Prayer for Peace: “… let us fill our hearts with our own compassion – towards ourselves and towards all living beings … realize that they are all brothers and sisters, all nourished from the same source of life …” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

prayer for peace tranquil sea sunrise

Indeed, Thay’s prayer is a good reminder for all of us that compassion for ourselves and our fellow human beings is essential for – and the beginning of – sowing peace … and that is especially important in current times as further mayhem spreads across America (and even in other parts of the world) to protest the brutal and utterly unnecessary death of George Floyd …

As His Holiness The Dalai Lama also reminds us: “… I believe that to meet the challenge of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. We must all learn to work not just for our own self, family, or nation, but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace …” 

So, to do our small part we continue the theme of encouraging all of us to cultivate and deepen qualities that bring us together … and in that spirit we share some prayers for peace in this post …

But before we get to these prayers …

As we’ve done since the COVID crisis … we want to honor and highlight some ongoing heroic efforts that continue to ensure our health and safety in the midst of the pandemic: Go Fund Me has organized various campaigns targeted towards the COVID-19 relief efforts. All of these campaigns are worthy of our attention … but for now we want to highlight TWO critical ones that we are supporting personally and also as Stillness Speaks (through donations):

We are all facing financial challenges but IF your situation allows you to donate and help then …

… please visit  Frontline Responders Fund’s Go Fund Me page … and help deliver crucial supplies to these frontline responders …

… and/or visit  America’s Food Fund Go Fund Me page and help feed the neighbors in need.

And, we again, express our deepest gratitude to a) the COVID-19 Frontline Responders (all the healthcare professionals – doctors, nurses, hospital/medical-services staff – firefighters, law enforcement, volunteers, and any/all the people involved in keeping the “system-at-large” functioning for ALL of us) … and b) Go Fund Me for organizing America’s Food Fund to feed the needy.

THANK YOU – our lives would not be possible without your dedication.

 

A Litany for Peace: The Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh

As we are together praying for Peace, let us be truly with each other.
Silence

Let us pay attention to our breathing.
Silence
Let us be relaxed in our bodies and our minds.
Silence

Let us return to ourselves and become wholly ourselves.
Silence
Let us be aware of the Source of Being common to us all and to all that is.
Silence

sun sea prayer for peace source being

Evoking the presence of the Great Companion, let us fill our hearts
with our own compassion—towards ourselves and toward all living beings.

Silence
Let us pray that all living beings realize that they
are all nourished from the same Source of Life.

Silence

Let us pray that we ourselves cease to be the cause of needless suffering.
Silence

Let us pray that we may live in a way which will not needlessly deprive
other living beings of air, water, food, shelter, or the chance to live in health.

Silence

With reverence for Life and with awareness of the sufferings that are going on around us,
let us pray for the establishment of peace in our hearts and on earth.

sunrise prayer peace thich nhat hanh

~~ Thich Nhat Hanh

 

A 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. 

 ~~ U.N. Day of Prayer for World Peace

 

Golden Chain

I am a link in Lord Buddha’s golden chain of love
that stretches around the world.

golden chain buddha

I must keep my link bright and strong.
I will try to be kind and gentle to every living thing,
and protect all who are weaker than myself.

I will try to think pure and beautiful thoughts,
to say pure and beautiful words,
and to do pure and beautiful deeds,
knowing that on what I do now
depends my happiness and misery.

May every link in Lord Buddha’s golden chain of love
become bright and strong and may we all attain perfect peace.

 ~~ Buddhist Prayer

 

A Hindu Prayer for Peace

Oh God, lead us from the unreal to the Real.
Oh God, lead us from darkness to light.
Oh God, lead us from death to immortality.
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti unto all.

shanti shanti prayer for peace

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 the 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.

 

— —- —

May you be peaceful in your daily rhythm and interactions with others … and …

May you remain safe and healthy as you navigate these troubling times.

 

Opening quote and Thich Nhat Hanh’s prayer: A Litany for Peace
Buddhist Prayer for Peace and Golden Chain: Buddhist Prayers – World Healing Prayers
HIndu Prayer: Peace in Our Hearts, Peace in the World: Meditations of Hope and Healing by Ruth Fishel.
Images: (edited and logo added): Featured and 1) Tranquil waters of lake Durusu (Lake Terkos) at Sunrise by Muhur, 2) Rich red velvet sunrise casts its hues over Pearl Beach by YAYImages, 3) On the seashore at sunrise by Jesslvanova, 4) Composite of a) Golden jewellery against gradient background by Elnur_ and b) Buddha face close up by vgorbash, 5) Three persons as tree, plant, nature and gardener by waldemar-hoelzer. All purchased from depositphotos, for use only on our. All purchased from depositphotos, for use only on our website/social channels (these images are not permitted to be shared separate from this post).
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