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Invocations for Harmony
Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 2:32 am
by Nicholas Weeks
Events in the USA at this time show anger and hatred that both big & social media magnifies by constant recycling coverage.
At any rate, this ancient invocation for harmony is from the Hindu
Bhagavatam. I have rendered it based on several differing translations:
May the Universe be happy and holy,
May the wicked become mild,
May all beings work for each others welfare,
May all hearts radiate selfless love for one and all.
Feel free to add and use such invocations from the buddhadharma.
Re: Invocations for Harmony
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 4:52 pm
by Nicholas Weeks
May peace harmonious bless this realm;
May it be ever free from maladies and war;
May there be harvest rich and increased yield of grain;
May everyone delight in righteousness;
May no perverted thought find entry to our minds;
May all thoughts ever pious be and lead us to religious success.
Milarepa
Re: Invocations for Harmony
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:18 pm
by Nicholas Weeks
May beings all live happily and safe,
and may their hearts rejoice within themselves. ₁₄₅
Whatever there may be with breath of life,
whether they be frail or very strong,
without exception, be they long or short,
or middle-sized, or be big or small, ₁₄₆
or dense, or visible or invisible,
or whether they dwell far or they dwell near,
those that are here, those seeking to exist—
may beings all rejoice with themselves. ₁₄₇
Let no one bring about another’s ruin
and not despise in any way or place;
let them not wish each other any ill
from provocation or from enmity. ₁₄₈
Just as a mother at the risk of life
loves and protects her child, her only child,
so one should cultivate this boundless love
to all that live in the whole universe— ₁₄₉
extending from a consciousness sublime
upwards and downwards and across the world,
untroubled, free from hate and enmity. ₁₅₀
And while one stands and while one sits
or when one lies down still free from drowsiness,
one should be intent on this mindfulness—
this is divine abiding here they say.
Metta Sutta- Laurence Mills trans.
Re: Invocations for Harmony
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:57 pm
by jkarlins
Thank you, Nicholas. This is certainly a churned up time. I'm seeing it and feeling it too.
No better time to be a practitioner, I guess.
Jake
Re: Invocations for Harmony
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2017 3:14 pm
by Bodhinet
Beautiful invocations! Thank you
Re: Invocations for Harmony
Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 12:32 am
by DGA
I don't want harmony.
I pray for the extinguishing of ignorance, hatred, and greed. With that, all can live harmoniously.
I do not wish to make peace with the ignorance, hatred, and greed that runs the world.
Re: Invocations for Harmony
Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 10:36 pm
by treehuggingoctopus
DGA wrote:I don't want harmony.
I pray for the extinguishing of ignorance, hatred, and greed. With that, all can live harmoniously.
I do not wish to make peace with the ignorance, hatred, and greed that runs the world.
A lovely post.
Re: Invocations for Harmony
Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 11:09 pm
by Nicholas Weeks
DGA wrote:I don't want harmony.
I pray for the extinguishing of ignorance, hatred, and greed. With that, all can live harmoniously.
I do not wish to make peace with the ignorance, hatred, and greed that runs the world.
Curious the abstract phrasing. So no wish or effort for harmony with the ignorant, hateful and greedy people?
Re: Invocations for Harmony
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 3:55 pm
by DGA
Nicholas Weeks wrote:DGA wrote:I don't want harmony.
I pray for the extinguishing of ignorance, hatred, and greed. With that, all can live harmoniously.
I do not wish to make peace with the ignorance, hatred, and greed that runs the world.
Curious the abstract phrasing. So no wish or effort for harmony with the ignorant, hateful and greedy people?
I'm surprised you find it abstract, as it's actually quite specific what I'm for and what I'm against.
I'm not interested in nourishing a harmony that accommodates, enables, empowers, or coddles (pick your verb) institutionalized hatred, ignorance, and/or greed. To do so is not in the interest of anyone bound by such afflictions*. Reducing and where possible eliminating these afflictions is good for everyone, and for that reason I think it's the best course of action. If that means some temporary disharmony with the brownshirts and the Confederate sympathizers among others, then so be it.
Sometimes playing nice leads to violence, not real harmony.
Put differently... You're familiar with the concept of the "fellow traveler," yes? I'm not interested in being a fellow traveler at this juncture.
*I include myself among those who are afflicted, for the obvious reasons. We're all afflicted here.
Re: Invocations for Harmony
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 4:29 pm
by Norwegian
Nicholas Weeks,
"Living in harmony with evil-doers" is not harmony, it's a total oxymoron. There can be no harmony around such people. What I pray for is that we will live on a planet where all people benefit the environment and sentient beings. That would be harmonious.
Re: Invocations for Harmony
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 4:50 pm
by Nicholas Weeks
Norwegian wrote:Nicholas Weeks,
"Living in harmony with evil-doers" is not harmony, it's a total oxymoron. There can be no harmony around such people. What I pray for is that we will live on a planet where all people benefit the environment and sentient beings. That would be harmonious.
A popular so-called righteous meme of the day and not particularly Dharmic. I prefer to follow the buddhadharma, as in my sig:
A bodhisattva does not become weary of evil beings nor does he commit the error of bringing forth thoughts inclined to reject them and cast them aside. Avatamsaka Sutra, ch. 25
Even Jesus gave similar advice [using my rendering]:
You have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thy enemy. But I tell you, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who persecute and insult you, that you may be true sons of Buddha.
From Matthew 5:44-5