Power of Prayer and Positive Intention - Sharing the Sacred
As we nurture the spirit of URI, let us renew the power of prayer and positive intention that unites our global community and awakens our hearts and souls. See the full series of posts here.
Sharing the Sacred
In URI we share the sacred with diverse voices, practices, and feelings. Every member of URI brings unique expressions of prayer, meditation, ritual, and reflection.
With gratitude to Gard Jameson, professor of Chinese and Indian philosophy and active URI member in North America, for sharing the following prayer; and to Qutub Kidwai, Regional Coordinator for URI West India, for sharing a passage from an Islamic Surah (Al Quran 2:177/178).
From Gard:
blessed attitude
may my will always surrender
to the glorious and inspiring presence of God
humbly, gratefully to receive the grace
of unconditional love, unfailing forgiveness, and matchless goodwill
may my yearning gently aspire
to a larger awareness of truth
to the incarnation of righteousness
to love mercy, to do justice, to walk humbly with God
may my meekness rest in the trust
of an unshakeable faith in God,
enduring all things through divine goodness
being patient and kind with all
may my heart and mind be pure
that I might have eyes to see
that I might have ears to hear
that still, small voice that whispers: I love you
From Qutub:
This is such a beautiful verse from Chapter 2: Surah Baqarah, verses: 177/178, on being compassionate to those around us.
Goodness does not consist in turning your face towards East or West. The truly good are those who believe in God and the Last Day, in the angels, the Scripture, and the prophets; who give away some of their wealth, however much they cherish it, to their relatives, to orphans, the needy, travelers and beggars, and to liberate those in debt and bondage; those who keep up the prayers and pay the prescribed alms; who keep pledges whenever they make them; who are steadfast in misfortune, adversity, and times of danger. These are the ones who are true, and it is they who are aware of God. (Al Quran 2:177/178)