By Venerable Master Hsing Yun
Founder of Fo Guang Shan
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
Please listen to the solemn thoughts of your disciple:
Bloody and violent incidents
Are constantly occurring around us.
Brutal and senseless actions
Are spreading continuously into our lives.
Once kind and loving parents abuse their children
Because of a moment of anger;
Once innocent young people brutally kill their friends or companions
Because of a moment of jealousy and hatred;
Once loving couples fights with each other
Because of a moment of dispute;
Once devoted children kill or harm their parents
Because of a moment of ignorance and foolishness.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
These violent acts are abominable;
And yet they are also lamentable!
It is because
Hatred has clouded one’s benevolent thoughts;
Resentment has blinded one’s eyes;
Anger has controlled one’s behavior;
Greed has filled one’s mind.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
We pray for your support:
Allow compassion to calm their thoughts;
Allow wisdom to open their eyes;
Allow gratitude to reform their behavior;
Allow joy to free their minds;
Let them understand
That only respect can truly improve a friendly relation;
That only patience is the best demonstration
Of a person’s courage.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
Violence can completely severe family and ruin friendships
It is really sad and pitiful!
That human nature no longer has the virtue of tolerance;
That the heart no longer has the dignity.
Oh Buddha!
We understand
That everyone should bear the responsibility to purify society;
We should kindle ethical courage;
We should spread the seeds of joy.
From now on:
May we extinguish violent behavior;
May we vanquish unwholesome means;
May we eradicate angry and hateful schemes;
May we remove suspicious and jealous thoughts.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
I pray for your great protection:
May we all be able to walk out of the shadow of violence.
I pray for your great protection:
May we all be able to learn from the tranquility of compassionate heart;
May the world brim with gentle atmosphere;
May the world be filled with gracious manners.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha,
Please accept my sincerest prayer!
Oh great compassionate Buddha,
Please accept my sincerest prayer!
(Excerpted from “A Prayer for Those Who Have Violent Tendencies (為暴力傾向者祈願文)” from Pearls of Wisdom: Prayers for Engaged Living II by Venerable Master Hsing Yun)