Finding Peace
To listen to Celtic harp music for peace, click on the 'Play' arrow below.
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Peace begins in the heart of each one of us and silent meditation can offer us a way of touching peace, stilling our minds by quietly becoming aware of our breath, and whenever a thought arrives, gently taking our awareness back to the breath.
According to Matthieu Ricard in his book "Art of Meditation", the ultimate reason for meditation is to “practise compassion for the sake of the world, to transform ourselves in order to better transform the world, thereby giving life the noblest possible meaning”. The late Reverend Robert Llewelyn was so impressed by a Prayer for Peace that Mother Teresa called for, that he produced and distributed a leaflet to encourage us to be able to do something good for peace and as we will see, it begins with each one of us. The prayer is available as a free download below.
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Mother Teresa - A Prayer for Peace
PEACE PEACE PEACE
In 1981 Mother Teresa announced her Prayer for Peace asking that it be used around the world for one minute daily (either vocally or meditatively) at noon local time. A chain of prayer would thus be set up, activated at each of the twenty four hours of the day. Clearly those who could not use the prayer at noon might do so at any other time.
"Lead me from death to life,
From falsehood to truth.
Lead me from despair to hope,
From fear to trust.
Lead me from hate to love,
From war to peace.
Let peace fill our heart,our world, our universe.
Peace, Peace, Peace.."
In 1981 Mother Teresa announced her Prayer for Peace asking that it be used around the world for one minute daily (either vocally or meditatively) at noon local time. A chain of prayer would thus be set up, activated at each of the twenty four hours of the day. Clearly those who could not use the prayer at noon might do so at any other time.
"Lead me from death to life,
From falsehood to truth.
Lead me from despair to hope,
From fear to trust.
Lead me from hate to love,
From war to peace.
Let peace fill our heart,our world, our universe.
Peace, Peace, Peace.."
The Threefold Peace
It will be noticed that the threefold peace is presented only after we have been led to reflect upon the things which make for peace. Also that Mother Teresa presents peace as beginning, not with the world, but with oneself: "Lead me..." she writes. God's peace begins in the heart, extends to the home, so to the local community, the nation and the world. What if millions in every country used it vocally or meditatively daily as Mother Teresa asked!
But Mother Teresa was an apostle of silence and it may well be that of many she would have asked more. 'We need silence', she wrote, 'to be able to touch souls. God is a friend of silence'. Silence takes us to the heart of intercession. An intention before prayer is all that is needed. The pattern is unchanged. So far as we are enabled, thoughts and imaginations are released to fall unreflectingly into the arms of God. If they float around us that does not invalidate our prayer so long as we do not voluntarily attend to them. It is the desire for God which matters. He works. He knows. He understands.
The prayer is adapted from the Hindu scriptures and is suited to people of all faiths, indeed to every person of goodwill. Many feel helpless in our troubled times but the influence of faithful prayer is incalculable. And, like mercy, it is 'twice bless'd; it blesses him that gives and him that takes.”
"Hatred never ceases by hatred; by love alone it is healed; this is the ancient and eternal law." (Dhammapada)
Robert invites people to photocopy the leaflet and distribute to anyone wanting to pray for peace.
It will be noticed that the threefold peace is presented only after we have been led to reflect upon the things which make for peace. Also that Mother Teresa presents peace as beginning, not with the world, but with oneself: "Lead me..." she writes. God's peace begins in the heart, extends to the home, so to the local community, the nation and the world. What if millions in every country used it vocally or meditatively daily as Mother Teresa asked!
But Mother Teresa was an apostle of silence and it may well be that of many she would have asked more. 'We need silence', she wrote, 'to be able to touch souls. God is a friend of silence'. Silence takes us to the heart of intercession. An intention before prayer is all that is needed. The pattern is unchanged. So far as we are enabled, thoughts and imaginations are released to fall unreflectingly into the arms of God. If they float around us that does not invalidate our prayer so long as we do not voluntarily attend to them. It is the desire for God which matters. He works. He knows. He understands.
The prayer is adapted from the Hindu scriptures and is suited to people of all faiths, indeed to every person of goodwill. Many feel helpless in our troubled times but the influence of faithful prayer is incalculable. And, like mercy, it is 'twice bless'd; it blesses him that gives and him that takes.”
"Hatred never ceases by hatred; by love alone it is healed; this is the ancient and eternal law." (Dhammapada)
Robert invites people to photocopy the leaflet and distribute to anyone wanting to pray for peace.
