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Interfaith Services
KARANIYAMETTA SUTTA
YET BACK IT COMES AGAIN, WEARING DOWN SO IT IS THAT THE STRONG ARE OVERCOME THIS WE KNOW, BUT NEVER LEARN
WHAT IS MORE FLUID, MORE YIELDING THAN WATER? THE RIGID STRENGTH WHICH CANNOT YIELD TO WITHSTAND IT. BY THE WEAK, THE HAUGHTY BY THE HUMBLE.
WE WILL PRACTICE WHAT WE PROFESS.
MEDITATION
The Discourse on loving-kindness:
This is what should be done by one skilled in good who would attain that state of peace: That person should be able, upright, truly straight and gentle and not proud, contented, easy to support, with few duties and frugal habits, calm in faculties and discreet, not puffed up, not greedy among lay-supporters. Let that person not do even the slightest thing which later on the wise might blame. One should contemplate thus: May all beings be happy and secure. Whatever living beings there are, weak or strong, omitting none, those which are long or great, middle-sized, short, subtle or gross, and those which are seen, or unseen, and those which dwell far or near, beings and spirits: may they all be happy! Let none deceive another, nor despise anyone at all, or with anger or thoughts of hate wish suffering for another. Thus as a mother guards her only child with her life, in the same way one should care for all beings. One's mind should develop loving-kindness for all the world, without limits. One's mind should extend above, below, and all around, unbounded, without malice or enmity. Standing or walking, sitting or lying down, one should remain alert and firmly mindful of this. This is Divine: abiding in the here and now, free from ignorance, not subject to narrow views, free from greed for sensual pleasures, virtuous and possessed of profound insight. This is the way that leads to Nirvana.
- Suttanipata: 1-8
- LAO-TZU
Lord, how can I serve you without arms?
How can I walk in your way without feet?
- ZOROASTRIAN PRAYER
THIS WORLD WAS NOT LEFT TO US BY OUR PARENTS, IT WAS LENT TO US BY OUR CHILDREN
- 151 -
AFRICAN PROVERB
I was collecting sticks for the fire when I lost my arms,
I was taking the goats to water when I lost my feet.
I have a head but my head does not understand why there are land mines in the grazing land or why there is a trip wire across the dusty road to the market.
My heart is filled with a long ache. I want to share your pain but I cannot. It is too deep for me. You look at me but I cannot bear your gaze. The arms factory provides a job for my son and my taxes paid for the development of 'smart' bombs. I did not protest when the soldiers planted fear into the earth that smothers the old people and the anxious mothers, and fills the young men with hate.
Lord, we are all accomplices in the crime of war which is a lust for power at all costs. The cost is too much for humanity to bear.
Lord, give us back our humanity, our ubuntu... Teach us to serve you without arms,
Amen
Desmond M. Tutu
