Prayers for Hard Times. Becca Anderson

I become a wish-fulfilling tree

      And a cow of plenty for the world.

      And the great elements such as earth,

      May I always support the life

      Of all the boundless creatures.

      And until they pass away from pain

      May I also be the source of life

      For all the realms of varied beings

      That reach unto the ends of space.

      - Shantideva, India 760 AD

      One Meaningful Word

      Better

      than if there were thousands

      of meaningless words is

      one

      meaningful

      word

      that on hearing

      brings peace.

      Better

      than if there were thousands

      of meaningless verses is

      one

      meaningful

      verse

      that on hearing

      brings peace.

      And better than chanting hundreds

      of meaningless verses is

      one

      Dhamma-saying

      that on hearing

      brings peace.

      - Dhammapada; ascribed to Buddha

      Eternal Love for All in the World

      For as long as space endures

      And for as long as living beings remain

      Until then may I too abide

      To dispel the misery of the world.

      - Shantideva

      Prayer for the Weary, Broken, and Afraid

      Benedict, when the storm rages

      around me,

      and I can hold on no more,

      when the waves of fear engulf me

      and I am weary,

      battered and sore,

      take me then and steer me

      storm-tossed, broken and afraid,

      into the arms of your safe harbor

      safely home.

      - Prayer to St. Benedict

      For Those Who Serve in the Military

      Gracious God, we give thanks for military men and women, both from the past and present, and for their courageous service and sacrifice to our country and its people to secure the blessings of life, liberty, and justice for all. May our remembrance be a timely reminder that our freedom was purchased at high cost, and should not be taken for granted. Give us resolve to labor in faithful service to you until all share the benefits of freedom, justice, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

      - Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth

      For the Good of All

      He who has subdued his passions and desires,

      Who has realized the secret of the Universe in entirety;

      Who has discoursed upon the teachings of the Right Path of Liberation

      For the benefit of all in a quite unselfish manner;

      Who is variously termed Buddha, Mahavira, Jina,

      Hari, Hara, Brahma and Self;

      In Him, imbued with deep devotion,

      May this mind (of mine) eternally dwell!

      Those who have no longings left for sense-produced pleasures;

      Who are rich in the quality of equanimity?

      Who are day and night engaged in encompassing

      The good of all—their own as well as of others?

      Who undergo the severe penance of self-effacement

      Without flinching—such Enlightened Saints

      Verily conquer the pain and misery of mundane existence!

      May I always associate with such aforesaid Holy men;

      May my mind be constantly occupied with their contemplation;

      May the longing of my heart be always to tread in their footsteps;

      May I also never cause pain to any living being;

      May I never utter untruth; and

      May I never covet the wealth or wife or husband of another!

      May I ever drink the nectar of contentment!

      With pride may I never be elated, angry may I feel with none;

      The sight of another’s luck may not make me envious with his lot:

      May my desire be for dealings fair and straight, and

      May my heart only delight in doing good to others

      To the best of my abilities all the days of my life!

      May I always entertain a feeling of friendliness for

      All living beings in the world;

      May the spring of sympathy in my heart be ever bubbling

      For those in agony and affliction;

      May I never feel angry with the vile, the vicious and wrongly-directed;

      May there be such an adjustment of things

      That I should always remain tranquil in dealing with them!

      May my heart ever overflow with love at the sight of virtuous men;

      May this mind of mine rejoice always in serving them to the utmost of its power;

      May I be never ungrateful;

      May jealousies never approach me;

      May my longing be always for assimilating the virtues of other; and

      May the eyes never alight on their faults!

      Whether people speak of me well or ill;

      Whether wealth comes to me or departs;

      Whether I live to be hundreds of thousands of years old;

      Or give up the ghost this day;

      Whether any one holds out any kind of fear;

      Or with worldly riches tempts me;

      In face of all these possible things

      May my footsteps swerve not from the path of Truth!

      With pleasure may the mind be not puffed up;

      Let pain disturb it never;

      May the awesome loneliness of a mountain, forest or river,

      Or a burning place, never cause it to shiver;

      Unmoved, unshakable, in firmness may it grow adamantine;

      And display true moral strength when parted

      From the desired thing, or united with what is undesired!

      May happiness be the lot of all;

      May distress come near none;

      Giving up hatred, sin and pride;

      May the world pour forth one continuous eternal peal of delight;

      May Dharma become the main topic of conversation in every household;

      May evil cease to be easily wrought;

      By increase of wisdom and merit of works,

      May men realize the purpose of human