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A Prayer for World Peace
by Iyanla Vanzant
Today I am laying down all weapons of anger and attack in my thoughts, my words and my actions.
Today I am laying down the grievances and upsets that have led me to attack others and brutally assault myself.
Today, I am laying down all thoughts of criticism and judgement, all words of destructive defensiveness and all acts of vicious vengeance and violence against myself and others.
Today I ask that you cleanse me of all thoughts and words of aggression, so that I may take the necessary steps toward being peaceful in my own heart and offering that peace to the world.
Today, I ask that you remind me how important I am in ensuring the active presence of peace.
Today, I am opening my heart and sending forth the light of love to all world leaders.
Today, I am opening my mind to the creation and experience of a world where aggression and violence sleep forever.
Today, I am opening my eyes to be aware of everything I can do or say that will promote the presence of peace.
Today, I realize that peace begins with me.
Today, I humbly surrender myself, every thought I think, every word I speak, everything I do, to the creation, maintenance and advancement of peace.
Today, I ask for peace, I invite peace in and I dedicate myself to promoting peace in my every experience.
Let the light of peace reign in me!
May the power of peace shine forth through me!
May peace pervade the world!
Let it be so! And so it is!
The Gayatri Mantra
om bhur bhuvah svaha
tat savitur veranyam
bhargo devasya dimihi
dhiyo yo nah prachodayat
May there be peace on mortal, immortal, and divine planets.
I meditate upon the most brilliant splendor of the Sun God.
May he stimulate our intellect so that we are inspired to take right action.
The Skanda Purana on Kali Yuga
kali-kala kusarpasya
tiksna-damstrasya ma bhayam
govinda-nama-danena
dagdho yasyati bhasmatam
I see that Kali-yuga is like a black, poisonous snake with a gaping mouth and fangs. But please be unperturbed dear devotees and listen with faith. Once the holy name of the Lord is being chanted, it is like igniting a forest fire which will burn to ashes the poisonous snakes within the forest.
A metaphorical story from the Hindu Scriptures:
Varaha, the Boar Incarnation of Vishnu
In a past millennium a greedy king named Hiran-yaksha was pumping oil out of the earth, exploiting the earth's resources. His drilling so disrupted the natural cycles that the Earth fell out of orbit. The demigods watching from heaven were frightened and called out to Lord Vishnu. While they were praying a tiny boar appeared from Lord Brahma's nose. The creature grew larger, flew into the sky, and caught the earth on the end of its snout. After putting the planet back into its proper orbit, Varaha went to battle with Hiran-yaksha and killed him.
Atharva Veda
With this peace the dreadful I now appease, with this peace the cruel I now appease, with this peace all evil I now appease, so that peace may prevail, happiness prevail! May everything for us be peaceful!
- Atharva Veda 19.9.14
The Lord will settle disputes among the nations, among the great powers near and far. They will hammer their swords into ploughs and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will never again go to war, never prepare for battle again. Everyone will live in peace among their own vineyard and sit under their fig tree, and no one will make them afraid. For the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it. For all people will walk every one in the name of their god and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever. - Micah 4 3-5
Be ye all of one mind, having compassion of one another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing. Pay back with a blessing, that ye should inherit a blessing. Miracles are what God promised to give you when he called you. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that speak no guile. Let him eschew evil and do good; let him seek peace and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. - 1 Peter 3 8-12
Father-mother God,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Lead us to act with maturity and compassion
and make our world as You would have it.
Day by day give us what we need to live.
And free us from our debt of guilt,
as we free others from theirs.
Teach us the goodness of Your kingdom,
for Thine is the eternal spiritual home.
"If the people lead, the leaders will follow."
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