LIGHT OF TRUTH
UNIVERSAL SERVICE MANUAL
Bringing Sri Swami Satchidananda’s
Interfaith Vision into the World
© 2016 Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Inc.
Light of Truth Universal Service Manual
Contents
Interfaith Message by Sri Swami
Satchidananda...................................................1
1. Introduction……………………………...…………..........…………………..........3
2. Summaries of World Faiths………………………………...………………………4
3. Forms and Benefits of
Prayer…………………………….................................24
4. Multifaith Prayer…………………………………………………………………...25
• Occasions for Multifaith Prayer
• Purposes and Benefits of Multifaith Prayer
5. Guidelines for Organizing a Light of Truth Universal
Service..………………26
• Initial Preparation
• Worship Site
• Rehearsal and Sound Amplification
• Prelude and Processional
• The Service
• Closing of the Service
- Offerings
- Conclusion
• Evaluation
6. Other Multifaith Prayer Rituals…………………………………………………...30
• World Peace Ritual
• New Year’s Eve Ritual
• Thanksgiving Service
- Procedure
- Props
7. Multifaith Resources.………………………………………………………………35
• Online Websites
• Books
• DVDs,
• Chant CDs,
• Items
• Organizations
• Other Resources
Interfaith Message by Sri Swami Satchidananda
In essence we are one. We are all related to each other. All we
have to do is to understand that and to experience it. We are related
in Spirit. If we see the Spirit in ourselves, we will realize we are
all one. Your true nature is that of a spiritual and divine being. We
are essentially spiritual beings made in the image of God. We are all
the expressions of God. God multiplied into various forms and names.
So, we can say we are the family of God; we are all sisters and
brothers. We are all different colors, sizes, and shapes on the
outside but inside the same light shines. We may look different, but
if we see the Spirit, we realize, “I am you; you are me; we are one.”
We should rise above all the differences and distinctions and see
our spiritual oneness. We should learn to love each other, learn to
love everyone equally. We should open our minds and hearts. Even just
focusing on this one thought, “I belong to the whole world and the
entire world is my family,” will make one so happy and peaceful.
Know that we are all one in Spirit; essentially, we are one
appearing as many. The moment that kind of understanding comes, almost
all other problems, both physical and material, will be solved.
Anything to bring this knowledge to people is the greatest deed. Any
charity that is used for this purpose is the best form of charity. If
we work toward real universal love and understanding we are going to
the very root of other problems. Do what you can for this cause. Learn
to care and share, to love and give, and inspire others by your
example.
We need to use the spiritual teachings of our chosen faith to
help us have real love for one another. It is religion that should
help us to understand the spiritual oneness, to make us feel more at
home as one family. If there is anyone who separates another
individual, saying to that person, “You are different from me,” using
religion to make that claim, then he or she is not a religious person
at all.
In order to have a better world, we must learn to think of the
globe as a whole. Your neighbor is God in a visible form. Let us have
communion with our neighbors- next door and around the globe. Let us
feel that the whole world is our home and that everyone is our brother
and sister. It’s time to know each other and to live as one global
family. To make the world right, each individual should find the ease
and peace in his or her life. Once you have that peace, others will
find many things for you to do to serve the world. Think that you are
a nice instrument, ready to be used for the good of all.
Living and working together as one beautiful family with total
love is God. Real spiritual experience means moving around with a
smiling, loving face. To see the spirit in others, and to love
everyone. To rise above the differences of the lower nature and to
bring harmony wherever you are. Ultimately, everyone should love you.
Resolve that “I will live the kind of life that will make everybody
love me, and I will love them.” If that happens in your life, you will
know that you are growing spiritually.
A real spiritual experience means to see the unity in diversity.
See the same Spirit in everything. Be gentle; be nice; be loving. See
your own Self in all and treat everything properly. That is how to
show the unity in diversity visibly and powerfully.
Thinking about these kinds of situations has made me pray, “God, use
me in any way you want. I would like to see that in Your name, we
become one family.” If we want to be happy we should work for the
happiness of all people everywhere. That is the only way to achieve
real peace and contentment.
My prayer is always that universal love will light our paths.
Every day when you pray, repeat: “May auspiciousness, peace, fullness,
prosperity, happiness be unto all. May all see good in everyone. May
all be free from suffering. May the whole world be filled with peace
and joy, love and light.” When you say this, it’s not just your words;
you really have to feel it, visualize it. It should be heartfelt when
you send your energy out to the world. All prayers will bring benefit,
so let us wholeheartedly pray for our world. Let us spend at least a
few minutes each day in meditation. To me, those are the most
important minutes.
These peaceful vibrations will help millions of peace-less minds.
Your peaceful vibrations, although you may not even realize their
effect, will certainly help many people. You will be helping the whole
world to find peace and joy. Let your actions help bring out that
cosmic beauty and help to build a better world.
Sri Swami Satchidananda
Integral Yoga Magazine, Spring
2005
Introduction
This manual is by the LOTUS Center for All Faiths (LCAF).
Established in 1995, with the blessings of Sri Swami Satchidananda,
LCAF serves as the interfaith educational and outreach arm of LOTUS.
Over the years, LCAF has hosted many presenters from the various world
faiths. There have been inspiring presentations on individual faiths,
as well as interfaith services and panels. The Lotus Prayer Book,
compiled by Swami Karunananda, was re-printed in 1995. Through the
efforts of Rev. Prem Anjali, we have the following items: LOTUS–Light
Of Truth Universal Shrine book, Many Paths, One Truth: The 1977 Yoga
Ecumenical Service DVD, and, the web site, www.lotus.org. Rev. Kumari
de Sachy authored A Vision of Peace: The Interfaith Teachings of Sri
Swami Satchidananda. The LOTUS Display Hall was re-designed by Swami
Jyotirmayananda. Swami Sarvaananda established our interfaith service
at the annual Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) conference.
LCAF is an organizational member of the renowned United Religions
Initiative (URI) and the North American Interfaith Network (NAIN) and
has participated in NAIN conferences in Richmond, VA, Atlanta, GA,
Toronto, and San Francisco. In 2015, LCAF participated in the
Parliament of World Religions in Salt Lake City, which was attended by
10,000 interfaith aspirants. Since 9/11, many more interfaith
organizations have developed around the world, promoting interfaith
harmony and co-operation. LCAF is among several interfaith
organizations, specializing in a multifaith prayer service.
The Light of Truth Universal Service (LOTUS), formerly known as
the Yoga Ecumenical Service (YES), is an important cornerstone of Sri
Swami Satchidananda’s interfaith vision and mission. This dynamic
service has touched the hearts of thousands of spiritual seekers who
have had the opportunity to participate in one.
The Light of Truth Universal Service Manual is a guide and
resource for those wishing to arrange and conduct the service.
Included are:
• Detailed summaries of the world faiths represented at LOTUS
• Practical and logistical tools for organizing and overseeing
a Light of Truth Universal Service
• Other multifaith prayer rituals
• Comprehensive list of multifaith resources
The following terminology is currently used to describe
interfaith activities:
• “Multifaith” refers to any activity, group, gathering, or
program comprised of people of different religious, faith,
or wisdom traditions.
• “Interfaith” describes the process of people, who are
committed to their respective faiths and spiritual paths,
coming together for the purpose of joint projects, mutual
understanding, appreciation and enrichment.
• “Ecumenical” is now used to describe the movement unify all
Christians.
• “Interspirituality” refers to the common heritage of
humankind’s spiritual wisdom and the sharing of wisdom
resources across traditions.
SUMMARIES OF WORLD FAITHS
HINDUISM:
“In the effulgent Lotus of the heart dwells Brahman, the Light of Lights.”
– Upanishads
Founded: Hinduism, the world’s oldest religion, predates recorded history.
Founder: Hinduism has no human founder.
Major Scriptures: The Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the
Ramayana
Adherents: Over 950 million worldwide, mostly in South and Southeast Asia
about 14% of the world’s population.
Sects: Shaivism, Shaktism and Vaisnavism as well as non-sectarian forms.
Places of Worship: Hindu Temples and in the home.
Synopsis: Hinduism is a vast, self-evolved and profound religion. The
roots of Hinduism, known as Sanatana Dharma, or the eternal religion, can
be traced to the Rig Veda, perhaps humanity’s earliest spiritual text.
Ancient rishis (seers) “discovered” the four Vedas in deep meditation: no
individual can be called the author of these ideas. The Vedas refer to the
One Supreme Reality, Formless and Changeless: Brahman. Vishnu is the
sustaining, preserving and protecting aspect of the One Reality and Shiva
represents the aspect of dissolution. Each has a consort representing
aspects of the sacred feminine. Saraswati or Vidya, the goddess of wisdom,
music and learning, is the consort of Brahma. Lakshmi, the goddess of
abundance, both spiritual and material wealth, success and prosperity is
the consort of Vishnu. Parvati, also known as Durga or Kali is the consort
of Shiva, helping to conquer ignorance through purification, awakening
compassion, and truth. The simple praise and wonder of the Vedas flowered
into the philosophy of Vedanta found in the scriptures called the
Upanishads. These truths were expressed in the epic poems, the Ramayana
and Srimad Mahabharata. The portion of the Mahabharata known as the
Bhagavad Gita, is a symbolic dialogue between man and God: it beautifully
describes the human condition and the path to salvation. After many
objections and rationalizations, Arjuna, representing mankind, surrenders
to God in the form of Lord Krishna. By grace, Arjuna is then blessed with
a vision of the Absolute.
Hinduism acknowledges one Supreme Reality (called by many names) and
teaches that all souls ultimately realize Truth. The Light of the Spirit,
is Atman which is never born and never dies. Atma Vidya is the science of
the Self. There is no eternal hell nor damnation. Hinduism is a mystical
religion, leading the devotee to experience the Truth within, finally
reaching the pinnacle of consciousness, oneness with God. It accepts all
genuine spiritual paths –from pure monism (“God alone exists”) to theistic
dualism (“When shall I know His Grace?”). Hinduism teaches that the soul
reincarnates until all karmas are resolved and God-Realization is attained.
Human attachment to earthly things and physical forms creates karma and
necessitates reincarnation. The goal is to become free of the cycles of
rebirth (Moksha). The Hindu concept of karma, the law of action and
reaction, is described in the following passage from the Upanishads: “As is
a person’s desire, so is his will; and as his will, so is his deed; and
whatever deeds he does, that will he reap.” The magnificent holy temples,
the peaceful piety of the Hindu home, subtle metaphysics and the science of
yoga all play their part.
Hindu Beliefs:
1. A one, all-pervasive Supreme Being who is both immanent and
transcendent, both Creator and unmanifest Reality. One Life
permeates the entire Universe and all Creation.
2. The Universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation and
dissolution.
3. All souls are evolving toward union with God and will ultimately find
Moksha, spiritual knowledge and liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
Not a single soul will be deprived of this destiny.
4. Karma, the law of cause and effect by which each individual creates
his own destiny by his thoughts, words and deeds.
5. The soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karmas
have been resolved.
6. Divine beings exist in unseen inner worlds. Temple worship, rituals,
sacred chanting, and personal devotionals, create a communion with
these devas and gods.
7. A spiritually awakened Master or Sat Guru is essential to know the
transcendent Absolute, as are personal discipline, good conduct,
purification, self-inquiry and meditation.
8. All life is sacred to be loved and revered in the practice of ahimsa
or non-violence.
9. No one religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others,
but that all genuine spiritual paths are facets of God’s pure love
and light, deserving tolerance and understanding.
Golden Rule: This is the sum of all duties: do not do to others what would
cause pain if done to you. – Mahabharata, 5:1517
Path of Attainment: Hinduism does not have a central religious authority:
each soul is free to find its own way, whether by devotion, self-inquiry,
self-purification, meditation (yoga) or selfless service. Temple worship,
scripture study and the Guru/disciple tradition guide spiritual progress.
Sacred festivals, pilgrimage, sacred chanting, repetition of the divine
name or mantra, and puja (worship in the temple or home) are dynamic
practices. Love, non-violence, selfless service, good conduct and the law
of dharma characterize the Hindu path. Many Hindus also follow the ancient
teachings of Yoga. Yoga is the Sanskrit word for “yoke” or “union:” a
successful yogi is in a state of union with the Divine. The primary text
of Raja Yoga, the science of the mind, is the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali,
believed to be several thousand years old. It defines yogic methods for
people of active, introspective, intellectual, or devotional natures, as
well as a system of physical postures and meditation practices to promote
mental and physical health. These Yoga practices are based on a moral code
called Yama (abstinence) and Niyama (observance). Through these practices,
liberation can be obtained.
Goal: Moksha (Liberation), Oneness with God.
Major Holy Days and Festivals: Makar Sankranti (Honoring the Sun-God -
January); Shivaratri (Honoring Lord Shiva - February/March); Sri Ramanavmi
(Birthday of Lord Rama - March/April); Guru Purnima (Honoring Gurus -
July/August); Janmashtami (Birth of Lord Krishna - August/September);
Deepavali (Festival of Light - October-November); Ganesh Chaturthi (Birth
of Lord Ganesh – August/September); Durga Puja or Navaratri (Honoring the
Divine Mother, 9 Nights - September/October)
JUDAISM
“The Lord is my Light; whom shall I fear?” – Psalm 27
Founded: Judaism began with the covenant between God and Avraham, around
1900 BC in the Sinai Desert, and later with the revelation to Moshe (Moses)
at Mount Sinai. In addition to Moshe, there are the patriarchs: Avraham,
Yitzchak & Yaakov (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) and the matriarchs Sarah,
Rachel and Leah. Most important among them is the great holy Eliyahu
(Elijah). There are also many great saints, sages and scholars most
notably: The Holy Baal-Shem-Tov – founder of the Hasidic movement,
philosophers – Baruch Spinoza, Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (Maimonides),
Kabbalists – Shimon bar Yochai, Avraham Abulafia, Yitzchak Luria, Moses de
Leon, etc.
Founder: Moshe (Moses c.1393 to 1273 BCE) is considered the greatest
prophet of Judaism.
Major Scriptures: The Torah (Chamesh Chumshe Torah or in simpler terms
Chumash i.e. the five books of Moses); the Talmud (Mishnah and Gemara,
Rabbinic teachings, traditions, discussions and commentaries); Sefer ha-
Zohar (Book of Splendor or radiance) Sefer Yitzirah (Book of Formation or
Creation ascribed to Avraham. One of the most important texts after the
Torah); central texts of the Kabbalah, mystical aspect of Judaism.
Adherents: About 14 million worldwide, the vast majority in the United
States and Israel.
Sects: Hasidism (ultra-orthodox, originating in Eastern Europe in the late
18th century, consisting of many sub sects), Orthodox, Conservative,
Reform, Reconstructionism, Renewal, Karaite, with other regional and ethnic
divisions. The Ashkenazic branch of Judaism has origins in Central and
Eastern Europe. The Sephardic branch has origins in Spain, Turkey, and the
Middle East including Israel, Jordan and, Yemen: it has a different version
of the Talmud and different liturgy, rituals and manners of celebrating the
holidays. There are also very old communities in the Kerala state of India
and Shanghai, China. Other communities of Jews are in Uganda (Abuyudaya)
and Ethiopia (Falasha).
Places of Worship: Synagogues (containing a Holy Ark facing Jerusalem in
which the scrolls of the Torah in Hebrew are kept; along with the Ner Tamid
– Eternal Light, lamp which hangs from the ceiling in front of the Holy
Ark.). The home is also an important place of worship.
Synopsis: Judaism is the oldest of the world’s three great monotheistic
religions and is the parent of both Christianity and Islam. The religion
of the Jews is inseparable from its history. Judaism evolved thousands of
years ago in the desert areas of the Middle East. These nomadic people
settled in the land of Canaan, which they called Yisrael (Israel). How the
people evolved, became enslaved, and finally were delivered by God into the
Promised Land after 40 years of wandering is told in Genesis and Exodus.
The Torah was revealed by God to Moses, the foremost of the Hebrew
prophets. Moses is the law-giver, receiving the Ten Commandments by divine
revelation on Mount Sinai. Much of the Torah traces the lineage of Abraham
through Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and finally to Moses, and the Jewish people
are considered the descendants of Abraham.
The Jewish people believe in one God, Jehovah or Yahweh, from whom all
creation flows. Jehovah is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and
eternal. Jews believe they are a chosen people by virtue of their covenant
with Yahweh: God reveals himself to his people. Emphasis is placed on the
sacredness of daily existence, family, worship in the synagogue, prayer and
study of the Holy Scriptures.
The Shema is the central prayer and affirmation of the Jewish faith, “Hear,
O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. You shall love the Lord your
God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.” –
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
A close-knit family tradition characterizes Judaism. Using the family
unit as a base for religious worship, Judaism does not create a great
division between the sacred and secular worlds; it asserts that any and all
parts of life can, and should, be made holy.
Judaic Beliefs:
1. One God and Creator who is transcendent and beyond the limitation of
form, yet who cares for the world and its creatures.
2. The Prophets, of whom Moses was God’s greatest, and the Commandments,
revealed to him by God on Mount Sinai, are man’s highest law.
3. Elijah is among the most holy and greatest of prophets his name being
invoked at the end of every Sabbath and at the Passover Seder. He is
said to have ascended to heaven in a “Chariot of Fire.”
4. The Torah as God’s word, and scripture as God’s immutable law.
5. Mashiach (The Anointed One, The Messiah) will be a descendent of King
David and will come to bring peace, gather the Jewish people
altogether in one place, and build the third Temple in Israel.
6. God should not be represented in any form (idolatry), nor should any
object or being be worshipped other than the One God, Yahweh.
7. Man’s spiritualization through adherence to the Law, justice, charity
and honesty.
8. God has established a unique spiritual covenant with the Hebrew
people to uphold for mankind the highest standards of monotheism and
piety.
9. The duty of the family to make the home a House of God through
devotions and ritual, prayers, sacred festivals and observation of
the Sabbath.
Golden Rule: What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is
the whole Torah: all the rest is commentary. – Rabbi Hillel, Talmud,
Shabbat 31a
Path of Attainment: It is the highest morality, possible through obedience
to the Torah, which pleases God. One must follow justice, charity, ethics
and honesty, being true to the one true God, Yahweh.
Goal: The goal of Judaism centers around living a moral and ethical life,
and in strict obedience to the Torah, which can alleviate the plight of the
individual and of society, bringing rewards to the future life when the
Messiah will come to overthrow evil and reward the righteous in God’s
kingdom on the earth. The soul thereafter will enjoy God’s presence and
love.
Major Holy Days and Festivals: Shabbat (Sabbath – they have rest for
worship, reading of Torah, and gathering of family); Rosh Hashana (New
Year); Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement); Chanukkah (Festival of Lights);
Pesach (Passover) (Deliverance from enslavement in Egypt); Shavuot (Torah
received by Moshe); Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles, both the harvest festival
and commemorating the end of the trek in desert after the Exodus); Tishah
B’Av (Remembrance of the Destruction of the Temple in AD 70 by the
Romans); Simchat Torah (rejoicing in the Torah – commemorating the end of
the cycle of reading of the Torah).
SHINTO
“The light of Divine Amaterasu shines forever.” – Kurozumi Munetada
Founded: Shinto began around 2,500-3,000 years ago.
Founder: Each of the 13 ancient sects has its own founder.
Major Scriptures: Kokiji (Records of the Ancients), Nihongi (Chronicles of
Japan), and a later work, Yengishiki (Hymns and Prayers), are the primary
works on Shinto rituals and practices, but are not regarded as revealed
scripture.
Adherents: Estimated at 4 million, mostly in Japan; 86% are also
Buddhists.
Sects: There are 13 ancient sects, all very similar, and a later
tradition known as State Shinto, finding its highest expression in the
worship of the Emperor and loyalty to the State and family. Since World War
II, worship of the Emperor has ceased.
Places of Worship: Shrines, in the home, and in Nature.
Synopsis: Shinto, “the Kami Way,” is the indigenous faith of the Japanese
people. Its name comes from the Chinese characters Shin and Tao,
signifying the Way of the Spirits and is called Kami-no-michi in its native
Japan. The essence of life energy in natural phenomena is deified and
worshiped as Kami, the many gods or nature spirits. Deeply connected with
Nature, a Shinto follower finds a healing and purifying power in mountains,
streams, wind, and trees. There are over 100,000 Shinto Shrines in Japan.
In the shrines no images are worshipped, rather it is believed that the
kami themselves are present. Offerings of fresh foods, water, incense,
etc. are brought daily to the altar. There is an inward belief in the
sacredness of the whole of the universe and that all can be in tune with
this sacredness. Shinto emphasizes truthfulness and purification through
which one may remove the “dust” which conceals one’s inherently divine
nature. In this manner, a Shinto follower receives the guidance and
blessings of kami.
Shinto mythology describes the formation of the Japanese Islands as a
result of the union of Izanagi, the male creator, and Izanami, the female
creator. Their daughter, the sun goddess Amaterasu, is the central figure
of many Japanese shrines, including the Grand Shrine of Ise. Of the
100,000 Shinto shrines gracing the Japanese landscape, Ise is unique. This
majestic shrine is dedicated to the highest expression of respect for the
Imperial family and all that is best in the culture, history, and racial
consciousness of the Japanese people. Like other Shinto shrines, Ise has a
torii gate, which separates the mundane world from the purified atmosphere
of the temple. Shinto coexists peacefully with Buddhism in Japan.
Purification is central to Shinto. The ceremony of bathing for
purification is called Misogi. It is ideally practiced in a calm ocean
facing the sun. This harmony with water, the life of Nature, removes the
heavy, impure kegare vibrations. This invisible dross collects as a result
of negative thoughts and emotions and must be removed by the Shintoist to
realize his or her own Kami nature. The mirror also has an important role
in the Shinto path. The goddess Amaterasu told humans to worship the
mirror, which reflects their own image, as if they were worshipping Her
presence. The mirror is the symbol of Amaterasu’s spirit.
“The mirror hides nothing. It shines without a selfish mind. Everything
good and bad, right and wrong, is reflected without fail. The mirror is
the source of honesty because it has the virtue of responding to the shape
of an object. It points out the fairness and impartiality of the divine
will.” – Jinno Shotoki
Shinto Beliefs:
1. The “Way of the Gods”, called Kami-no-Michi, asserts nature’s
sacredness and uniquely reveals the supernatural.
2. There is not a single Supreme Being, but myriad gods, superior
beings, among all the wonders of the universe which is not inanimate
but filled everywhere with sentient life.
3. The scriptural authority of the great books known as the Records of
Ancient Matters, Chronicles of Japan, Institutes of the Period of
Yenji, and Collection of 10,000 Leaves.
4. The sanctity of the cleanliness and purity – of body and spirit – and
that impurity is a religious transgression.
5. The moral and spiritual uprightness as the cornerstone of religious
ethics and in the supreme value of loyalty, particularly to one’s
family and ancestors.
6. The supernatural reveals itself through all that is natural and
beautiful: these are valued above philosophical or theological
doctrine.
7. All that is, is divine Spirit. All are capable of deep affinity with
the Divine.
8. The practical use of ceremony and ritual.
9. The worship of the deities that animate nature, including the Sun
Goddess Amaterasu, Star God and Storm God.
Path of Attainment: Salvation is achieved in Shinto through observance of
all tabus and the avoidance of persons and objects which might cause
impurity or pollution. Prayers are made and offerings brought to the
shrines of the gods and goddesses. A Shintoist has no Supreme God to obey,
but needs only know how to adjust to kami in its various manifestations. A
person’s kami nature survives death, and naturally desires to be worthy of
being remembered with approbation by one’s descendents. Therefore,
fulfillment of duty is an important aspect of Shinto.
Golden Rule: Be charitable to all beings, love is the representative of
God. – Ko-ji-ki
Goal: The primary goal of Shinto is to achieve immortality among the
ancestral beings, the kami. Kami is understood by the Shinto follower as a
supernatural, holy power living in or connected to the world of the spirit.
All living things possess a kami nature, with human beings possessing the
most kami. Salvation is living in the spirit world with these divine
beings, the kami.
Major Holy Days and Festivals: Matsuri- any occasion offering thanks and
praise to a deity at a shrine. There are many seasonal festivals: snow
festival, ice festival, cherry blossom festivals, rice harvest festival,
etc. Oshogatsu is the New Year festival during which the Japanese visit
Shinto shrines.
TAOISM
“Following the Light, the sage takes care of all.” – Lao Tzu
Founded: Taoism predates recorded history.
Founder: Taoism has no specific founder.
Major Scriptures: I Ching (Book of Changes); Tao-te-Ching (Book of Reason
and Virtue).
Adherents: Estimated at 12-20 million, mostly in China and other parts of
Asia, although over 100-200 million practice some Taoist-defined folk faith
in China.
Sects: Taoism is a contemplative, mystical tradition, with many sects
and interpretations.
Places of Worship: Shrines, in which offerings are made, including
incense, food and drink.
Synopsis: The Tao, or Way, is discovered within by the spiritual seeker.
Lao Tzu wrote, “The Tao that can be named is not the eternal Tao.”
Confucius described Lao Tzu as a “dragon riding the winds and clouds.”
Taosim is concerned with man’s spiritual level of being. In the Tao-te-
Ching the awakened man is compared to bamboo: flexible, simple and useful
outside – and hollow inside. Effulgent emptiness is the spirit of Tao, but
no words will capture its spontaneity, its eternal newness. Taoists are
taught to see the Tao everywhere, in all beings and in all things. A
uniquely Taoist concept is wu-wei, non-action, that is, not exceeding
spontaneous action that accords with needs as they naturally arise; not
indulging in calculated action; and not acting so as to exceed the very
minimum required for effective results. By becoming still and listening to
the inner promptings of the Tao, we can act effortlessly, efficiently,
without involvement of the thought.
The Chinese concept of Tao means the unmanifest Source from which all
things spring. It is also the path to union with the subtle realm. The
constant change created by the interplay of the Yin and Yang, or the
negative and positive forces of creation, form the central focus of Taoism.
A Taoist seeks oneness with nature. By being in tune with change, the
individual becomes a quiet spot in the storm of existence. Changes flow
through the Taoist as a ripple in water or wind through leaves. The best
known Taoist master was Lao Tzu. His philosophy promoted Wu-Wei, or non-
action. “Do nothing and everything is done.” Rather than forcing the will
on a situation, a Taoist practicing Wu-Wei lets actions come from the
unconscious. Lao Tzu codified the ancient teachings of Taoism in the Tao
Te Ching. In this slim volume of only 5,000 characters within 81 verses.
The Tao Te Ching is predated by the I Ching, or Book of Changes. The I
Ching presents an interconnected system of relationships affecting every
aspect of life, showing the balance of Yin and Yang. It has been used
throughout the ages to isolate the moment and to predict the future. The
works of Confucius, the I Ching, the Tao Te Ching, and the works of Chuang
Tzu (Zhuang Zhou) are the backbone of Chinese philosophy. The pure Taoism
of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu is based upon reason, virtue, and following the
way of nature. Devoid of dogma and ceremony, pure Taoism was practiced by
mystic hermits and wandering monks. The teachings of pure Taoism can be
summarized in these lines from the Tao Te Ching: “Reveal thy simple self.
Embrace thy original nature. Check thy selfishness. Curtail thy desires.
The best of people are like water; water benefits all things and does not
compete with them. It dwells in lowly places that all disdain—wherein it
comes near the Tao.”
In addition to philosophical Taoism, there are religious sects of Taoism
that focus on virtuous living and ritual, including chanting and the
offering of incense, food, and drink to ancestors and Taoist deities. The
offerings are made at Taoist shrines, homes of divine beings who bless and
protect worshipers. Taoist ceremonies at the shrines are officiated by
Taoist priests. In China the philosophy and religion of Taoism commonly
exist together.
Taoist Beliefs:
1. The Eternal may be understood as the Tao or “Way,” which embraces:
the moral and physical order of the universe; the path of virtue
which Heaven itself follows; and the Absolute —yet so great is it
that “The Tao that can be described is not the Eternal Tao.”
2. The unique greatness of the sage Lao Tzu and in his disciple Chuang
Tzu.
3. The scriptural insights and final authority of the Tao-te-Ching and
in the sacredness of Chuang Tzu’s writing.
4. Man aligns himself with the Eternal when he observes humility,
simplicity, gentle yielding, serenity and effortless action.
5. The goal and the path of life are essentially the same, and that the
Tao can be known only to exalted beings who realize It themselves—
reflections of the Beyond are of no avail.
6. The omniscient and impersonal Supreme is implacable, beyond concern
for human woe, but that there exist lesser divinities, from the high
gods who endure for eons to the nature spirits and demons.
7. All actions create their opposing forces, and the wise will seek
inaction in action.
8. Humanity is among the Ten Thousand Things of manifestation, is finite
and will pass; only Tao endures forever.
9. The oneness of all creation, in the spirituality of the material
realms and in the unity of all peoples.
Golden Rule: Regard your neighbor’s gain as your own gain, and your
neighbor’s loss as your own loss. – Lao Tzu
Path of Attainment: One follows the natural order of things, not seeking
to improve upon nature or to legislate virtue to others. All things depend
upon the Tao; all things return to it. Yet it lies hidden, transmitting
its power and perfection to all things. The Taoist observes “wu-wei” or
non-doing, like water which without effort seeks and finds its proper
level, living in balance. Purification, through stilling the appetites and
the emotions, is accomplished in part through meditation, breath control,
use of herbs, Tai Chi, and other forms of inner discipline, generally under
the guidance of a master. The foremost practice is goodness or
naturalness, and detachment from the ten thousand things of the world.
Religious Taoists make use of ceremony and virtuous living to attain the
Tao.
Goal: Mystical intuition of the Tao, the Ultimate Reality, the natural way
of all things, the nameless beginning of Heaven and Earth, and the Mother
of all things. He who has realized the Tao, has arrived at pure
consciousness and sees the inner truth of everything.
Major Holidays and Festivals: Lantern Festival, Tomb Sweeping Day, Dragon
Boat Festival,
Lunar (Chinese) New Year.
BUDDHISM
“The radiance of Buddha shines ceaselessly.” – Dhammapada
Founded: Buddhism began about 2,500 years ago in India.
Founder: Gautama Siddhartha or Buddha, “Enlightened One.” (between 6th and
4th centuries BCE)
Major Scriptures: The Tripitaka (early Buddhist canon), Taishō Tripiṭaka
(East Asian Buddhist canon), Kangyur (Tibetan Buddhist canon), Tengyur
(commentaries and treatises), the Visuddhimagga (Path of Purification), the
Heart Sutra (Perfection of Wisdom scripture), Bardo Thodol (Liberation
Through Hearing In the Between), Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra
(The Way of the Bodhisattva), Dhammapada (collection of Buddha’s sayings)
Adherents: Approximately 500 million worldwide, mainly in South and East
Asia.
Sects: Theravada (“School of Elders,” South/Southeast Asia); Mahayana
(“Great Vehicle,” East Asia, including Japan’s Zen tradition), Vajrayana
(“The Indestructible Way,” in Tibet, Bhutan, Mongolia)
Places of Worship: Temples, monasteries and in the home.
Synopsis: The main goals are freedom from suffering, genuine happiness and
helping others. The Buddha’s essential teachings are contained in the Four
Noble Truths:
1. The Truth of Dukkha (suffering): Life, things and experiences are not
ultimately satisfying. Growing old, sickness and death bring pain
(physical and mental). The essential nature of life is unsatisfactory
because we habitually cling to things that are always changing.
2. The Causes of Pain are craving, aversion and delusion. Encountering
what we dislike brings suffering, and clinging to what we like brings
anxiety and fear of loss. The forces of desire and hatred lead to
rebirth and perpetuate Saṃsāra (the cycle of life and death)
3. The way to stop this cycle of pain is to relinquish desire and detach
from craving. The complete cessation of desires (Nirvana) will reveal
unconditional happiness and automatically end the cycle of pleasure
and pain, the wheel of birth and rebirth.
4. The path that leads to Nirvana or liberation from suffering is the
Noble Eightfold Path: Living, acting, speaking and thinking decently;
cultivating discipline and correct understanding of reality; and
practicing mindfulness and meditation.
The Buddha advocated a moderate way of life known as “the middle path.” He
said, “My doctrine makes no distinction between high and low, or between
rich and poor. It is like the sky. It has room for all; and like the rain
it washes all alike.” The greatness of the Buddha’s teaching is
demonstrated by his own life: a human being who attained enlightenment
through his own effort, he embodies humanity perfected. What the Buddha
attained is possible for all; the Buddha nature is inherent in everyone.
"Let the Dharma (teachings) and the discipline that I have taught you be
your teacher. All individual things pass away. Strive on, untiringly." –
Buddha
Buddhist Beliefs:
1. All beings have “Buddha Nature”: Our true nature is divine and
eternal, and we all have the innate ability to Awaken.
2. Voidness (Sunyata): According to Buddhism a self, soul or thing does
not ultimately exist independently from its causes and conditions.
Everything is in a constant state of change: there is no inherent or
fixed nature to any object or experience.
3. Karma: actions of body, speech or mind produce "seeds" in the mind
that come to fruition either in this life or in subsequent rebirth.
Karma is the force of “cause and effect” that drives saṃsāra—the
cycle of suffering and rebirth.
4. Rebirth: Rather than an unchanging self or eternal soul that
reincarnates from life to life, rebirth is a continuous, dynamic
process driven by karma.
5. The Middle Path: living moderately and avoiding extremes of luxury
and deprivation, also refers to avoiding the metaphysical extremes of
permanence and nihilism.
6. Buddha: A fully awakened being who has completely purified his mind
of the three poisons of desire, aversion and ignorance. Siddhartha
Gautama was not the only Buddha. There have been many previous ones,
and the next Buddha will be one named Maitreya
7. Refuge, or safe direction: the foundation of Buddhist practice;
following a life direction that will protect one from true suffering
and its causes.
8. The Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma (the teachings) and Sangha (the
community). In our illness (unhappiness and suffering), a doctor
(Buddha) diagnoses the cause of disease and prescribes the cure
(Dharma), which is then administered by a nurse (Sangha).
9. Interconnectedness of humanity, represented by the Bodhicitta ideal:
a mind focused on the intention to attain enlightenment for the
benefit of all sentient beings.
Golden Rule: Treat not others in ways you yourself would find hurtful. –
Buddha
Path of Attainment: The Dalai Lama has said: “From one viewpoint, Buddhism
is a religion; from another it is a science of the mind. Buddhism can be a
bridge between these two sides.” Buddhism takes its followers through
progressive stages, termed “dhyana, samapatti and samadhi.” Dhyana is
meditation which leads to moral and intellectual purification, and to
detachment which leads to pure consciousness. The samapattis, or further
dhyanas, lead to a state which is perfect solitude. This leads further to
Samadhi, the attainment of supernatural consciousness and, finally, to
Nirvana.
Goals: Nirvana, defined as the end of change, and literally meaning “to
blow out” as one blows out a candle. The Theravada tradition describes the
indescribable as “peace and tranquility,” while the Mahayana tradition
views it as “emptiness and the unchanging essence of the Buddha and
ultimate Reality.” It is synonymous with release from the bonds of desire,
ego, suffering and rebirth.
Major Holy Days and Festivals: Vesak/Saga Dawa (celebrates Buddha’s Birth
and Enlightenment); Birthdays of Boddhisattvas; Magha Puja Day (Four-fold
Assembly Day); Asahla Puja (July or full moon day of 8th Lunar Month);
Uposatha (Observance Day, Theravada); Pavarana (end of rains); Kathina
Ceremony (Robe Offering Day); Anapanasati Day (Mindfulness in Breathing);
Ploughing Festival; Festival of the Tooth (Sri Lanka – Procession with
Buddha’s Tooth); Ulambana (Ancestor Day) or Obon (Japan) – Reunion of
Ancestors with the Living; Avalokitesvara or Kuan Yin’s (Goddess of
Compassion) Birthday (March, Tibet and China). Chokor Duchen (Day of
Buddha’s First Teaching), Monlam
(New Year-first two weeks of the lunar calendar).
CHRISTIANITY
“I have come into the world as Light.” – Gospel of John, New Testament,
Holy Bible
Founded: Christianity began 2,000 years ago in Palestine.
Founder: Jesus of Nazareth (c. 2 BC to AD 30)
Major Scriptures: The New Testament of the Holy Bible
Adherents: Over 2 billion – 33% of the global population; largest of world
religions. The U.S., Brazil and Mexico have the largest populations of
Christians.
Sects: Christianity is divided into three main sects: Roman Catholic
(1 billion), Eastern Orthodox (300 million) and Protestant (800 million).
There have been hundreds of others in early, medieval and modern
Christianity.
Places of Worship: Churches, Chapels, Cathedrals and other gathering
places, formal and informal.
Synopsis: Jesus was a Jewish teacher and a Prophet. He was born in
Bethlehem of Judea as the son of a carpenter in the town of Nazareth. He
was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, the beginning of the
baptism tradition in Christianity. Jesus’s ministry lasted approximately
three years, during which he traveled throughout Palestine with his twelve
disciples and many followers. He performed miracles, interpreted
Scriptures and healed the sick. He associated with women and social
classes considered “unclean,” often challenging traditional authority. He
was crucified on the cross, under Roman law, as a criminal in Jerusalem
during the Passover festival. Three days later, Jesus rose from the tomb,
appeared to his followers, and ascended to heaven. His teachings and life
were eventually recorded in the Gospels.
When asked what was the greatest of the Commandments, Jesus replied, “Love
the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all
your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is
like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and Prophets hang on
these two commandments.” Jesus emphasized forgiveness, non-judgment,
purity of heart and service to mankind. When an adulterous woman was
brought to Jesus, Jewish authorities challenged him saying, “The Law of
Moses commands us to stone such a woman.” Jesus replied, “Let he who is
without sin cast the first stone.”
The early church was fraught with theological disputes: the Council of
Nicea in 325 A.D. produced the Nicene Creed, to unify Christian beliefs.
It is based on the Apostles’ Creed which first appears in written form in
the Fourth Century (circa 390 A.D.) but probably dates from as early as 180
A.D. as the baptismal affirmation of faith: “I believe in God, the Father
almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only
son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born
of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died,
and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He
will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy
Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness
of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.”
The Great Schism began in the 11th century, eventually dividing the church
into Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic. In 1517, Martin Luther of
Germany challenged the practices of the Roman Catholic Church, initiating
the movements of Protestantism. Christianity, along with other faith
traditions, has many different monastic orders, and educational
institutions. Christian missionaries through the centuries helped spread
churches and Christian missions worldwide.
Most Christians celebrate seven sacraments, based on a rite or ceremony,
which convey “life” to the recipients. These include: Baptism (generally
in infancy); Confirmation; Eucharist/Mass/Divine Liturgy/Holy Communion;
Holy Orders (ordination); Reconciliation/Confession (forgiveness);
Anointing of the Sick (known as “Extreme Unction” or “Last Rites” when
celebrated near death); and Holy Marriage (which in some Protestant
denominations is now celebrated for gay and lesbian relationships as well
as heterosexual relationships.) Some Christian services follow set
liturgies such as the Mass (i.e. Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglicans),
while others are less structured. Some are silent until moved by Spirit
(i.e. Quakers).
Christian Beliefs:
1. There is only one God, omnipotent (all powerful), omnipresent (all
present) and omniscient (all knowing).
2. God is Creator, eternal (outside of “time”), unchangeable and
infinite.
3. Sin (in Greek, sin = missing the mark) separates humanity from God.
4. Jesus Christ is Savior, through whom believers may come to know
forgiveness from sin and experience salvation, or a return to God.
Through faith in Jesus, God’s grace is realized. Salvation is a free
gift from God through God’s grace: it cannot be “earned.”
5. Jesus Christ was born of Mary, a virgin, died on the cross, and was
resurrected from the dead.
6. God is Three-in-One, the Holy Trinity of God who reveals the Divine
Nature as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is “Love,” “Relationship”
7. The soul is immortal, and accountable to God for all thoughts and
action.
8. The Holy Bible is inspired by God or “God-breathed.”
9. There will be a final judgment and God will create a new Heaven and a
new Earth.
Golden Rule: Love your neighbor as yourself. – Jesus Christ
Path of Attainment: Humanity’s plight is caused by separation from God.
Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, and following his teachings.
In practice this includes prayer, worship, forgiveness, service to others,
discernment of God’s will, and in celebration of the sacraments, especially
communion, celebrated at least weekly in most Christian places of worship.
Goal: The goal of Christianity is to love God with one’s heart, soul and
mind, and love one’s neighbor as oneself. By doing this, the Christian will
enjoy eternal life with God in heaven, a perfect existence in which God’s
glory and bliss are shared.
Major Holy Days and Festivals: Christmas (Birth of Jesus); Epiphany (Visit
of Magi/Baptism of Jesus); Ash Wednesday (Beginning of Lent); Lent
(Fasting, Recalling Christ’s 40 Days’ Fast in the Desert); Palm Sunday
(Jesus Entry into Jerusalem, a Week Before Easter); Good Friday (Jesus’s
Death); Easter (Resurrection of Jesus); Pentecost (Descent of Holy Spirit
on Disciples).
ISLAM
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.” – Holy Qur’an
Founded: Islam began 1,400 years ago in Arabia.
Founder: Prophet Mohammed (b. 570 Mecca – d. 632 A.D. Medina)
Major Scriptures: Koran or Qur’an; Hadith (sayings of Prophet Mohammed);
Sunnah (accounts of Prophet Mohammed’s actions, his precedents and
examples)
Adherents: Around 1.6 billion, 23% of global population. Located mainly
in the Middle East and North Africa (20%); and the Asia-Pacific (60%);
Europe 10% (Turkey, Russia); United States (1-2%).
Places of Worship: Mosques (Masjid); other gathering places (Musallah);
and in the home.
Sects: There are two main divisions in Islam. The Sunnis are followers of
the political successors of Prophet Mohammed. The Shi’a are followers of
Prophet Mohammed’s family successors.
Synopsis: Islam, along with Judaism and Christianity is one of the three
Abrahamic religions. Islam means “submission,” surrender to the Will of
Allah. Those who submit are called Muslims. Islam is based upon five
“pillars” or principle acts of faith to which Muslims adhere. These are:
1. Faith in Allah: There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is His
Prophet.
2. Praying five times daily, kneeling in the direction of Mecca, the
holy city.
3. Giving of alms and charity to support the economically disadvantaged
of the community.
4. Fasting: Throughout Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar,
the faithful fast from sunrise to sunset.
5. Pilgrimage: At least once in a lifetime, believers go to the Holy
City of Mecca.
Prophet Mohammed (b. 570 Mecca – d. 632 A.D. Medina) an orphan at age six,
was raised by his uncle. He was always drawn to meditation, prayer, and
fasting. While meditating in a cave near Mecca (age 40), he was blessed
with a vision of the Angel Gabriel. The revelations he received over the
next 23 years resulted in the holy book of Islam, the Qur’an. The message
of “the one God’ galvanized the entire Arab world. Prophet Mohammed’s
wife, Khadijah, was considered his first follower. Prophet Mohammed had
the first mosque of Islam built on the outskirts of Medina. Muslims follow
an utterance of the name of Prophet Mohammed with the phrase, “Peace and
blessings be Upon Him.”
The Hajj is a religious pilgrimage to Mecca performed once in a lifetime.
One who has completed the Hajj is called a Hajji. During the Hajj,
believers perform a series of rituals with thousands of others: walking
seven times around the Ka’aba, running back and forth between the hills of
Al-Safa and Al-Marwah, drinking from the Zamzam Well, performing a vigil on
Mount Arafat, spending a night in the plain of Muzdalifa, and performing a
symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing stones at three pillars. The
pilgrims then shave their heads and celebrate the three-day global festival
of Eid al-Adha. Today Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion.
The Qur’an covers all aspects of life, and the nature of God: His
attributes, relation to humanity, and prophets. The influence that the
Qur’an holds over the life of the practitioner is far-reaching. In
addition to the Qur’an, the other sacred books of Islam are the Torah of
Moses, the Psalms of David, and the Gospels of Jesus. The mystical branch
of Islam is known as Sufism. Called the religion of love, Sufism is based
on the concept of the devotee as the lover and God as the Beloved. The
Sufi mystic experiences cosmic vision by seeing the Beloved everywhere and
in all objects. He or she seeks total unification with God, so that the
lover and Beloved become one.
“One’s true wealth hereafter is the good one does in this world to his
fellow man.” – Mohammed
Islamic Beliefs:
1. Allah is the Supreme Creator and Sustainer, omniscient and
transcendent. No form or idol can be worshipped in His Name.
2. Angels, Prophets and Messengers: Prophet Mohammed was the last and
greatest of the messengers of God.
3. The Five Pillars of Faith.
4. The Qur’an as the Word of God, revealed through the Angel Gabriel to
Prophet Mohammed.
5. Humans are the greatest creation of God, here for the purpose of
worshipping and serving God. The sacredness of all human life, the
taking of which is the greatest of sins.
6. Striving to live in a way that is pleasing to God, so that one may
obtain Paradise. Reflecting peace and mercy in one’s life, working
for the good of society, avoiding sins (alcohol, usury, gambling).
7. The soul of man is immortal, and in the afterlife that follows the
Day of Judgment, people will be held accountable for their actions
according to their conduct and faith on earth.
8. Salvation is obtained through God’s Grace, not man’s efforts.
9. God is universally compassionate and individually merciful. His love
for humanity and creation is manifest in daily life.
Golden Rule: None of you truly believes, unless you wish for others what
you wish for yourself. – Prophet Mohammed
Path of Attainment: Total submission to Allah is the single path to
salvation, and even that is no guarantee, for Allah may desire even a
faithful soul to experience misery. The faithful Muslim surrenders all
pride, the chief among sins, and follows explicitly the will of Allah as
revealed in the Qur’an. This alone brings a full and meaningful life. He
believes in the five doctrines and observes the five pillars. The virtues
of truthfulness, temperance and humility before God are foremost for Islam,
and the practices of fasting, pilgrimage, prayer and the charity to the
Muslim community are most necessary to please Allah.
Goal: The primary goal of Islam is eternal life, both physical and
spiritual, obtained by total submission to Allah.
Major Holy Days and Festivals: Ramadan (Month of Fasting); Eid Al-Fitr
(End of Ramadan Fasting); Eid Al-Adha (Willingness of Abraham to Sacrifice
his Son); First ten days of Islamic New Year; Ashura (Shi’a – Day of
Mourning for Martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of Prophet Mohammed.)
SIKHISM
“God, being Truth, is the one Light of all.” – Guru Granth Sahib
Founded: Sikhism began about 500 years ago in South Asia
Founder: Guru Nanak (b. 1469 Punjab, d. 1539, Kartarpur in South Asia)
Major Scriptures: The Adi Granth, which became the Guru Granth Sahib (Holy
Book, a collection of scholarly writings, wisdom, poetic hymns, songs,
verses and teachings, revered as the Guru)
Adherents: Estimated at 27 million, mostly in India (Punjab); 1 million in
North America.
Places of Worship: Gurudwaras, Sikh Temples. Amritsar in Punjab, India,
home of the Golden Temple, is the holiest city.
Sects: Besides the Khalsa, there are the Ram Raiyas in Uttar Pradesh and
two groups that have living gurus – Mandharis and Nirankaris.
Synopsis: Guru Nanak was a religious innovator who had a visionary
experience of the nature of God. He taught that spiritual growth was
achieved through contemplation, meditation, and reflection on the divine
presence in every creation. Humans can have direct access to God without
rituals or priests. Communities should be based on equality, fraternal love
and virtue. Sikhism stresses the importance of devotion, faith in the Guru,
and the repetition of God’s Name as a means of salvation. Guru Nanak
traveled for nearly 30 years through Asia and Arabia, teaching that God is
Supreme, Universal and All-Powerful; Truthful, Formless, Fearless and
without Hate; the Sole, Self-Existent, Incomprehensible and Everlasting
Creator of all things; and the Eternal, Absolute Truth. Sikhism emphasizes
the importance of selfless service, devotion, purification, and intense
repetition of God’s name: Sat Nam, Waheguru. Sikh’s believe in earning a
living through honest means and sharing the fruits of those labors with
others. A Sikh believes that there is only one God and that all people are
equal in His eyes. Sikhism has ten great Gurus who made important
contributions to the Sikh faith. Guru Arjun, the fifth Guru, completed the
Golden Temple in Amritsar and began the Guru Granth Sahib, or sacred poems,
and teachings of the four previous masters.
The last of the ten Gurus, Guru Gobind Singh, established the Khalsa Order,
or “Brotherhood of the Pure Ones,” using a baptism ceremony and five
symbols, “the Five K’s” The Five Ks are not just symbols, but articles of
faith that collectively form the external identity and the Khalsa devotee's
commitment to the Sikh rehni "Sikh way of life" (kachera- under shorts,
kirpan- sword for bravery, Kara - an iron bracelet for morality, kesh -
uncut hair and beard for renunciation, and kangha - a comb for
cleanliness). Sikh men traditionally wear turbans (to cover their long
hair) as a sign of respect to God, and commitment to equality and justice.
Sikh boys wear a top knot and cover their hair until their manhood
ceremony.
Guru Gobind Singh finished the compilation of the Guru Granth Sahib, and
declared that it was to be revered as the Guru from that point forward.
These texts are recited daily by devout Sikhs and continually in the Golden
Temple in three-hour shifts by Granthis; a complete reading of the text
takes 48 hours.
Sikhs observe the tradition of Langar, the fellowship meal, serving food to
100,000 daily in Amritsar, Punjab, India. Each Sikh is encouraged to find
God in his or her own way, using the teachings of the Guru as a guide.
“Various are the manifestations of God and various His ways. Various are
the guises He assumes, but He is ever One.” – Guru Arjun
Sikh Beliefs:
1. There is One Universal God (Ek-Ong-Kar). God is within and around us
as the Sovereign One, the omnipotent, immortal and personal Creator,
a Being beyond time, who is called Sat Nam for His Name is Truth.
2. Man grows spiritually by living truthfully, serving selflessly and by
repetition of the Holy Name and Guru Nanak’s Prayer, Japji.
3. The world is maya, a transitory illusion; only God is true. Salvation
lies in understanding the Divine Truth and that man’s surest path
lies in faith, love, purity and devotion.
4. The scriptural and ethical authority of the Guru Grant Sahib as God’s
revelation.
5. To know God, the Guru is essential as the guide who, himself absorbed
in love of the Real, is able to awaken the soul to its true, divine
nature.
6. The line of 10 Sikh Gurus, associated with different qualities: Guru
Nanak (humility); Guru Angad (obedience); Guru Amardas (equality);
Guru Ram Das (service); Guru Arjan (self-sacrifice); Guru Har Gobind
(justice); Guru Har Rai (mercy); Guru Har Krishan (purity); Guru Tegh
Bahadur (tranquility); and Guru Gobind Singh (courage).
7. Adoption of the last name “Singh,” for men, meaning “Lion” and
signifying courage. Women use the name “Kaur” after their surname,
meaning goddess or princess.
8. Use of the five symbols of faith: 1. white dress with knee-length
undergarment (purity); 2. sword (bravery); 3. steel bracelet (eternal
reality); 4. uncut hair and beard (renunciation); and 5. comb
(cleanliness).
9. Unity and equality of all humankind, selfless service, social
justice, honest conduct.
Golden Rule: I am a stranger to no one and no one is a stranger to me.
Indeed, I am a friend to all. – Guru Granth Sahib
Path of Attainment: To lead man to the goal of moksha (release into God’s
love and union with God), Sikhism follows a path of japa and hymns.
Through chanting of the Holy Names or Sat Nam the soul is cleansed of its
impurity, the ego is conquered and the wandering mind is stilled, leading
to superconscious stillness. From here one enters into the divine light
and thus attains the state of divine bliss through God’s grace. Control of
the ego is an essential step to achieve unity with God.
Goals: The aim of life is to be one with God, by following God’s will
without qualification. At this stage of harmony God’s ends become your
ends. Here “I” becomes part of “Thou” and thus there is no need for the
protection of the concept of “I.” It is a stage of realization that being
possessed by God is the ultimate harmony and thus there is no need for
desire of possessions. This is a stage when man is not only in it, but of
it.
Major Holy Days and Festivals: Maghi (January – Battle of Muktsar); Birth
of Guru Gobind Singh the tenth Guru; Hoha Mohalla (March - mock battles);
Vaisakhi (April - Birth of Khalsa Brotherhood); Martyrdom of Guru Arjan
(June); Phalia Prakash Sri Guru Grant Sahib-Ji (September - Celebration of
the Holy Book as Guru); Diwali (Release from Prison of Guru Har Gobind);
Guru Nanak Birthday (November); Martydom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (November),
and many smaller festivals, including birthdays of the other Sikh Gurus.
AFRICAN FAITHS
“God is the sun beaming light everywhere.” – Tribal African
Origins: Indigenous African faiths are traditionally handed down orally
through elders and oral traditions. There is no other authority.
Major Scriptures: Oral traditions.
Adherents: Over 100 million in Sub-Saharan Africa (43 countries) and the
African diaspora
(i.e. Haiti)
Places of Worship: Sacred locations throughout Africa; Spirit Houses and
Shrines; Gathering places and communal ceremonies.
Sects: Numerous variants by community and geography.
Synopsis: Most indigenous faiths of Africa, believe in a Supreme Creator
God—at once mother and father of the universe. The Creator holds the web
of relationship between man and the environment; the sacred is found
everywhere. Practices, ceremonies and traditions vary by community,
tradition, language and location. The emphasis in African spirituality is
on close relationships with nature, the living, and the dead. These
relationships are based upon love, respect, and reverence toward the
ancestor spirits. Ancestors and secondary spirits serve as intermediaries
between humans and God. There is no separation of spiritual life from
other aspects of life. All things organic and inorganic are produced
through various interactions of human beings and divine forces within the
universe.
Ancestors, the guardians of the spirit, pass onto humans the energy of the
Divine. This energy is made available to humans when they live in
accordance with the laws of Nature. In this way, people can use this
Divine energy to attract and heal those who have moved away from Nature’s
laws. In African faiths, human beings are vital forces who operate in
active, intimate rapport with the forces of Nature—influenced by them and
influencing them. Since there is no distinction between daily life and
spirituality, there are no specifically identifiable ancient teachers or
sacred texts. Dances and healing ceremonies preserve harmony in the
community and keep evil away. Some use divination systems.
In traditional African life, spirituality is a matter of right living, the
secrets of which have been orally passed on from generation to generation
by the ancestors, high chiefs, and often royalty (who are believed to be
descendants from God). The greater body of works that tell about African
beliefs can be found in myths and legends transcribed by scholars. Myths
emphasize human interactions and the unity between the living and the dead.
The living beings are instructed to live harmonious lives through carefully
guided traditional rituals and practices. If people are successful in
their lives, they are given back to the spirit world as a reward for their
conscientious living. In mythology, the dead reappear on earth through
reincarnation as spirits or other beings. Premature death is sometimes
attributed to a difficult spirit. Myths also explain African concepts of
death, creation, evolution, and the relationship of humans to other living
creatures and natural phenomena.
Libation in Africa is a ritual of heritage, a drink offering to honor and
please the Creator, the lesser divinities, our sacred ancestors, humans
present and not present, as well as the environment. The origins of
libation are so old that the first records of the ritual can be found in
the legends, myths, sacred literature and language of Kemet (ancient
Egypt.) However, it is believed that this ritual existed even before then.
Libation is found throughout the African world, on the continent as well as
in the Americas, the Caribbean and other parts of the world where Africans
dwell. The significance of this ritual transcends its distribution across
the immense time/space correlation that is occupied by the African
experience of life. Libation is an immensely important part of African
cultural rituals and a marker of African identity. Its persistence across
place and times, says much about the origin of all Africans, about their
relation to each other and about cultural transmission in general.
“Father, O mighty force, that force which is in everything, come down
between us, fill us, until we be like Thee, until we be like Thee.” – Susu
from Guinea
Indigenous African Faiths - Beliefs:
1. A Creator God who holds the web of relationships.
2. Spirits and Ancestors who interact with human beings.
3. Sacredness of the Natural World.
4. The importance of the community and community harmony.
5. Rituals to maintain the normal and renew hope.
6. In daily life, no separation of the sacred and profane.
7. No heaven above or hell below, just a single cosmology that exists to
nurture us.
8. Virtue often connected with carrying out obligations of the communal
aspect of life.
9. Ashe the life-force that runs through all things, living and
inanimate.
(Ashe is the power to make things happen. It is an affirmation which
is used in greetings and prayer, as well as a concept of spiritual
growth. Ashe pronounced (ah-SHAH.) It’s like ‘Amen” or “So it shall
be.” This is the Yoruba language of Nigeria.)
Golden Rule: “One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should
first try it on himself to feel how it hurts.” – Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria)
Paths to Attainment: Ceremonies, rituals and dances may be performed to
elevate consciousness, and awaken spiritual energy in the body. Some may
enter a trance-like state of connection with the divine.
Goals: To live harmoniously with the community, the Creator, the natural
world, and the ancestors and spirits.
Major Holy Days and Festivals: Initiation Rites of Passage Ceremonies
(birth, adulthood, marriage, death, burial); Celebration of natural cycles
(i.e. harvest).
NATIVE AMERICAN FAITHS
“The Light of Wakan-Tanka is upon my people.” – Song of Kablaya
Origins: Indigenous and Native American faiths are handed down orally
through Elders. In many nations, the teachers of the faith had to be
trained storytellers who must evidence “total accuracy” in order to carry
on the teachings.
Major Scriptures: The teachings of the nations, which had to be memorized
in all exactness and were repeated verbatim by chosen elders (written in
the heart, not through paper), included such works as the The Walum Olum,
the Thanksgiving Address of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Law of
Handsome Lake. The Cherokee had written texts in their own syllabary.
They were the “Words That Came Before.” There were a variety of national
myths and stories.
Adherents: About 60 million indigenous peoples live in North, Central and
South America, with about 5.2 million in the United States.
Places of Worship: Natural and also specifically built sacred locations
throughout the Americas, i.e Hopi Kivas, Ceremonial Mounds (Ohio,
Tennessee, etc.), and the Big House of Iroquois, Mohawk and others.
Sects: Numerous variants by nation and tribal structures and histories.
Synopsis: Indigenous peoples in Canada are known as Aboriginal people,
including First Nations, Inuit and Metis. In the U.S. they are known as
Native Americans, American Indians, the Original People, the First People,
the Grandfathers, the People. There are 567 federally recognized nations
in the U.S. and many more not yet recognized. Diseases such as smallpox
brought by European colonizers killed an estimated 90% of indigenous
populations. There are thousands of indigenous nations in the Americas and
countless faith and worship traditions. At least a thousand different
indigenous languages are spoken in the Americas, and some have millions of
speakers, including Quechua, Aymara, Guarani, Mayan languages and Nahuatl.
Most cultures are matrilineal, giving highest respect to the mothers and
grandmothers. Frequently, the clan mothers of nations selected the Chief.
In general, indigenous worship takes place in the cathedral of Nature,
frequently in silence. “Seek lonely places and be still, listening,
hearing the songs and cries of the winged ones, the sounds of the four-
leggeds, and the cries of the insect people; feeling the breath and touch
of the earth, of leaves, of bark; for all have messages for you from the
Above One—let your prayers rise like smoke rises from our fires, freed from
all selfish desires,” spoke Sees-Beyond-The-Lightning of the Sioux. Chief
Dan George said, “We are as much alive as we keep the Earth alive.” The
fruits of silence are thought to be self-control, true courage, endurance,
patience, dignity and reverence.
Through group rituals such as the sweat lodge, sacred pipe ceremony,
powerful chants, and dances, the Native American strives to purify the
body, mind, heart, and soul in order to be an honorable and useful member
of the nation. Ceremonies within different faith traditions include the
Earth Lodge, the Drum Dance, the Feather Ceremony, the Ghost Dances, the
Sun Dance, Peyote Religion, the Longhouse/Big House tradition, and many
others. Doing good deeds for one’s people is held in the highest honor.
“Let neither cold nor hunger, nor pain, nor the fear of them, neither the
bristling teeth of danger, nor the very jaws of death itself, prevent you
from doing a good deed.” These words were spoken by an old chief to a
scout hunting a buffalo in mid-winter for the relief of starving people.
Tecumseh taught, “Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in
your life, seek to make your life long and of service to your people.
Give thanks for your food and the joy of living. If you see no reason to
give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.”
Native Americans have an enlightened attitude about death. An honorable
death, when in balance and harmony with oneself and the people, is the
greatest gift to one’s family and descendants. In many nations, the
tradition is to compose a “death song” to chant courageously at the time of
death itself. “When you die—sing your death song and die like a hero going
home.” – Tecumseh
Native American Beliefs:
1. Love, honor and respect for the Great Mystery and receive from
It/Him/Her, individually, the guidance necessary for living a good
life. Give thanks for the life within us and for all life. Live in
a state of gratitude so as to be accountable to life and all its
species.
2. Reciprocate for the gifts of nature, which often involves leaving
offerings when accepting a gift from an animal or plant. Treat the
Earth and all that dwell on it with respect. Everything is sacred –
animals, plants, minerals -- from the largest mountain to the
smallest plant.
3. Stewardship of the Earth for coming generations so that the Seventh
Generation would still honor and applaud an ancestor’s action.
Responsibility to both the ancestors and the children.
4. Emphasis on direct experience in visions, ceremonies and quests as
revelations. Guidance is either by direct intervention or by the
mentorship of elders (i.e. Clan Mothers, Medicine Men/Women) who have
been selected by Spirit and by the nation’s highest council to guide
the nations.
5. Serve others. Dedicate a share of one’s efforts to the greater good.
Do what one knows is right. Take responsibility for one’s actions.
Always be truthful and honest.
6. We are all One. Show respect for fellow beings. Work together for
the benefit of all mankind and give kindness and assistance wherever
needed. Accept that all races and tribes of the world are children
of the Creator, beautiful, different colored flowers of one meadow.
7. Respect for Elders, who keep the culture alive. Show courtesy and
speak in a soft voice in the presence of Elders. Responsibility to
both the elders and the children.
8. Look after the well-being of mind and body. Know what leads to
wellness and what leads to destruction.
9. Hospitality. Receive strangers with a loving heart as members of the
human family.
Golden Rule: All things are our relatives; what we do to everything we do
to ourselves. All is really one. – Black Elk
Path to Attainment: From birth to death to revere the Creator and Mother
Earth and serve others. Live like a crystal, clear and bright, sending
only good, healing energies out into the world.
Goals: Live a life such that each action would still be honored by the
Seventh Generation.
Major Holidays and Festivals: Ceremonies related to the natural cycles
(Sun and Moon Dance, Green Corn ceremony, Thunder Dance, Planting
Ceremony); Rites of Passage; Give-aways (Pot Latches); Pow Wows
(celebration of the spirit of the people); Family/Clan gatherings.
Prayer and Its Benefits
Prayerful thoughts always bring benefit to people. When ten
thousand people feel for a person and pray, all that wishful thinking
goes to help him or her. Good thoughts and feeling always reach the
ones who are really starving for them. Those who deserve that good
thinking will receive it. We simply spread the seeds. When people
know that so many others are praying for them, that gives them
strength. There is a benefit right away, “Oh, so many people are
praying for me. All their good thinking is on my side.”
Sri Swami Satchidananda
Integral Yoga Magazine, Spring 2005
There are no problems that cannot be resolved by prayer; no
difficulties that cannot be surmounted by prayer; and no evil that
cannot be overcome by prayer. Prayer is communion with God. Prayer is
the miracle by which God’s Power flows into human veins. Therefore,
kneel down and pray. Remove now the darkness of ignorance through the
divine light of prayer!
Sri Swami Sivananda
LOTUS Prayer Book
Prayer comes from the innermost heart, and in the heart, we are
all truly one. Through prayer we can see our unity and the one divine
Light as the source of all. Prayer can take many forms. There are
prayers of petition, intercession, thanksgiving, praise, blessing,
and affirmation. In petition, the grace of the Supreme is implored to
fulfill some need or request; in intercession, such requests are made
in behalf of another. In prayers of thanksgiving, gratitude to the
Almighty is voiced; in praise, the Divine is glorified. In blessing,
the power of God is invoked to bless, protect, and guide oneself and
others. In prayer of affirmation, expression is given to such
heartfelt concerns as one’s faith, one’s relationship to the Divine,
and the spiritual nature and order of the Universe.
Swami
Karunananda
LOTUS Prayer
Book
Multifaith Prayer
Occasions for Multifaith Prayer
The Light of Truth Universal Service, based on the offering of
prayers from different faiths, is at the vanguard of a growing
international phenomenon. The current proliferation of multifaith
prayer activity is unprecedented in human history. And as more and
more regions of the world become environments of multiculture and
multifaith, the occasions for multifaith prayer are increasing.
Multifaith prayer brings the wider community together. Occasions for
multifaith prayer include prayer service at the following places or
occasions:
1. Places of worship, interfaith conferences, and gatherings.
2. Hospitals, care, and correctional institutions.
3. Civic occasions, gatherings, or conferences
4. On important civic, national, and international days such as
Earth Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Thanksgiving, New Year’s
Eve, and World Peace Day.
5. Related to particular social concerns, such as peace, justice,
global unity, AIDS, poverty, and ecology.
6. Related to tragedies such as natural disasters or acts of
violence, the anniversaries of such events.
The proliferation of multifaith prayer activity reflects a desire for
interfaith communion at a deeper level. Religious experience through
prayer and meditation involves a journey into the heart of the
individual and the community. More and more people of various faiths
are wanting to engage with one another at levels that go beyond verbal
dialogue and common action.
Purposes and Benefits of Multifaith Prayer
Multifaith prayer is an effort to symbolize and actualize the
aspiration toward interfaith unity. More specifically, multifaith
prayer:
• Acknowledges the rich diversity of humankind's spiritual
traditions.
• Affirms the unity of the human family while respecting religious
differences. "Truth is One. Paths are many."
• Provides an occasion and a safe environment to build and nurture
relationships among people of diverse faith traditions.
• Recognize common ethical values and a common search for truth.
• Exposes individuals to the prayer, meditation, musical, and
ritual expressions of other faiths.
• Inspires common action in the realms of charity, healing,
community service, social justice, scholarship, global issues,
and spiritual and religious care.
• Provides an opportunity to grow in appreciation for other faiths,
as well as renew one's own faith.
Guidelines for Organizing a Light of Truth Universal
Service
In a Light of Truth Universal Service, prayers are offered to the Light
by representatives for the major faiths and for Other Known Faiths, as
depicted in the Integral Yoga Yantra. The service is always directed to
the Light as a universal symbol common to all faiths.
Initial Preparation
Prior to the service one should:
• Get together a team to plan the service, drawing from three to
seven spiritual seekers who appreciate the Light of Truth Universal
Service. It is helpful for team members to have connections with
clergy or members of the various faiths that will be represented.
• Set a date and time for the service and agree on the
representatives of each faith that you plan to invite keeping in
mind balance for gender and age. Some leaders plan their calendars
one to two years ahead. If you are unable to plan that far in
advance, at least contact your representatives by one month prior
to the service.
• You can also do a Light of Truth Universal Service with members of
your immediate community, using the prayers in the LOTUS Prayer
Book or other sources.
• Select a theme for the service such as: Earth, God as Father, God
as Mother, Gratitude, Healing, Joy, Light, Love, Peace, Trust, or
Unity.
• Start with an initial phone call or email to see if the
representative is available on the selected date.
• If you get a confirmation, follow up in a timely manner, through
email or a written letter, with details of what is expected of the
representatives, including wearing attire to the service that is
representative of their faith tradition. In your correspondence,
include the details of the rehearsal and the service itself.
Worship Site
There are essentially three types of venues for a multifaith prayer
service:
1. an outdoor environment; will need glass chimneys for candles if
windy
2. a "neutral" environment such as a community center, rented hall or
multipurpose room.
3. a house of worship/meditation center of a given faith tradition:
mosque, synagogue, mandir, meditation center, church, temple, or
gurdwara. Within the house of worship/meditation center, there are
two potential locales for the service: 1) a meeting/community room;
and 2) the sacred space in which prayer/meditation services are
regularly conducted. If the multifaith prayer service is conducted
in the prayer/meditation section of the house of worship, the
planning group should be aware that the symbols and ambience of
that environment may impact the multifaith service.
The worship site should be set up so that the celebrants are facing
the Light and directing their offerings to It. The congregation
should be seated so that they can most readily observe the service.
There should be clear aisles for the processional and recessional of
the celebrants.
Some suggested seating arrangements are as follows:
1. Have a circular altar in the center, the celebrants in a
circle around it, and the congregation in a larger circle
around them. The celebrants could then rise where they are
and facing the Light, make their offerings or go to a
central visible spot to do so.
2. Have a circular altar in the center, the celebrants in a
semi-circle or row in front of it and the congregation in
semi-circles or rows behind it. The celebrants could then
rise, adjust their positions if necessary to be directly
before the Light, and make their offerings.
3. If you have access to a stage, the circular altar could be
in the center with the celebrants in a semi-circle around
the altar and congregation in the hall facing the stage.
Articles to be used by the celebrants could either be placed on
the altar, on a small table nearby, or could be held by
assistants. The altar itself can be simply and beautifully
arranged. The main article on it should be a large candle
symbolizing the Supreme Light.
In decorating the site, it is most inspirational if the symbols
for the various faiths, as depicted in the Integral Yoga Yantra,
are prominently displayed. Banners could be made for each symbol
and hung around the room, or a beautiful rendering of the Yantra
could be used.
Rehearsal
Ideally you would have a rehearsal the day before. If not possible,
allow at least one hour before the service to go through the format,
making sure each celebrant can be clearly heard when offering the
prayer.
Sound Amplification
If you are using a large space, rent a sound system with microphones
if none are provided with the space.
Prelude
Welcome and introduction by the emcee. An invocation by a special
guest may follow the welcome or the emcee may follow the welcome with
an invocation.
Processional
The celebrants line up in the order that the faiths are depicted in
the Integral Yoga Yantra. The procession begins with Native American
Faiths followed by African Faiths, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity,
Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto, Judaism, Hinduism and ending with Other
Known Faiths. Processional music begins and the celebrants enter in a
slow, reverent manner, each carrying a lit taper with a holder to
catch wax drips. They walk until they are standing around the central
Light. The processional music is phased out and a gong or bell can be
rung as a signal for the celebrants to light the central candle
together. The individual tapers are extinguished and passed to a
central basket. Then the celebrants take their seats.
The Service
The service is in the form of prayers offered to the Light, a
universal symbol common to all faiths. The offerings are made by the
celebrants in the same order as the processional. The prayers share a
common theme such as: Peace, Joy, Love, Light,
Earth, God as Father, God as Mother, Gratitude, Healing, Trust, or
Unity.
Preceding the offering of each faith, a brief (about one minute)
recorded musical selection from each faith may be played. The prayer
may be two to three minutes in length (or longer if time permits). It
can be a traditional prayer or one composed by the celebrant on the
theme of the service. It’s very inspiring if the offering is first
made in the original language in the traditional manner, and then
given in English. This is not a time for the celebrant to teach or
address the congregants. As a part of the celebrant’s offering, a
chant may be offered or traditional instrument sounded. To keep a
meditative focus on the Light, leading the congregation in a chant or
song is not recommended.
The emcee announces each faith before the celebrant stands to offer a
prayer. No historical, scriptural, or factual information need be
given either by the emcee or the celebrant. The last offering may be a
universal prayer for Other Known Faiths, such as the LOTUS Prayer.
A Light of Truth Universal Service affords an opportunity to
experience deeply one’s personal spiritual tradition, along with that
of other faiths. In coming together, a beautiful interfaith tapestry
of prayer is offered to the One Cosmic Truth, represented by the
Light. The blessings from the Light of Truth Universal Service flow
out, joining the positive forces for good around the globe,
contributing to the world peace that we all seek.
Recessional
If a recessional is held at the end of the service, the celebrants
relight their tapers from the central Light, as a gong or bell is
rung, and leave in the opposite order from which they entered,
accompanied by recorded music, a group song or a chant.
Closing of the Service
After the recessional or the last offering, if no recessional, the
emcee may call for a “sign of peace” to be offered to one another by
the celebrants and also by the congregation. An interfaith message by
one of the celebrants, or a designated speaker, may be offered. The
emcee can lead closing prayers.
Offerings
If appropriate, offerings of blessed food or other objects may be
distributed.
During the distribution, music may be played. The offerings may
be simple or more elaborate. This should be determined based on
the context in which the service is being held, the nature of the
site, the size of the congregation, and the celebrants who are
officiating. Please consider the comfort and convenience of all
and have ushers assigned to see that matters proceed most
efficiently, easefully, and gracefully.
Some suggestions for offerings are as follows:
- Each celebrant may distribute a separate offering, reflecting
his tradition. This can be in the form of food, drink, incense,
flowers, the written word, etc. The congregation comes up to
receive prasad.
- The offering may be distributed by assistants who receive it
from the celebrants and then circulate through the congregation
to distribute it.
- The service planning team arranges for a printed piece and/or
food item to be distributed by ushers.
Conclusion
The Light of Truth Universal Service serves as a reverent, joyous
experience that uplifts, inspires, and fills everyone with a deep
sense of our essential oneness. Rooted in the knowledge of that
oneness, we can fully appreciate, respect and enjoy the diversity
around us, and live in peace and harmony as one family.
Evaluation
In the weeks following the service, it is helpful to convene a
meeting of the planning group to evaluate the service. Such a
meeting has the capacity to contribute to the ongoing and vital
goal of building and nourishing interreligious relationships.
Other Multifaith Prayer Rituals
At Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, we have created a simplified
multifaith prayer ritual used at the annual LOTUS Anniversary and
World Peace Day. We have another ritual used at New Year’s Eve and for
Thanksgiving. You may wish to use these adaptions or create your own
multifaith prayer service according to the needs of your community.
World Peace Ritual
We would suggest creating an altar in the round with a center candle
and have different participants offer flower petals and the peace
words for each continent and for each faith. If in a larger venue,
either a round altar or a rectangular altar could be used with a
central candle. The participants could offer the petals and the
congregation offer the peace words led by the facilitator. The symbols
of the faiths could be displayed on the altar with small images or
larger images on the walls. The Integral Yoga Yantra could be
displayed on a nearby wall.
World Peace Affirmations for the Continents
(accompanied by offering of flower petals)
May Peace Prevail on Earth
May Peace Prevail on the Continent of Oceania
May Peace Prevail on Earth
May Peace Prevail on the Continent of Asia
May Peace Prevail on Earth
May Peace Prevail on the Continent of Africa
May Peace Prevail on Earth
May Peace Prevail on the Continent of Europe
May Peace Prevail on Earth
May Peace Prevail on the Continent of South America
May Peace Prevail on Earth
May Peace Prevail on the Continent of North America
May Peace Prevail on Earth
May Peace Prevail on the Continent of the Artic Region
World Peace Affirmations through Faiths
(accompanied by offering of flower petals)
May Peace Prevail on Earth.
May Peace Prevail on Earth through the followers of Hinduism.
May Peace Prevail on Earth through the followers of Judaism.
May Peace Prevail on Earth through the followers of Shinto.
May Peace Prevail on Earth through the followers of Taoism.
May Peace Prevail on Earth through the followers of Buddhism.
May Peace Prevail on Earth through the followers of Christianity.
May Peace Prevail on Earth through the followers of Islam.
May Peace Prevail on Earth through the followers of Sikhism.
May Peace Prevail on Earth through the followers of African Faiths.
May Peace Prevail on Earth through the followers of Native American
Faiths.
May Peace Prevail on Earth through the followers of Other Known
Faiths.
New Year’s Eve Multifaith Prayer Ritual
Interfaith Offering of Lights to the Divine One:
At the Ashram, the following ritual has been incorporated into
our New Year’s Eve Program. On a rectangular table with a nice
cloth, in front of the stage, 11 votive candles are lit and then
offered by 2 participants to a central light on the stage. The
two alternate offering the votive candles while the congregation
recites the following prayers, led by the emcee.
This ritual can be adapted for other venues.
We offer this light to the Divine One in honor of Hinduism:
Lead us from Unreal to Real. Lead us from darkness to the Light.
We offer this light to the Divine One in honor of Judaism:
Hear, Oh Israel! The Lord is our God. The Lord is One.
We offer this light to the Divine One in honor of Shinto:
Like unto the sun’s bright light
Bless, oh Goddess, generations yet to rise.
We offer this light to the Divine One in honor of Taoism:
Stay with the ancient Tao; move with the present.
We offer this light to the Divine One in honor of Buddhism:
I take refuge in the Buddha.
I take refuge in the Dharma.
I take refuge in the Sangha.
We offer this light to the Divine One in honor of Christianity:
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow Love.
We offer this light to the Divine One in honor of Islam:
O Allah! To you I surrender; in You I have faith.
We offer this light to the Divine One in honor of Sikhism:
Nanak, by Thy Grace, may the entire humanity be blessed.
We offer this light to the Divine One in honor of African Faiths:
Great Elder! Give me a life, a strong life,
That I may flourish in health and light.
We offer this light to the Divine One in honor of Native American
Faiths:
We return thanks to our Mother, the Earth, which sustains us.
We offer this light to the Divine One in honor of Other Known
Faiths:
Truth is one. Paths are many. Let us live in Peace and Joy.
Truth is one. Paths are many. Let us live in Love and Light.
Closing Prayers for World Peace
(repeated at least 9x)
OM Sarveshaam Swastir Bhavatu
Sarveshaam Saantir Bhavatu
Sarveshaam Poornam Bhavatu
Sarveshaam Mangalam Bhavatu
Auspiciousness be unto all
Perfect peace be unto all
Fullness be unto all
Prosperity be unto all
Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaha
Sarve Santu Niraamayaah
Sarve Bhadraani Pasyantu
Maa Kaschid Duhkha Bhaag Bhavet
Happiness be unto all
Perfect health be unto all
May all see good in everyone
May all be free from suffering
Thanksgiving Multifaith Prayer Service
Procedure
This service, used at the Ashram on Thanksgiving, has been adapted
for venues outside the Ashram.
• Designate 11 interfaith celebrants. Create an altar and
gather the props needed for the service. Have a rehearsal
for the celebrants before the service.
• Light the taper candles of the celebrants during the
Welcome/Invocation – Native American candle is lit first by
the facilitator. Then the Native American celebrant passes
the light down ending with Other Known Faiths.
• When the emcee announces the procession and song, the
celebrants, holding candle with both hands, proceed down
the center aisle and circle clockwise around the circular
Thanksgiving altar. The congregation is seated in
concentric circles around the altar, leaving space for the
celebrants’ offerings.
• After the song is finished, when a bell is rung, the
celebrants light the main candle together.
• Led by the Native American celebrant, the celebrants
proceed clockwise around the altar and hand their candles
to an assistant.
• The celebrants pick up their food offering (labeled for
each faith) from a separate table.
• They sit in pre-marked chairs; hold the food in lap until
emcee calls each faith.
• Emcee introduces each faith with “We offer this gift of
food to the One Light in honor of (name of each faith).”
• The celebrant goes to the Thanksgiving altar while a CD of
ritual music of one’s faith is played; move clockwise until
coming to the plate on the altar with one’s faith’s name.
Offer gift of food to the Light and place it on the plate
with one’s faith name; circumambulate the altar and prepare
to offer one’s prayer.
• The celebrant goes to the podium or central spot and offers
a prayer on gratitude with full heart.
• Group Sharing on Gratitude: The celebrants, followed by the
congregation, will be invited first to express one item
he/she is grateful for, be it a person, thing, teaching
etc.
• Four celebrants are needed to hold baskets of flower petals
from each direction near the altar, while congregation
offers petals during Group Flower Petal Offering and
accompanying Thanksgiving type songs/chants.
Props
• Set out round table or square table; set out folding chairs
with aisle around center and 4 aisles in the 4 directions.
• Podium (if available) moved over to front side of the
circle.
• Label section of chairs near the podium for the 11
celebrants, emcee, service coordinator and assistant.
• Round or square table decorated as Thanksgiving altar with
center candle and label for each faith on 11 plates around
the altar.
• Programs printed ahead of time and placed on table at
entry.
• Back-up copies of the Gratitude prayers.
• Food offerings in bowls or baskets, placed on separate
table with label of faith for each food item. (See
suggested items below.)
• 4 baskets of flower petals
• Central candle for the altar, 11 tapers, 11 candle paper
holders, matches
• Microphone(s) if needed
• Ashram CD of processional + ritual music and player; play
each faith for 30 seconds. Suggested food item for the
offerings is next to each faith:
#2 Native American Faiths (corn) #8 Taoism
(melon)
#3 African Faiths (millet) #9 Shinto (rice)
#4 Sikhism (lentils) #10 Judaism
(pomegranate)
# 5 Islam (dates) #11 Hinduism (banana)
#6 Christianity (apples) #12 Other Known
Faiths (squash)
# 7 Buddhism (almonds)
Multifaith Resources
1) Internet
• LOTUS The Light of Truth Universal Shrine - www.lotus.org
• Comprehensive Summaries of World Faiths - www.bbc.co.uk/religions
• Religions and Ethics – www.pbsreligionsandethics (weekly newscast
also on TV)
• Religious Etiquette Guides
www.tanenbaum.org/etiquette_guides.html
• Guidelines for organizing group visits to houses of worship
www.scarboromissions.ca/Interfaith_dialogue/group_visit_guideline
s.php
• An Internet Sacred Texts Archive
www.sacred-texts.com/world.htm
• Dances of Universal Peace
www.dancesofuniversalpeace.org
• The Interfaith Observer (TIO) monthly emailed newsletter
www.theinterfaithobserver.org
• Litany of Thanksgiving for the Religions of the World
www.scarboromissions.ca/Interfaith_dialogue/litany_religions.php
2) Books
• LOTUS Prayer Book Integral Yoga Publications1986
• A Vision of Peace: The Interfaith Teachings of Sri Swami
Satchidananda
by Rev. Kumari de Sachy (Integral Yoga Distribution 2014)
• The World’s Religions
by Huston Smith–interfaith classic (first published in 1958)
Harper One
• Interfaith Books by Karen Armstrong–renowned interfaith scholar
and author:
- A History of God: 4,000 Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity
and Islam
- The Battle for God: Fundamentalism in Judaism, Christianity
and Islam
- The Great Transformation: The Beginning of Our Religious
Traditions
- The Case for God: What Religion Really Means
- Twelve Steps for a Compassionate Life
• Many Paths, One God: Summaries of World Religions
by J.P. Vaswani (Gita Publishing House) www.gph@sadhuvaswani.org
• Welcome to the Wisdom of the World and its Meaning for You
by Joan Chittister (universal spiritual insights from the
religious traditions)
• The Interfaith Alternative
by Steven Greenbaum (New Society Publishers 2013)
• Source Book of the World Religions: An interfaith Guide to
Religion and Spirituality: edited by Joel Beversluis (New World
Library 2011)
• Beyond Tolerance: Searching for Interfaith Understanding in
America
by Gustav Niebuhr (Viking 2008)
• Toward a True Kinship of Faiths: How the World’s Religions Can
Come Together
by the Dalai Lama XIV (Harmony 2010)
• God’s Facebook: Creating a Friendship of Civilization
by Najmus Saquib
• How to Be a Perfect Stranger: A Guide to Etiquette in Other
People's Religious Ceremonies
by Stuart Matlins, J. Magida, Arthur J. Magida
• God Has No Religion: Bending Traditions for Prayer
edited by Frances Sheridan Goulart (Sorin Books, 2005)
• Life Prayers from Around the World
edited by Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon (Harper San
Francisco)
• Prayers for Healing
edited by Maggie Oman (Conari Press, 1997)
• The Coming Interspiritual Age
by Kurt Johnson and David Ord (Namaste Publishing Company, 2102)
3) DVDs
• Many Paths, One Truth: The 1977 Yoga Ecumenical Service
(Shakticom)
• With One Voice: Awaken to the Reality that Unites Us All
compiled by Matthew Flickstein (includes coverage of LOTUS)
Forest Way Productions 2009
• Beyond Our Differences: Tapestry of distinct voices and
viewpoints regarding spirituality, woven with one universal
expression of hope (PBS Home Video 2009 Entropy Films)
• Three Faiths, One God: Judaism, Christianity, Islam
Auteur Productions, www.threefaithsonegod.com
• Empires - Great Religions: People and Passions That Changed the World
PBS 4-part set
• BELIEF: television documentary series on OWN network, Oprah
Winfrey
• I Am: Life Affirming Film by Tom Shadyac
• In Search of the Great Song
by Michael Stillwater (A Song Without Borders Production)
4) CDs
• Spirit in Sound Chant: The Best of World Chant
compiled by Robert Gass (Spring Hill Music Boulder CO)
available via Integral Yoga Distribution
• Sacred World Chants: www.interfaithmarketplace.com
• Chanting- An Interfaith Resource Pack (group participation)
Gillian Warson
(Harris Manchester College, Oxford 2009) www.farmington.ac.uk
• To Heaven and Beyond (medley of sacred names from various faiths)
Snatnam Kaur: www.satnam.eu.toheaven-and-beyond or
www.SpiritVoyage.com
5) Interfaith Items
• Interfaith Market Place
www.interfaithmarketplace
(banners, flags, posters, books, calendars, jewelry, music, and
more)
• Golden Rule Poster (golden rule from many faiths)
www.scarboromissions.ca
6) International Interfaith Organizations
• Parliament of the World’s Religions
www.parliamentofreligions.org
• North American Interfaith Network (NAIN)
www.nain.org
• United Religions Initiative (URI)
www.uri.org
• Temple of Understanding (ToU)
www.templeofunderstanding.org
• World Congress of Faiths
www.worldfaiths.org
• All Faiths Seminary International
www.allfaithsseminary.org
• Institute for Global Ethics
www.globalethics.org
• The World Conference of Religions for Peace
www.religionsforpeace.org/splash-page.html
7) National Interfaith Organizations
• The Hartley Film Foundation
www.hartleyfoundation.org
• The Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY)
www.interfaithcenter.org
• Interfaith Voices
www.interfaithradio.org
• Religions for Peace
www.religionsforpeace.org
• Zen Peacemakers
zenpeacemakers.org
• The Thanks-Giving Foundation
www.thanksgiving.org
8) Other Resources
For questions or comments about this manual, contact Swami
Jyotirmayananda at jyotima@yogaville.org. Contact her if you are
in need of a set of interfaith prayers on one of the following
themes: Earth, God as Father, God as Mother, Gratitude, Health
and Healing, Joy, Light, Love, Peace, Trust and Guidance, or
Unity and Oneness.
Also contact Swami Jyotirmayananda for the links to download the
Ashram interfaith black on white symbols and an interfaith
services video (1977, 1986, 2011) on youtube.