Monday, 21 April 2014

Praying for all ( with copy paste from Wikipedia)


I am only aware of the Hindu and Sikh religion and in both the prayers end with praying for the good of every one. Have copy pasted a bit about the Praying for all done by Hindus & Sikhs below. Am sure there is something similar in other religions and hope the readers will add it in the comments.

The Sikh concept of "Sarbaht dah Phahla" which means "blessings for everyone" or literally "May everyone Prosper".
This statement is repeated by all practising Sikhs at least twice daily (if not more) as part of their Nitnem (daily prayers). This concept is central to Sikhism and forms a very important and essential role in the religious philosophy of the Sikh Gurus.
To put this in concise and clear language, it means that the Sikh desires, prays and asks God for the:
  • Well being of all of humanity
  • Prosperity for everyone in the worldwide community   and
  • Global Peace for the entire planet
A true Sikh selflessly prays daily for "all to prosper". This gesture comes from the clear and pure teaching of Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) and forms the Gurmat code of conduct. Gurbani tells us that there are no "others"There is only One. The same One God resides within all. We are all the children of that One God. As the potter makes pots of different forms and colors from the same basic clay; and as the goldsmith moulds jewellery of various types, colors and shapes from the same single homogenous material, gold; similarly, we are all born of the same One Light. There is no difference.
  • "Nanak Naam Chardikala, teraa bhanaa Sarbaht dah Phahla"
  •  which can be translated as "Nanak asks for 'Naam' (name of God) with which comes well being, happiness and positive spirit and with your blessings, Lord may everyone in the world prosper and be in peace" or can be broken down as:
  • Nanak, With Naam comes Chardi Kala and with your blessings, may there be peace for all
All Sikhs narrate this prayer called the Ardas (final request/prayer to God) at least twice a day. In the ardas, the Sikhs say the following line near the end of the Ardas:-
(part of the Ardas performed daily by all practising Sikhs)

Similarly a simple prayer "lokah samastha sukhino bhavanthu" is what most Hindu's will do at the end of a prayer ceremony or any spiritual gathering.

Let's look more closely at the meaning of each word of this invocational mantra:
lokah: location, realm, all universes existing now
samastah: all beings sharing that same location
sukhino: centered in happiness and joy, free from suffering
bhav: the divine mood or state of unified existence
antu: may it be so, it must be so (antu used as an ending here transforms this mantra into a powerful pledge)
May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.
This is a prayer each one of us can practice every day. It reminds us that our relationships with all beings and things should be mutually beneficial if we ourselves desire happiness and liberation from suffering. No true or lasting happiness can come from causing unhappiness to others. No true or lasting freedom can come from depriving others of their freedom. If we say we want every being to be happy and free, then we have to question everything that we do-how we live, how we eat, what we buy, how we speak, and even how we think.

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