. Let us seek to be present to another’s pain, to bathe another’s wounds, hear another’s sadness, celebrate another’s success, and allow the other’s story to change our own. Let us stand in the morning on damp grass, hear the syllables of bird song, and fill up on sweet air that rolls over oceans and continents. Let us look up at the stars and the planets that fill the night sky with majesty. Let us witness the first fresh buds of spring amid the brown sticks of winter. And for all this, let us be grateful. Let us not defend ourselves against the discomfort of unruly emotion, nor seek to close down our hearts for fear a new love will come to shake our foundations. Let us instead be open to discovering a new way of seeing an old problem, or appreciating the perfection of a seashell, or the possibility of friendship. For in giving ourselves to what we do not understand, we receive life’s blessings, and in taking care of another, we are cared for. ~ amen check: Return to Main Page ... Visit PeaceSongs
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