In the spirit of tolerance this 9th anniversary of September 11th, and World Day of Prayer this week, I am posting James Twyman’s compellation of prayers of peace from the world’s 12 major religions (in no particular order.) It’s interesting to see how all people, no matter their religion, and even those who are decidedly unreligious (think John Lennon’s song, Imagine: “Imagine all the people living life in peace…”) deeply desire to feel inner peace, to love, and to live in a peaceful world.  If we could only focus more on our desire for peace more than our desire for revenge or fear…well, imagine what the world could be.

Jewish Prayer

Oh come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, that we may walk the paths of the Most High. And we will beat our swords into ploughshares and our spears into pruning hooks.

Christian Prayer

Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who abuse you. Blessed be the Peacemakers, for they shall be called the Children of God.

Muslim Prayer

Praise be to the Lord of the Universe, who has created us and made us into tribes and nations that we may know each other, not despise each other.

Sikh Prayer

Know that we attain God when we love, and only that victory endures in consequence of which no one is defeated.

Native American Prayer

Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect and to be kind to one another, so that we may grow with peace in mind.

Buddhist Prayer

May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind quickly be freed from their illnesses.  May all beings swiftly attain Buddhahood.

Hindu Prayer

Oh God, lead us from the unreal to the Real. Oh God, lead us from darkness to light. Oh God, lead us from death to immortality.  Shanti, Shanti Shanti, unto all.

Zoroastrian Prayer

We pray to God that understanding will triumph over ignorance, that generosity will triumph over indifference, that trust will triumph over contempt, and that truth will triumph over falsehood.

Jainist Prayer

Peace and universal love is the essence of all the Gospels. Forgive do I creatures all, and let all creatures forgive me.

Native African Prayer

You are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call, you are the cornerstone of peace.

Shinto Prayer

We earnestly wish that the wind will soon puff away all the clouds hanging over the tops of the mountains.

Baha’i Prayer

Be a breath of life unto the body of humankind, a dew upon the soil of the human heart, and a fruit upon the tree of humility.