A Prayer for Unity Among Christians.

Lord Christ, who dost dwell in the hearts of all men and hast commanded us to love one another, grant unto us grace seriously to lay to heart the unhappy divisions of those who confess their faith in Thee. Help us to lay aside all narrowness and prejudice, all pride and hardness of heart, all that may hinder us from the understanding of our brethren: that we may live in the spirit of unity and concord, and through the diversity of our several gifts may glorify Thy Holy Name ~ Amen.

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love Thee and worthily magnify Thy Holy Name; through Christ our Lord ~ Amen

 O Lord, who hast taught us that all our doings without love are nothing worth; send Thy Holy Ghost and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before Thee. Grant this for Jesus Christ's sake ~ Amen

Teach us, O Lord, to see Thy life in all men and in all the peoples of Thine earth, and so guide the nations into the understanding of Thy laws that peace and goodwill may reign upon earth; through Christ our Lord ~ Amen

The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son, Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be among you and remain with you always ~ Amen

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God, and the Fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with us all, evermore ~ Amen

 Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever ~ Amen

 

A Universal Invocation

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          

 

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHS.

These prayers are given in the order of the foundation of their respective religions.

HINDU.

Om! The thousand-headed Purusha, thousand-eyed, thousand-footed, even he, encompassing the universe on all sides, remained over ten fingers in extent. Purusha alone is all this, that which has been and that which is to be. Moreover, he is the director of immortality; and hence manifests himself as the universe evolving be means of food. Of this magnitude is his greatness, even greater than this is Purusha. One-fourth of him forms all created things, the immortal three-fourths are in the regions above.

One God sits hidden in every creature, pervading all, the inmost self of all beings, the watcher over all acts, abiding in all created things, the witness, the heart, the absolute, free of all attributes.

The one-dweller, self-controlled, who divided the one seed into the many, who is their Atma, whose steadfast ones see him enthroned within their Atma, for them alone is bliss eternal, not for others.

That blessing do we choose, in order that we may sing for the purposes of the sacrifice, and for the Lord of the sacrifice. Divine blessing be ours. May blessing be on the children of men. May that which is of good effect go always singing upwards. May blessing be upon us, the two-footed, blessing be on the four-footed. Om! Peace, Peace, Peace!

ZOROASTRIAN.

1. We pray for the gracious joy of God the Omniscient Lord of Existence. Beneficent Holiness is the best of blessings. It alone is the source of true happiness. Happiness to him who is sincerely righteous.

2. O Lord! Through the most beneficent and excellent path of Purity may we see Thee, face to face. May we then observe Thy many aspects. And may we be finally merged into Thy Benign Presence!

3. Cleanse Thou my soul, O Omniscient and most Bountiful Spirit! Grant me strength through perfect wisdom - goodness through devotion - courage through righteousness - and leadership through benevolent mind. In order that I may acquire spiritual knowledge to instruct others, grant me that power, which is indeed the resulting blessing from the Lord of Benevolence. Reveal unto me the laws of religion through upright mind and pure conduct. Then does Zoroaster give away, in charity, even his own life besides his perfect benevolent wisdom, to the Omniscient Lord. He dedicates his power of speech and action, to serve ASHA (Holy Divine Spirit) and Sraosha (the angel of inspiration).

4. As is AHU (the High Ruler) absolute in His will, so is the Spiritual Teacher RATU wielding authority through the law of righteousness. The reward of good deeds, done as offering unto the Lord, is the gift of benevolent mind. Whoever gives protecting help to the needy, is entitled to receive help from the Creator.

5. O Omniscient God! When malicious people seek to harm me, who else shall grant me protection, except the Divine Fire and wisdom that are within me? Indicate to me, O God! the good deeds that may propagate righteousness in this world. In order that I may expound to others the teachings of the good faith, tell me, O Lord! how the evil forces may be foiled. Surely Thy protecting words that are eternal will prevail. Reveal unto me a teacher, who may be full of wisdom, and proficient in the lore of both the worlds, so innocent that the Angel of Inspiration may approach him through his loving thoughts. A true teacher is Thy beloved agent.

6. O Immortal Archangels! I offer unto you my sacrifice and devotion through thought, word and deed, and with all my heart I dedicate the very life of my existence. I adore the path of Purity.

7. Whoever amongst the living beings is foremost in loving sacrifice, is always within the knowledge of the Lord, because of his righteous conduct. We pay our homage to all such men and women who have sought to serve.

JAIN.

Reverence to the Arhats,

Reverence to the Perfect Ones,

Reverence to the Heads of the Sangha,

Reverence to the Preceptors,

Reverence to all holy Monks in the world.

All these five are worthy of Reverence. They are all protectors against sin. Among all auspicious things, this is the most auspicious.

JEWISH.

Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.

May it be Thy will, O Lord our God, and God of our fathers, to cause us to walk in Thy Law and cleave to Thy commandments; and lead us not into sin, transgression, temptation and contempt. Remove from us every evil inclination and cause us to adhere to the good.

Oh, grant us grace, favour and mercy in Thy sight, and in the sight of all that behold us; and bestow gracious favours on us. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who bestowest gracious favours on Thy people Israel ~ Amen

BUDDHIST.

Praise be to the Lord, the Holy One, Perfect in Wisdom.

Praise be to the Lord, the Holy One, Perfect in Wisdom.

Praise be to the Lord, the Holy One, Perfect in Wisdom.

I go to the Buddha for refuge,

I go to the Law for refuge,

I go to the Brotherhood for refuge.

For the second time, I go to the Buddha for refuge,

For the second time, I go to the Law for refuge,

For the second time, I go to the Brotherhood for refuge.

For the third time, I go to the Buddha for refuge,

For the third time, I go to the Law for refuge,

For the third time, I go to the Brotherhood for refuge.

I promise to abstain from taking the life of any creature.

I promise to abstain from taking anything with thievish intent.

I promise to abstain from the evil indulgence of bodily passion.

I promise to abstain from falsehood.

I promise to abstain from any intoxicating liquor or drug.

CHRISTIAN.

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ISLAMIC.

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Praise be to God, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds;

Most Gracious, Most Merciful;

Master of the Day of Judgement.

Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.

Show us the straight way, the way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose portion is not wrath, and who go not astray ~ Amen

SIKH.

OM! The true name is the Creator, the Spirit without fear, without enmity, having a timeless form, not produced from the womb.

By favour of the Guru!

At the beginning of the Yuga is the True One. The True One is, O Nanak, and the True One will also be.