Prayers used in the Day of Religious Pluralism, Los Angeles, 2016
The prayers below were part of the larger ceremony marking the Day of Religious Pluralism in Los Angeles on April 21, 2016. The ceremony also included remarks from the Mayor of Los Angeles, a video about religious pluralism crowd-sourced from communities across Los Angeles, and a call to action for acts of service that engage Angelinos in building a more inclusive Los Angeles.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE BLESSING:
Policarpo Chaj, Maya Visión
Oh Ajaw espíritu creador y formador
Oh sagrada madre tierra que nos abrigas con tu calor y sustentas nuestra existencia
Espíritu del fuego
Espíritu del agua
Espíritu de Las montañas y los valles
Espíritu del aire que nos da el soplo de la vida
Espíritu del día que nos permite realizar múltiples actividades
Espíritu de la noche que guarda nuestro descanso
Gracias damos porque estamos en vida y podemos percibir la luz del padre Sol que nos permite apreciar toda la hermosura de la creación y el rostro de nuestros semejantes
Gracias damos porque de nuestra madre tierra germina el sagrado maíz de los cuatro colores con la cual fuimos creados y formados
Bendición pido sobre la humanidad y toda forma de vida que germina, florece y da frutos sobre la faz de la tierra
Bendición pido sobre todas y todos los que gobiernan y dirigen los destinos de la humanidad para que la luz de la claridad les permita dirigir los pueblos con , respeto y humildad para que en todas sus relaciones prevalezca la sinceridad de propósitos igualmente cumplan y obedezcan su mandato para bien de la vida
Bendición pido sobre los líderes que gobiernan la ciudad de Los Ángeles que trabajan diariamente para construir un espacio donde todas y todos podamos convivir en respeto a la diversidad de pensamientos y creencias
Que el espíritu de la Sabiduría nos permita pensar y actuar para que todas y todos tengamos útil existencia
Que todas y todos podamos aportar nuestras capacidades y talentos para que en el mundo no falte nada
Que prevalezca la justicia, el orden, la paz y la armonía entre la humanidad
Que el desarrollo y los alcances de la ciencia sea para contribuir al buen vivir de todos los pueblos y naciones que cohabitan sobre nuestro hermoso planeta que nos permite viajar dentro del espacio y el tiempo
Maltiox Ajaw
Gracias Padre Creador y Formador
Gracias Madre Tierra
UNITY PRAYER
Father Cyril, Holy Resurrection Coptic Orthodox Church
Our heavenly Father, The creator of all things seen and unseen, we thank You for loving us, creating us and saving us. We thank You for our beautiful City of the Angels, that we live in and enjoy. We also thank You for our gathering today and ask You to bless us and to help us to grow in peace, love and respect for each other.
We pray for our current president and we also pray for our future president, that you bless them with wisdom and discernment that they may lead our beloved Country, the United States of America, with all honesty and integrity.
We pray for our beloved Mayor, Mayor Garcetti and his family, that you always bless them and protect them, and that You guide and steer him to lead our beautiful City in greater prosperity and safety. We also pray for every civic leader and public servant.
We also pray for every individual residing in our beautiful City of the Angels that you bless us and protect us all.
Last but not least, we pray with importunity for the peace of the whole world, and that You uproot all evil and evil ideology from it. In Christ Jesus' name I pray. Amen
Youheng Shi, Hsi Lai Temple
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
Please listen to our sincere prayer.
We live in a world
With people of various backgrounds.
We are extremely diverse
In race, class, religion, and lifestyle.
But we all belong
To the same human species.
And we rely on each other
To make this world a better place.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
Let people of different races
Live in harmony and peace;
Let people of diverse social status
Have mutual respect;
Let people from different professions
Work in cooperation;
Let people from various religions
Practice with compassion and wisdom.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha,
Please accept our sincere prayer!
Namo Sakyamuni Buddha.
Rini Ghosh, Hindu Community
Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Nir-Aamayaah |
Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu
Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet |
Om Shaanti Shaanti Shantih ||
Meaning:
Om, May All everywhere be Happy in every sphere
May all be free
May No one suffer
May All See what is Auspicious,
Om Peace, Peace, Peace
This shanti mantra from the Upanishads reminds us that we are not separate and independent beings. We are inter-connected with all living beings in the universe. We cannot achieve true happiness if we cause unhappiness to other living beings, nor we can be free if we deprive others of their freedom.
Om Peace, peace, peace
Najeeba Syeed-Miller, Claremont School of Theology
O humankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is ( the one who) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).
Qur'an 49:13
We ask today in this day of Religious Pluralism, the courage to be active in knowing one another
The bravery to stand when anyone of us is attacked by hate
The fortitude to choose peace over violence
The patience to choose love over animosity
The hope to choose action over apathy
And most of all,
to choose solidarity over silence
CLOSING PRAYER:
Rev. Dr. Najuma Smith –Pollard, USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture
God of all creation, who has called us all into being, created perfect in your site. Now more than ever we call upon your grace, mercy and love; to be our guide and focus. Help us to live as gracious, kind and loving human beings. As a society, we traded our love of humanity for the love of money, materialism, fame, greed, fortune and unbridled power; and it has backfired on us. Bring us back love. Cleanse our Hearts. Purify our souls. Till we are unified in our love for humanity. In Jesus name. Amen.
*Please contact the authors of the blessings regarding their use and further publication.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE BLESSING:
Policarpo Chaj, Maya Visión
Oh Ajaw espíritu creador y formador
Oh sagrada madre tierra que nos abrigas con tu calor y sustentas nuestra existencia
Espíritu del fuego
Espíritu del agua
Espíritu de Las montañas y los valles
Espíritu del aire que nos da el soplo de la vida
Espíritu del día que nos permite realizar múltiples actividades
Espíritu de la noche que guarda nuestro descanso
Gracias damos porque estamos en vida y podemos percibir la luz del padre Sol que nos permite apreciar toda la hermosura de la creación y el rostro de nuestros semejantes
Gracias damos porque de nuestra madre tierra germina el sagrado maíz de los cuatro colores con la cual fuimos creados y formados
Bendición pido sobre la humanidad y toda forma de vida que germina, florece y da frutos sobre la faz de la tierra
Bendición pido sobre todas y todos los que gobiernan y dirigen los destinos de la humanidad para que la luz de la claridad les permita dirigir los pueblos con , respeto y humildad para que en todas sus relaciones prevalezca la sinceridad de propósitos igualmente cumplan y obedezcan su mandato para bien de la vida
Bendición pido sobre los líderes que gobiernan la ciudad de Los Ángeles que trabajan diariamente para construir un espacio donde todas y todos podamos convivir en respeto a la diversidad de pensamientos y creencias
Que el espíritu de la Sabiduría nos permita pensar y actuar para que todas y todos tengamos útil existencia
Que todas y todos podamos aportar nuestras capacidades y talentos para que en el mundo no falte nada
Que prevalezca la justicia, el orden, la paz y la armonía entre la humanidad
Que el desarrollo y los alcances de la ciencia sea para contribuir al buen vivir de todos los pueblos y naciones que cohabitan sobre nuestro hermoso planeta que nos permite viajar dentro del espacio y el tiempo
Maltiox Ajaw
Gracias Padre Creador y Formador
Gracias Madre Tierra
UNITY PRAYER
Father Cyril, Holy Resurrection Coptic Orthodox Church
Our heavenly Father, The creator of all things seen and unseen, we thank You for loving us, creating us and saving us. We thank You for our beautiful City of the Angels, that we live in and enjoy. We also thank You for our gathering today and ask You to bless us and to help us to grow in peace, love and respect for each other.
We pray for our current president and we also pray for our future president, that you bless them with wisdom and discernment that they may lead our beloved Country, the United States of America, with all honesty and integrity.
We pray for our beloved Mayor, Mayor Garcetti and his family, that you always bless them and protect them, and that You guide and steer him to lead our beautiful City in greater prosperity and safety. We also pray for every civic leader and public servant.
We also pray for every individual residing in our beautiful City of the Angels that you bless us and protect us all.
Last but not least, we pray with importunity for the peace of the whole world, and that You uproot all evil and evil ideology from it. In Christ Jesus' name I pray. Amen
Youheng Shi, Hsi Lai Temple
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
Please listen to our sincere prayer.
We live in a world
With people of various backgrounds.
We are extremely diverse
In race, class, religion, and lifestyle.
But we all belong
To the same human species.
And we rely on each other
To make this world a better place.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
Let people of different races
Live in harmony and peace;
Let people of diverse social status
Have mutual respect;
Let people from different professions
Work in cooperation;
Let people from various religions
Practice with compassion and wisdom.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha,
Please accept our sincere prayer!
Namo Sakyamuni Buddha.
Rini Ghosh, Hindu Community
Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Nir-Aamayaah |
Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu
Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet |
Om Shaanti Shaanti Shantih ||
Meaning:
Om, May All everywhere be Happy in every sphere
May all be free
May No one suffer
May All See what is Auspicious,
Om Peace, Peace, Peace
This shanti mantra from the Upanishads reminds us that we are not separate and independent beings. We are inter-connected with all living beings in the universe. We cannot achieve true happiness if we cause unhappiness to other living beings, nor we can be free if we deprive others of their freedom.
Om Peace, peace, peace
Najeeba Syeed-Miller, Claremont School of Theology
O humankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is ( the one who) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).
Qur'an 49:13
We ask today in this day of Religious Pluralism, the courage to be active in knowing one another
The bravery to stand when anyone of us is attacked by hate
The fortitude to choose peace over violence
The patience to choose love over animosity
The hope to choose action over apathy
And most of all,
to choose solidarity over silence
CLOSING PRAYER:
Rev. Dr. Najuma Smith –Pollard, USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture
God of all creation, who has called us all into being, created perfect in your site. Now more than ever we call upon your grace, mercy and love; to be our guide and focus. Help us to live as gracious, kind and loving human beings. As a society, we traded our love of humanity for the love of money, materialism, fame, greed, fortune and unbridled power; and it has backfired on us. Bring us back love. Cleanse our Hearts. Purify our souls. Till we are unified in our love for humanity. In Jesus name. Amen.
*Please contact the authors of the blessings regarding their use and further publication.