Living in Peace

Opening Reflections

Live happily, without hating even those

who hate you. 

Be free from hatred among those who hate. 

(Buddhism, Siddhartha, v197)

Blessed are the peacemakers, 

for they shall be called Sons of God. (

(Bible, Matthew 5:9)

As river flow in the ocean

but cannot make the ocean overflow, so

flow the streams of the sense-world

into the sea of peace that is the sage.

(Hinduism, Bhagavid Gita 2:70)

Scripture Reading

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose

under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant,

and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down,

and a time to build up; your

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn,

and a time to dance...

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence,

and a time to speak;

A time to love,  and a time to hate; a time of war,

and a time of peace. (Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:1-4, 7-8)

Meditation


Scripture Reading

“Let there be no compulsion in religion. 

Truth has been made clear from error. 

Whoever rejects false worship and believes in Allah [God] 

has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that never breaks. 

And Allah [God] hears and knows all things.”  

(Islam, Qu'ran 2:256)

Meditation


Sermon

It is hard to be born as a human being and hard to live

the life of one. It is even harder to hear of the path;

and harder still to awake, to rise and to follow.

Yet the teaching of the Buddha is simple:

'Cease to do evil, learn to do good.

And purify your mind.'

Whoever revers the awakened one and the noble path,

will live in measureless serenity and peace.'

(Siddhartha- The Enlightened One, v182, v183)

Memory Verse

Blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves;

for we shall never cease to be amused. (Anonymous)

Closing Prayer

I add my breath to your breath

that our days be long on the earth,

that the days of our people may be long,

that we shall be as one person,

that we may finish our road together.

(Pueblo Native American Prayer)