Baha’i Quotations on Peace and Justice
O SON OF SPIRIT! The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes. – Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah
The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established. – Baha’u’llah
Buddhist Prayers for Peace
Why did I previously commit those actions,
Because of which, others now cause me harm?
Since everything is related to my actions,
Why should I bear malice towards these (enemies)?
When I have seen this to be so,
I should strive for what is meritorious
(In order to) certainly bring about
Loving thoughts between all.
For example, when a fire in one house
Has moved into another house,
It is right to get rid of straw and such things
That will cause the fire to spread.
Likewise, when the fire of hatred spreads
To whatever my mind is attached to,
I should immediately get rid of it
For fear of my merit being burned.
Shantideva’s A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of
Life, Chapter 6 on Patience: Verses 68-71
Hindu Quotations on Peace
The whole world is a big family. – The core of Hinduism. “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakum.”
“God has created a charming diversity of humanity in the olive-colored, dark, yellow, red and white races in order that man may solve the riddle of apparent differences and please Him by forming a United States of the World.” – Swami Paramhansa Yogananda
That knowledge by which one undivided spiritual nature is seen in living all entities, though they are divided into innumerable forms, you should understand to be on mode of goodness. Consciousness is when we feel the suffering of every creature within our own hearts. – Bhagavad Gita
The consciousness in you and the consciousness in me, apparently two, really one, seek unity and that is love. – Swami Nisargadatta Maharaj
A Christian Prayer for Peace
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”
“But I say to you that hear, love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who abuse you. To those who strike you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from those who take away your cloak, do not withhold your coat as well. Give to everyone who begs from you, and of those who take away your goods, do not ask them again. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”
An Islamic Prayer for Peace and Quotes on Justice
In the Name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful: 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 that we may despise each other. If the enemy incline towards peace, do thou also incline towards peace, and trust in God, for the Lord is one that hears and knows all things. And the servants of God Most Gracious are those who walk on the Earth in humility, and when we address them, we say, “Peace.”
“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though the justice be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a better Protector to both (rich and poor). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice, and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever knowing of what you do”. (Holy Quran 4:135)
It takes courage to be a witness against yourself, or loved ones or against rich and powerful. The holy Quran explicitly tells you to have the courage to be just.
“You who believe, be steadfast in your devotion to God and bear witness impartially: do not let hatred of others lead you away from justice, but adhere to justice, for that is closer to awareness of God. Be mindful of God: God is well aware of all that you do.” (Holy Quran 5:8)
A Jain Prayer for Peace
Peace and Universal Love is the essence of the Gospel preached by all the Enlightened Ones. The Lord has preached that equanimity is the Dharma. I forgive all creatures, and may all creatures forgive me. Unto all have I amity, and unto none, enmity. Know that violence is the root cause of all miseries in the world. Violence in fact is the knot of bondage. “Do not injure any living being.” This is the eternal, perennial, and unalterable way of spiritual life. A weapon, however powerful it may be, can always be superseded by a superior one; but no weapon can be superior to nonviolence and love.
A Jewish Prayer for Peace
Come, let us go to the mountain of the Lord, that we may walk the paths of the Most High. And we shall beat our swords into ploughshares and our spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more. And none shall be afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts has spoken.
A Native African Prayer for Peace
Almighty God, the Great Thumb we cannot evade to tie any knot, the Roaring Thunder that splits mighty trees, the all-seeing Lord on high who sees even the footprints of an antelope on a rock mass here on Earth, you are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call. You are the cornerstone of peace.
A Native American Prayer for Peace
O Great Spirit of our Ancestors, we raise the pipe to you, to your messengers the four winds, and to Mother Earth who provides for your children. Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect, to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mind. Let us learn to share all the good things that you provide for us on this Earth.
Sathya Sai Baba on Peace and Justice
1. Let us grow together, move and learn together, develop intelligence and attain noble goals together, without any conflict and let us live in friendship. This is the true meaning of equality. This equality gives peace. Without equality, there will be only enmity, differences, and duality. The feelings within your heart are important. Hence, perform all spiritual practices with purity of heart. The path of love is the noblest.
2. Now all things have gone up in value; man alone has become cheap. He has become cheaper than animals; he is slaughtered in millions without any qualm, because of the terrific growth of anger, hate and greed; he has forgotten his unity with all men, all beings and all worlds. The contemplation of that unity alone can establish world peace, social peace and peace in the individual.
3. When man thinks good, speaks good and does good, Peace will ensue.
4. Only through justice and righteous living, God’s Grace can be won. Wealth, scholarship and power cannot earn it.
5. If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation.
When there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.
A Shinto Prayer for Peace
Although the people living across the ocean surrounding us, I believe, are all our brothers and sisters, why are there constant troubles in this world? Why do winds and waves rise in the ocean surrounding us? I only earnestly wish that the wind will soon puff away all the clouds which are hanging over the tops of the mountains.
A Sikh Prayer for Peace
God judges us according to our deeds, not the coat that we wear. Truth is above everything, but higher still is truthful living. Know that we attain God when we love, and only that victory endures in consequence of which no one is defeated.
A Zoroastrian Prayer for Peace
We pray to God to eradicate all the misery in the world, that understanding triumph over ignorance, that generosity triumph over contempt, and that truth triumph over falsehood.