Crisis and Peace

2/25/2003

Speech for the National Peace Prayer at Washington D.C. by Master Sheng Yen, Litt. D., founder of the Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association and co-chair of the World Council of Religious Leaders

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I would like to extend my sincerest blessing to everyone and the world, may the year 2003 be blessed with peace, happiness and bliss. I am unable to attend this prayer assembly personally because I am not in the U.S.A. Therefore, I have entrusted Bhikshu Guo Yuan, my disciple to deliver this address on my behalf. 

As a result of natural disasters, according to the data published by the Munich Assurance Company, the world suffered as much as US$55 billion in financial losses and more than 11,000 human lives were lost; these included victims of the floods in Eastern and Central Europe, the earthquake of Afghanistan, and the heat wave in India. As a consequence, many victims lost their homes, family and friends. This trend is acclerating compared to the past six years. In addition to natural disasters, threats of warfare, terrorist attacks, traffic accidents and high death rates due to the outbreak of diseases have caused loss of lives and resources, creating a sense of threat to the security of the human race. 

Therefore, we are gathered here, today, to pray and implore people of the earth to pray together sincerely: "May there be peace on earth, stability in society, security in nations, and peace in everyone's mind".

Although praying is beneficial, however, if the notion of peace is absent in people's minds and their actions are not devoted towards peace, then, the word "peace" becomes just a meaningless slogan.

We must synchronize our minds and actions together with the objectives of our prayers. However, if one's mind is filled with conflicts and disagreements on religions, culture, politics, economics, society, etc., and, if one's mind is filled with conflicts and confusions between selfish desires and public welfare; one will be divergent against the objectives of one's prayers. Although the all-loving God and the compassionate Buddha will always extend their hands to help the human race, however, if the thoughts and actions of the human race is manifested out of hatred instead of compassionate love, selfish coveting instead of giving, opposition instead of tolerance, discrimination instead of respect, jealousy and suspicion instead of trust; then we are in opposition from the objective of our prayer. This opposition is not because God is unloving, or the Buddha is uncompassionate, it is because we, humans, have confused the direction of peace and joy. 

Therefore, let us pray and devote ourselves for peace and a beautiful and peaceful tomorrow will definitely manifest in our world.