Let There Be Peace

These are reflections from the Peace Vespers held at DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church on October 21, 2015.  This service was led by Reverend Tom Capo

Peace Reflections

I implore us all to hold peace in our hearts tonight, and carry it to our homes, our neighbors, our city, our nation, and our world, for peace must begin in our hearts.

After war, after violence, after shootings, after conflict, we struggle to heal from their physical, social, and economic effects.  There must be forgiveness, as we pray for reconciliation, redemption, and the creation of a beloved local, national, and world community. 

We will not ever all think alike, but we must love alike.  Love can heal, love can transform, love is the spirit that calls us tonight to witness for peace and healing.

Let us each in our own hearts, kindle that light of peace, and kindle the spirit of love to aid those in need of healing.  Let us hew out of the mountain of despair that exists because of the violence, shootings, wars across our planet, a stone of hope that peace and healing will come to us all.

By Reverend Tom Capo

                        A Shloka

A Shloka is a category of prayerful verse developed from the Vedic Anustubh.  They are a vital part of Hinduism. These prayers are taught to all ages from children to adults.  The following prayerful verse call out for peace:
Om Saha na vavatu

                        Saha nau bhunaktu

                        Saha viryam karava vahai

                        Tejasvina vadhi tamastu

                        Ma Vid visa vahai

                        Om Shanti shanti shantih

                    TRANSLATION:

                       May we be protected together.

                       May we be nourished together.

                       May we work together with great vigor.

                       May our study be enlightening.

                       May there be no hatred between us.

                       Om peace, peace, peace.

Buddhist Meditation

May I live in safety. May I be happy. May I be healthy. May I live with ease.

May you live in safety. May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you live with ease.  

May all people live in safety. May all people be happy. May all people be healthy. May people live with ease

.A Buddhist Prayer

May the peace we create here this evening reach into every heart in all lands.

May it cause all people to see the preciousness of human life

And the ways in which we are connected

In the great web of being.

May we understand that whatever hurts One of us

Hurts all of us

May we realize that as long as one of us

Is living in fear

We are all living in fear.

May we understand that

All human beings are the same:

All want to be happy

All want safety, security and dignity

All want our children to grow up free from fear and prejudice,

With bright futures wherever they may go,

Whoever they may be.

May this realization cause all of us to

Give up hatred and reach out with concern, Caring for friends and enemies alike.

May we remember the humanity of all people.

May we stand up with courage and strength for peace together. 

Only we – all together - can do this.

By Zen Buddhist Zuiko Redding