Go in Peace

Though I won't be celebrating the passage of this specific day to the next, many of you will. For those who do celebrate the changing of the year, one of the routine rituals is making a list of New Year's resolutions. Might I suggest you place peace near the top of your list?

I found a really cool website called Peace Seed. The site is "dedicated to the concept that when one studies different religious traditions, one is struck by the repeated similarities of basic truths." One of these basic truths is the desire for peace on earth.

So, whichever belief system speaks to you, let it speak to you in the spirit of peace.

Our Father, it is thy universe, it is thy will:
Let us be at peace, let the souls of the people be cool.
Thou art our Father, remove all evil from our path.
~ African Nuer Prayer (Sudan) ~

Victory breeds hatred, for the defeated live in pain. Happily live the peaceful, giving up victory and defeat.
~ Buddhism Dhammapada 201 ~

"I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content. Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness."
~ Baha'i Faith, Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 29 ~

Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.
~ Christianity, Matthew 5:9, King James Version ~

Do you want long life and happiness? Strive for peace with all your heart.
~ Christianity & Judaism, Psalm 34: 12, 14, King James Version ~

"Through what can the Empire be settled? Through unity. Who can unite it? One who is not fond of killing."
~ Confucianism, Mencius 1.A.6 ~

Peace be to earth and to airy spaces!
Peace be to heaven, peace to the waters,
peace to the plants and peace to the trees!
May all the gods grant me peace!
By this invocation of peace may peace be diffused!
By this invocation of peace may peace bring peace!
With this peace the dreadful I appease,
with this peace the cruel I appease,
with this peace all evil I appease,
so that peace may prevail, happiness prevail!
May everything for us be peaceful!
~ Hinduism, Atharva Veda 19.9.14 ~

And make not Allah by your swearing (by him) an obstacle to your doing good and guarding (against evil) and making peace between men, and Allah is hearing and knowing.
~ Islam, Qur'an 2.224 ~

The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace.
~ Judaism, Talmud, Gittin 59b ~

Now is the gracious Lord's ordinance promulgated,
No one shall cause another pain or injury;
All mankind shall live in peace together,
Under a shield of administrative benevolence.
~ Sikhism, Adi Granth, Sri Raga, M.5, p. 74 ~

Tao invariably takes no action, and yet there is nothing left undone. If kings and barons can keep it, all things will transform spontaneously. If, after transformation, they should desire to be active, I would restrain them with simplicity, which has no name. Simplicity, which has no name, is free of desires. Being free of desires, it is tranquil. And the world will be at peace of its own accord.
~ Taoism, Tao Te Ching 37 ~