Praying with the Religions of the World
Following this, seven prayer leaders were introduced on stage for the SOPP’s core program, Praying with the Religions of the World, which brings together prayer leaders from different faiths and spiritual traditions to lead all participants in prayers for peace from their own traditions. With religious and spiritual leaders praying each other’s prayers, and participants joining in as well, the program sends a powerful message of interfaith harmony and unity. Each prayer leader offered a prayer on their own first, and then participants were invited to join in praying a shorter prayer.
Fr. Rocco Viviano(Christianity—Catholicism)
Interreligious Dialogue Coordinator at Xaverian Missionaries
Spoken by Fr. Viviano in English
Almighty God and Creator of all that exists, we praise and give thanks to you, who are the Father of all people on earth. Father, out of love for all humanity, you sent your only Son Jesus Christ into the world.
He became one with us, so that we may share in your life. Christ is your Word who brings salvation, the hand you extend to sinners, the path by which you offer us your peace. Although the human race is divided by dissension and discord, we believe that you can change our hearts and prepare them for reconciliation.
By your Spirit you move the hearts of men and women, so that enemies may speak to each other again, adversaries join hands, and peoples seek to meet together. God our Father, we pray, send forth your Spirit to work in the hearts of your children, so that enemies may begin to dialogue, that adversaries may shake hands and peoples may encounter one another in harmony.
Give peace, O Lord, to all who seek you with a sincere heart, and guide us in the way of justice, without which there can be no peace. Merciful Father, grant that all people may be united in a single family and become brothers and sisters. Guide with your wisdom those who decide the fate of the nations; enlighten our rulers that they may protect your gift of peace.
May your peace blossom forth and be always among us. We ask you this, God our Father, through your Son Jesus Christ, who is God, who is one with you and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
Spoken by Fr. Viviano with refrain spoken by all, in English
Into our hearts, Send forth your peace, O Lord.
Where there is hatred, Send forth your peace, O Lord.
Where there is violence, Send forth your peace, O Lord.
Where there is war, Send forth your peace, O Lord.
Where there is injustice, Send forth your peace, O Lord.
Where there is darkness, Send forth your peace, O Lord.
To all creation, Send forth your peace, O Lord.
To our families, Send forth your peace, O Lord.
To our societies and religions, Send forth your peace, O Lord.
To all your children, Send forth your peace, O Lord.
Now and forever, Send forth your peace, O Lord.
Mr. Mark N. Zion(Judaism)
Associate Professor at Tama University, Japan
Spoken by Mr. Zion in Hebrew
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures: He leads me to water in places of repose;
He renews my life; He guides me in the right paths, as befits His name.
Though I walk through a valley of deepest darkness
I fear no harm, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff — they comfort me.
You spread a table before me in full view of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; my drink is abundant.
Only goodness and steadfast love shall pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for many years.
Sung by all in Hebrew
I have set Hashem always before me.
I have set YudHeahWevHeah always before me.
With Eternal Love You Have Loved Us!
With Eternal Love!
Imam Muhammed Rasit Alas(Islam)
Imam at Tokyo Camii (Mosque) and Turkish Cultural Center
Sung by Imam Alas in Arabic
Call to prayer
God is the Greatest.
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah.
I bear witness that Muhammed is the messenger of God.
Come to the prayer. Come to success.
God is the greatest.
There is no god but Allah.
Spoken by all in Japanese
Allah, unite our hearts and set aright our mutual affairs. Guide us to the path of peace.
Mr. Masahiko Dobashi(Shintoism)
Chief Priest of Hitoana Sengen Shrineand Kamiide Soga Hachimangu Shrine
Spoken by Mr. Dobashi in Japanese
Bowing down before the great divinity Konohana-no-Sakuyahime-no-Mikoto enshrined in the grand Fujihitoana Sengen Shrine at the foot of the sacred Mount Fuji, and all the other divinities, I offer my prayer in awe of your greatness.
The year 2019 of the Christian calendar coincides with the imperial calendar year of 2679, and this Symphony of Peace Prayers is taking place in this very year, at the headquarters of Byakko Shinko Kai here at the foot of sacred Mount Fuji.
During the Second World War, this land was used as a training ground for the Kamiide Junior Tank Academy, where tanks drove around and cannon-shells flew in every direction.
Today, more than 70 years after the war, this land is free of conflict and has become a place of prayer, dedicated to world peace. In this sanctified venue for today’s celebration, we come together, hand in hand, to proclaim eternal peace and to pray for the protection of all the many divinities.
Oh great divinities, please purify us, cleanse us, protect us from evil, and bring happiness upon us.
Spoken by all in Japanese
Cleanse and purify us.
Protect and bless us.
Rev. Yuchi Kitagawa(Buddhism)
Chief Priest of Garyozan Shugakuin Kokeji; Environmental Counselor registered with the Japanese Ministry of the Environment
Spoken by the Rev. Kitagawa in Japanese
Imagine the color blue behind you.
Blue is a cool color. The clear sea and sky depict the world as it is.
Imagine the color yellow on your left.
Yellow is a brightly shining color. Every life on earth shines equally, like gold. We are all equal in this universe.
Imagine the color red in front of you.
Red is the color of affection. Because we differ from each other in many ways, we need friendship and affection to make up for these differences.
Imagine the color green on your right. Green is the activity of young sprouts coming up. Originally, activity means putting others above oneself and doing things for others.
Any light or color can be reproduced by mixing blue, yellow, red, and green.
This rich diversity is seen in us human beings, in the diversity of life on earth, and throughout the universe.
Yes, we are human beings.
Yes, we are part of the earth.
Yes, we are part of the universe.
I would like to give my gratitude to this color scheme today, while thinking of blue, yellow, red, and green.
Great and true mantra, mysterious mantra, highest mantra, unmatched mantra.
Let us recite the mantra of the Heart Sutra seven times together:
Spoken by all in Sanskrit
Gone, gone, gone all the way over, everyone gone to the other shore. Welcome, enlightenment! (Repeated seven times)
Ms. Shantisree Goswami(Hinduism)
Hindu spiritual leader
Spoken by Ms. Goswami in Sanskrit
May there be tranquility on the earth. May there be tranquility in the water.
May there be tranquility in fire. May there be tranquility in the wind.
May there be tranquility in the sky. May there be tranquility in the sun.
May there be tranquility in the moon. May there be tranquility on our planet.
May there be tranquility in all living things. May there be tranquility in the body.
May there be tranquility in the mind. May there be tranquility in the spirit.
Tranquility of all. May that tranquility be everywhere and in everyone.
You are my father and mother, You are my relative and friend,
You are my learning and wealth, You are my all in all.
Salutations to OM which Pervades everything (the three realms—that which is below, that which is earthly, that which is heavenly).
May we meditate on the Sun. May the Sun stimulate our Intellect and set us in the right direction so that the right learning can be had, for the benefit of all.
Spoken by all in Sanskrit
Om — peace, peace, peace.
Lastly, Masami Saionji, Chairperson of Byakko Shinko Kai, read an original poem called “Creation of the Universe” and then led participants in the prayer May peace prevail on Earth.
Spoken by Mrs. Saionji in Japanese
Creation of the Universe
When we quiet our mind and pray, we feel the prayerful life of all living things.
Our prayers become the energy of love and healing, embracing the Earth, humanity, and all living things, and bringing all back to life.
The creation of a new planet Earth begins.
Even when human beings forget to pray, the earth, the seas,
the mountains, and all living things go on praying
For the time when humanity will awaken.
When we quiet our mind and pray, we feel the prayerful life of all living things.
Our prayers become light, illuminating the divinity in each and every human being.
At that time, the Earth, humanity, all life and all living things become one,
And a new symphony of life resonates with the Universe.
Spoken by all in Japanese
May peace prevail on Earth (repeated seven times).
Following these prayers, participants were asked to close their eyes and pray silently for a minute, letting the combined energy of the peace prayers from these seven faiths and spiritual traditions resonate to all parts of the world.