By Venerable Master Hsing Yun
Founder of Fo Guang Shan
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
Our world is an imperfect one;
Our life is filled with suffering;
Oppressions exist everywhere;
Calamities and dangers are prevalent.
Just as the news media has reported:
The disasters caused by water, fire, and wind
Happen almost every day;
The misfortunes of arson, killing, and robbery
Occur every day;
Greed, anger, ignorance, and hatred spread everywhere.
We have just heard
Of a kidnapping here;
Follow by a gun battle over there.
A case of rape happened today;
Another case of murder tomorrow;
This family does not uphold familial values,
That family does not have ethics and morality.
Society has come to the point
Where families are no longer like families,
Friends are no longer like friends.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha! Please observe:
Families may quarrel over a little profit,
And become enemies;
Friends may confront each other in court;
Because of some misunderstanding.
Moreover,
There are so many injustice that are difficult to appeal;
There are so many grievances that are difficult to resolve.
One may be swindled by others when running a partnership,
One may be exploited by others when making an investment.
Wherever we go,
What we perceive of this human world is:
Take advantage and deceive whenever possible.
Without any alternatives,
I can only pray to you, Buddha:
Please reinforce our strength;
Inspire our wisdom;
Arouse our confidence;
Increase our understanding.
May we apply your patience
To relieve the frustrations of the world;
May we cultivate your compassion
To guide and correct violent behavior;
May we uphold your precepts
To strengthen our own body and mind;
May we practice your meditative concentration
As a force to quiet ourselves.
I pray to you, Buddha, from now on:
If I encounter unwholesome people, may they give rise to compassion;
If I encounter armed people, may they give rise to kindness.
If there is a drought,
May the heavens send down sweet rain;
If there is natural disaster,
May the weather quickly become normal again.
I wish:
That all natural disasters caused by water and fire will
No longer run rampant;
And that robbers and mobs will
No longer resort to violence.
May all that we see be a wonderful world;
May all that we hear be wonderful sounds;
May all that we say be wonderful words;
May all that we do be wonderful acts.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
I pray to you with whole-heartedly:
May the future
Be free from all calamities and natural disasters;
May all sentient beings
Be free from the five hindrances and all sufferings.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha,
Please accept my sincerest prayer!
Oh great, compassionate Buddha,
Please accept my sincerest prayer!
(Excerpted from “A Prayer for Eliminating Calamity and Hindrances(消災免難祈願文)” from Pearls of Wisdom: Prayers for Engaged Living by Ven. Master Hsing Yun)