The Buddhists have a saying about helping and its effect. In today’s Thursday Thought quote, I offer it for your consideration.
Tag Archive for Buddhist
What Jesus, Buddha, & Muhammad Shared in Common
Today’s Thursday Thought quote is an important, yet basic, message from three of the world’s great religious leaders.
Seeds of Peace
Because of the significance of the season--notably Good Friday today, beginning of Passover tonight, Easter Sunday in two days–I’d like us all to think about peace.
PEACE is God’s loving gift to us. All He asks is that we accept it together. All of us, from all faiths. One way is through “The Peace Seeds.” These 12 prayers were prayed in Assisi on the 1986 Day of Prayer for World Peace. They are Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Muslim, Sikh, Bahai’, Shinto, Native African, Native American, Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian. They may refer to the Life Force in different ways, but all call on it to help us attain the peace our Father wishes for us.
Let each prayer touch you deeply, where your longing for peace lives. Feel the unity of the world is in its craving for peace. Then call upon God using each prayer. You may want to change the references you aren’t comfortable with: “Vedic Law” in the Hindu to “Holy Law” or “Buddhahood” to “Your Will.” Remember: God wants not mere words from us but a unified desire to accept His gift.
You’ll find the Peace Seed Prayers at http://chaplaincyinstitute.org/library/blessings-and-prayers/interfaith-prayers-for-peace.
April: Focusing on Faith
April is a busy month. Several religions celebrate important spiritual occasions during this month. I thought I’d list them and encourage all believers to honor their own religious tradition not only by respecting the sacred beliefs of others but also by remembering that we are all part of the same human family under that Supreme Being/Force/God–whatever name we affix to Him/Her/It.
April:
1–Lazarus Saturday – Orthodox Christian
2–Palm Sunday – Orthodox Christian
5–Ramanavami – Hindu
9–Palm Sunday- Christian
10–Mahavir Jayanti – Jain
11–Lord’s Evening Meal – Jehovah’s Witness Christian
. Hanuman Jayanti – Hindu
11-14–Theravadin New Year – Buddhist
11-18–Pesach (Passover) – Jewish
13–Maundy Thursday – Christian
14–Holy Friday – Orthodox Christian
. Baisakhi (Vaisakhi) – Sikh
. Good Friday – Christian
16–Easter – Christian
. Pascha (Easter) – Orthodox Christian
21–First Day of Ridvan – Baha’i
23–St. George’s Day – Christian
. Yom HaShoah – Jewish
24–Lailat al Miraj * – Islam
29–Ninth Day of Ridvan – Baha’i
30–St. James the Great Day – Orthodox Christian
Special blessings to all this month!
A Saintly Idea
MOTHER TERESA, the newest Catholic saint, was blessed with the wisdom to understand life in its most simple elements. In today’s Thursday Thought quote she describes a philosophy she lived by and that would do us good to remember in this world in which atrocities are done in the name of God (no matter what name He/She is called by):
“There is only one God and He is God to all; therefore it is important that everyone is seen as equal before God. I’ve always said we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Buddhist become a better Buddhist and a Christian become a better Christian.”
Pope Identifies God’s Name
You don’t have to be Catholic or another branch of Christianity to understand and accept Pope Francis’ short message:
The Pope clearly identifies the name accepted in all non-violent religions.
What’s Your Hoiliday?
What do you celebrate this time of year? Christian Christmas, Jewish Hanukkah, Buddhist Bodhi Day, African-American Kwanzaa, Muslum Ashura, Druid Solstice, Atheist “made-it-through-another-year”? We may disagree on what to commemorate, but we all look to that same shining star:
PEACE ON EARTH
