On the 27th October, 1986 Spiritual Leaders from each of the World's twelve major Religions came together for the first time in history, to share their most sacred prayers for the "Day of World Peace"...celebrated in Assisi, Italy, in commemoration of the United Nations International Year of Peace.
THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred...let me show love.
Where there is injury...pardon.
Where there is doubt...faith.
Where there is despair...hope.
Where there is darkness...light.
Where there is sadness...joy.
Devine Master, grant that I may not so much seek.
To be consoled...as to console.
To be understood...as to understand.
To be loved...as to love.
For it is in giving...that we receive.
It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned.
It is in dying...that we are born to eternal life.
BAHA'I PRAYER FOR PEACE
Be Generous in Prosperity, and thankful in adversity.
Be fair in judgement, and guarded in thy speech.
Be a lamp unto those who walk in dardness, and a home to the stranger.
Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring.
Be a breath of life to the body of humankind, a dew to the soil of the human heart, and a fruit upon the tree of humilty.
BUDDHIST PRAYER FOR PEACE
May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind be quickly 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 wilderness...the children, the aged, the unprotected...be guarded by beneficial celestials, and may they swiftly attain Buddhahood.
CHRISTAIN PRAYER FOR PEACE
Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS, for they shall be known as the Children of God.
But I say to you that hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those that abuse you.
To those that strike you on the cheek, offer the other one also, and from those that take away the cloak, do not withhold your coat as well.
Give to everyone who begs from you, and of those who take away your goods, do not ask for them again.
And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
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 us all.
Oh Lord God almighty, may there be peace in celestial regions.
May there be peace on Earth.
May the waters be appeasing.
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.
JAINIST PRAYER FOR PEACE
Peace and Universal Love is they essence of the Gospel preached by all.
Enlightened Ones.
The Lord has preached that equanimity is the Dharma.
Forgive do I creatures all, and let all creatures forgive me.
Unto all have I amity, and unto none enmity.
Know the violence is the root cause of all miseries in the world.
Violence, in fact, is the knot of bondage.
"Do not injure and living being."
This is the eternal, perennial, and unalterable way of spiritual life.
A weapon, howsoever powrful is may be, can always be superseded by a superior one;
but no weapon can, however, be superior to non-violence and love.
JEWISH PRAYER FOR PEACE
Come let us go up to the maintain of the Lord, that we may walk the paths of the Most High.
And we shall beat our swords into plowshares, and our spears into pruning hooks.
Nation shall not lift up sword against Nation.
Neither shall they learn war anymore.
And none shall be afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts has spoken.
MUSLIM PRAYER FOR PEACE
In the name of Allah, the beneficient, the merciful.
Praise be to the Lord of the Universe who has created us and made us into Tribes and Nations.
That we may know each other, not that we may despise each other.
If the enemy incline towards peace, do thou also incline towards peace, and trust God, for the Lord is the one that heareth and knoweth all things.
And the servants of God.
Most gracious are those who walk on the Earth in humility, and when we address them, we say "PEACE."
SHINTO PRAYER FOR PEACE
Although the people living across the ocean surrounding us, I believe are all our brothers and sisters, why are there constant troubles in this world?
Why do the winds and waves rise in the oceans surrounding us?
I only earnestly wish that the wind will soon puff away all the clouds which are hinging over the tops of mountains.
NATIVE AFRICAN PRAYER FOR PEACE
Almighty God the Great Thumb we cannot evade to tie any knot;
the Roaring Thunder that splits mighty trees: the all-seeing Lord up on high who sees even the footprints of an Antelope on a rock mass here on Earth.
You are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call.
You are the cornerstone of Peace.
You provide for us on this Earth.
ZOROASTRIAN PRAYER FOR PEACE
We pray to eradicate all the misery in the world: that understanding triumph over ignorance, that generosity triumph over indifference, that trust triumph over contempt, and that truth triumph over falsehood.
SIKH PRAYER FOR PEACE
God adjudges us according to our deeds, not the coat that we wear: that Truth is above everything, but higher still is truthful living.
Know that we attaineth God we loveth, and only victory endures in consequences of which no one is defeated.
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IT IS IMPORTANT THAT...we remind ourselves, that to live in harmony within an increasingly multi-cultural Society, we take into account the needs, rituals, practises and diversity of religious and non-religious beliefs. That we acknowledged and respect these diverse cultures and beliefs, which truly enrich our lives. The following information merely offers an overview of just some of the major Religions that are found in the United Kingdom:-
HUMANISTS...are non-religious. They believe that this life is the only one we have and therefore, when you are dead there is 'no' moving on to another life, The focus of a Humanist Funeral is on celebrating the life of the 'loved-one' who has died. They share stories and recall memories of precious times past. Play the person's favourite music with friends and family, supported by an Officant. The ceremony is usually a Cremation which is tailored to the family's wishes rather than a prescribed format.
CHRISTIANS...believe that there is one God and the Jesus Christ was the Son of God. Christians believe in an afterlife and also the idea of resurrection...depending on the different denominations there are various views as to what actually happens at the time of death. Some believe that as soon as a person dies, they are judged by God and go either to Heaven or Hell accordingly to their 'good' or 'bad' deeds whilst on Earth. For Roman Catholics there is a halfway called 'Purgatory'...here an impure Soul can stay until deemed fit to enter Heaven.
Others believe that there is a Day of Judgement, when the World will end and the dead will return to life to be judged by God.
Within the different Christian denominations were are many variations as to what happens at a Funeral. Usually, when someone dies, they are taken to an Undertaker who will make the necessary preparation for the loved-one's body to be 'laid out' and dressed in the clothes requested by the family. Then family and friends who wish to pay their respect before the Funeral. The Funeral would normally take place about one week after the death, with a service in a Church or Crematorium...sometimes, a combination of the two. During the Service the Coffin remains closed and flowers and/or wreaths may be placed on top. It is traditional for the mourners to wear black, however, this custom varies.
If the Service is held in a Church...it may include Holy Communion, Eucharist or Mass, followed by a burial or cremation. A Churchyard grave is usually marked with a marble or slate headsone, engraved with thier name, date of birth and date of death and sometimes a message of love from family. When a cremation has taken place the family and/or next-of-kin usually decide on how they will scatter the 'Ashes'...or even carry out the last wishes of the deceased person.
BUDDHISTS...believe that nothing that exists is permanent and everything will eventually cease to to be. There is a belief in rebirth, but not of a Sould passing from one body to another. The rebirth is more a state of a constantly changing being rather than reincarnation. The objective is to achieve a state of perfect Peace and Freedom. Buddhists try to approach death with great calmness and an open minded attitude of acceptance.
There are few formal traditions relating to Funerals...they tend to be seen as non-religious events. Cremation is the accepted practise and the Service is kept very simple. Sometimes the ceremony is conducted by family members or by a Buddhist Monk.
ISLAM...Muslims believe in life after death when on the Last Day, the dead will come back to life to be judged by Allah. The good will live in Paradise, and the damned in Hell. Muhammed teaches that all men and women are to serve Allah and they should try to live in a perfect way...following the Qur'an. Devout Muslims believe that death is a part of Allah's plan and open expressions of grief may be viewed as disrespectful to this belief.
Muslims are always buried [cremation is forbidden] ideally within 24 hours of the death. Ritual washing is usually performed by the family or close friends at the Undertakers or Mortuary. The loved-one's body is then wrapped in a clean cloth or shroud. The coffin is usually plain as traditionally a coffin would not be used.
The grave is aligned so that the head of the deceased is facing the Holy City of Mecca. Traditionally, Muslim graves are unmarked, however, as a compromise and to comply with UK requirements, a simple headstone is used. There is an official mourning period of 3 days...the family remain at home and food is brought by friends and relatives. For 40 days after the Funeral, relatives may wish to make regular visits to the grave [on Fridays].
SIKHS...believe the Soul goes through a cycle of rebirths. The ultimate objective being to reach perfection to be reunited with God and, as a result, break the cycle. Therefore death holds no fear and mourning is very discreet. The present life is influenced by what happened in the previous ones and the current life will set the scene for the next.
The deceased is cremated as soon as possible after death and the coffin is taken to the family home where is is left open for family and friend to pay their respects. It is then taken to the Gurdwara where hymns and prayers are sung. After the Cremation there is a short service during which the eldest son presses the button for the coffin to move behind the curtain.
In India the eldest son would light the funeral pyre and no coffin would be used. Following the Funeral, a meal may be held at the Gurdwara. The Ashes may be taken back to India to be scattered. Here they may be scattered in the Sea or a River. The family will remain in mourning for several days after the Funeral and may listen to reading from the Guru Granth Sahib (Holy Book).
HINDUS...believe in reincarnation and a cycle of rebirths. When a person dies...the Sould is reborn in a new body, returning to earth in either a better or worse form. What a person does in their current life will influence what happens to them in the next...the Law of Karma. Good deeds in this life will be reborn into 'higher order' families, those who have behaved in a bad way, will be born again as outcasts.
A Hindu Funeral is not only a remembrance service, it is also a celebration. Hindus cremate their dead as it is the Soul that is important. White is the traditional colour and mourners traditionally wear Indian garments. During the Service offerings such as flowers or sweetmeats may be passed around, whilst bells are rung [noise is part of the ritual]. The Chief Mourner is usually the eldest son and other male members of the family may shave their heads as a mark of respect.
In India the Chief Mourner would light the Funeral Pyre...here he will press the button to make the coffin disappear. In some cases the Chief Mourner may be permitted to ignite the Cremator. Ashes may be taken back to India to scatter on the River Ganges. In the United Kingdom some areas of water have been designated as acceptable substitutes. Mourning lasts between 2 and 5 weeks.
Further information can be found at: www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions