An Invitation to Write an Aspiration Prayer for the 26th Kagyu Monlam

At the 26th Kagyu Monlam we plan to line the outer circuit with special prayer flags, displaying prayers of aspiration written by ordinary people.

If you would like to write an aspiration prayer to be used at Kagyu Monlam:

the prayer can be short, just a few lines;
it shouldn’t be longer than 100 words;
it can be prose or poetry;
it can be in any of the following languages: Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Korean, Spanish, or Tibetan;
it should have a clear theme.

we need prayers on as many topics as possible.

Examples:
A.The aspiration prayer offered by Gyalwang Karmapa at Ground Zero:

Through peaceful hearts,
Peaceful feelings,
And peaceful intelligence,
May this world truly move
From darkness to light.

B. A prayer for children by Hesga Weibes

May you live in peace and freedom.
May you grow up in love and feeling secure.
May you be healthy in body and mind.
May you have clear water, clean air, natural and healthy nourishment.
May you recognize your uniqueness and individuality.
May you have righteous and good guidance in your teachers and people you admire.
May you be able to exchange views and live in respect and friendship with others.
May you be free of violence.
May you treasure and protect all other living creatures
For the benefit of everything and everyone!

C. A Prayer for Soldiers by Karma Choephel.

We pray that we might clear the rubble
of what you’ve seen and done
off of your heart;
That we can cut the sinews snarled
around the smoldering lump
sunk in your gut;
That you will never see again
that face, those eyes, falling,
falling—
May a light rain
rinse clean your face
so all might see a pure luminous being at peace.

Some suggested themes are:

Prayers for those who suffer from illness
Prayers for all religions
Prayers for those who suffer from war and conflict
Prayers for animals who suffer as a consequence of human actions
Prayers for teachers
Prayers for students
Prayers for children
Prayers for our friends
Prayers for our enemies
Prayers for those who are oppressed and live in fear
Prayers for healers and patients
Prayers for soldiers
Prayers for the elderly
Prayers for our parents and families
Prayers for scientists and scholars
Prayers for political leaders
Prayers for religious leaders
Prayers for nuns
Prayers for monks
Prayers for the poor and dispossessed
Prayers for those in prison
Prayers for the planet
Prayers for the environment
Prayers for peace
Prayers for aborted foetuses

Please send your aspiration prayer to: 26thprayers@kagyumonlam.org
The deadline for prayers is the beginning of October 2008

The total prayers we have received:

Chinese	English	French	German	Hindi	Korean	Spanish	Tibetan
192	110	55	85	1	11	34	2