All of us here at the Peacemakers' Circle and the URI-SEAP Regional office are pained at the turn of events in Gaza. Our heartfelt sympathies and prayers go to all who are suffering as a result of this conflict.
Here in the Philippines we had a long holiday break and so many were out of the city to spend time with their families. On Tuesday (Jan. 6, 2009) we were able to gather for our regular Tuesday Inner Work Circle (TIWC) and we unanimously decided to use the time to pray and send peace and love vibrations to all in the conflict zone in the Middle east.
During the evening we came up with an appeal, prayer, poem and a peace mandala which we are sending to you below.
Other actions planned:
In peace,
Shakun,
Orlan and Sarah
The Tuesday Inner Work Circle (TIWC) of the Peacemakers’ Circle CC had its first gathering of the new year on Tuesday 6th January. Pained and distressed by the news coming from Gaza, the group unanimously agreed to give one hour to send thoughts of love, peace and healing to all our suffering brothers and sisters in Gaza.
We offer these gifts of love to all our brothers and sisters in Gaza, Palestine and Israel.
AN APPEAL FOR PEACE IN GAZA
We offer to all souls distressed by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the universal teaching of love and compassion.
We pray for the understanding from both sides of the Israelis and the Palestinians. Now is the time to end the cycle of hatred and violence. Life is truly beautiful despite many hardships we face to be filled with hatred.
We are among the many people in this world who wish and pray for the cessation of hostilities from both sides and for the wellbeing of all people – every civilian, every soldier, every leader, every victim.
We suffer as they suffer because we are one together as brothers and sisters in one global family.
The call is to focus all efforts for peace in the conflict region for the good of all with the freewill and agreement of all and in harmony with universal and global concerns for all on Earth and according to the will, trust and love of God for all life on Earth and beyond.
Peace is the natural state of being. Conflict is an artificial way of relating to each other.
The peace of the self, is the peace of one
The peace of one is the peace of the other
The peace of the other is the peace of the many
The peace of the many is the peace of the land
The peace of the land is the peace of the planet
The peace of the planet is the peace of the Cosmos!
May we be the peace that we wish to see in the world!
May peace prevail on earth!
(Painting by Dana Andersen, copied from www.awakeningarts.com)
A PRAYER FOR PEACE
(Compiled by the Tuesday Inner Work Circle on January 6, 2009)
O Lord of all Life, Light, and Love
Hear our prayers for all our brothers and sisters in Gaza, Palestine, and Israel:
We pray that love will prevail in Israel and Palestine
Love for life
Love for justice
Love for others
regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or nationality.
We pray that our leaders would reach the point of spiritual maturity to find peaceful means to end the crisis.
We pray that those who are in a position to end this conflict know that we are all custodians of your creation and must learn to live with love and compassion for our fellow beings and protect the innocent.
We pray that there be an end to this process of mutual conflicts and that humanity would practice the ways of mutual life giving.
Let understanding and acceptance of each other reign-
May we see clearly each one’s own true worth through God’s eyes
May we keep the light of peace shining
Rather than keep the fires of hatred burning
May the bitterness and grief of our world be resolved amicably
and may peace prevail on earth.
A POEM FOR PEACE
(Composed by Satinder Singh, a Sikh youth, during the TIWC (01/06/09)
We are people from one earth,
One mother gave us birth
She takes care of us all as common child,
But when we grow up and we become wild.
We start fighting
Border cables are tightening.
No one cares about the Mother
Saying it doesn’t matter.
Peace, love, religion, brotherhood has flown away,
There is no one to show the way.
Brother and brother become enemy
Divided themselves as many
Oh, God please come down,
See what man has made here down.
Please send the prophet again,
For peace on this earth to reign again.
May Peace prevail in Gaza and whole of this earth
Nanak Naam Chardi Kala
Tere Bhane Sarbat da Bhala
A MANDALA FOR PEACE IN GAZA
(Group art work during the TIWC (01/06/09)
participants:
Shakun Vaswani (Hindu)
Sarah Queblatin (Catholic-Interfaith)
Orlan de Guzman, Jr. (Multifaith-Indigenous)
Renz Zamora (Eckankar)
Edwin Bong dela Torre (Universal-Indigenous)
Ansan Lee (Jeung San Do)
Christy Palacio (Protestant Christian)
Satinder Singh (Sikh)
Mark Lopez (Buddhist)
