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THE SACRED READINGS ARCHIVE


“UNITY IN DIVERSITY”

TORONTO, APRIL 13, 1997
(compiled by Cherag Leslie Gabriel Mezei ) 

INVOCATION Toward the One The Perfection of Love, Harmony, and Beauty The Only Being, United with all the Illuminated Souls Who form the Embodiment of the Master The Spirit of Guidance.

READINGS FROM THE WORLD SCRIPTURES 


FROM THE HINDU SCRIPTURES - Bhagavad Gita 4:6-8, 11 

Although I am unborn, everlasting, and I am the Lord of all, I come to my realm of nature and through my wondrous power I am born. When righteousness is weak and faints, and unrighteousness exults in pride, then my Spirit arises on earth. For the salvation of those who are good, for the destruction of evil in people, for the fulfilment of the kingdom of righteousness, I come to this world in the ages that pass.... In any way that people love me, in the same way they find my love: for many are the paths of people, but they all in the end come to me. 

We offer to the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for the light of the Divine Wisdom. 


BUDDHISM The Gospel of the Buddha: One Essence, One Law, One Aim

All things are made of one essence, yet things are different according to the forms which they assume under different impressions. As they form themselves so they act, and as they act, so they are. It is...as if a potter made different vessels out of the same clay. Some of these pots are to contain sugar, others rice, others curds and milk; others still are vessels of impurity. There is no diversity in the clay used; the diversity of the pots is only due to the moulding hands of the potter who shapes them for the various uses that circumstances may require. And as all things originate from one essence, so they are developing according to one law and they are destined to one aim which is Nirvana.... The Tathagata recreates the whole world like a cloud shedding its waters without distinction. He has the same sentiments for the high as for the low, for the wise as for the ignorant, for the noble-minded as for the immoral. 

We offer to the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for the light of the Divine Compassion. 


ZOROASTRIAN - The Zend Avesta of Zarathustra

O Ahura Mazda, Thine has been Armaiti, Thine has been the Life-creating wisdom. In us thou didst Life within the flesh encage, and didst grant us Words to guide, and Strength to act, so that we freely choose the path we tread. So each one, whether enlightened or unenlightened, whether truly or falsely, lifts up their voice to speak. But to the heart and to the head of each, directly through the spirit, Armaiti comes. She stands by to counsel with us whenever in doubt. 

We offer to the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for the light of the Divine Purity. 


NATIVE RELIGIONS - The Sacred Pipe: Black Elk

The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the universe dwells Wakan-Tanka, and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us. This is the real peace, and the others are but reflections of this. The second peace is that which is made between two individuals, and the third is that which is made between two nations. But above all, you should understand that there can never be peace between nations until there is first known that true peace which, as I have often said, is within the souls of people. 

We offer to the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for the light of the Divine Nature. 


BAHA’I - ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Promulgation, Page 24 

Be as one spirit, one soul, leaves of one tree, flowers of one garden, waves of one ocean. As difference in degree of capacity exists among human souls, as difference in capability is found, therefore, individualities will differ one from another. But in reality this is a reason for unity and not for discord and enmity. If the flowers of a garden were all one colour, the effect would be monotonous to the eye; but if the colours are variegated, it is most pleasing and wonderful. The difference in adornment of colour and capacity of reflection among the flowers gives the garden its beauty and charm. Therefore, although we are of different individualities, different in ideas and of various fragrances, let us strive like flowers of the same divine garden to live together in harmony. Even though each soul has its own individual perfume and colour, all are reflecting the same light, all contributing fragrance to the same breeze which blows through the same garden, all continuing to grow in complete harmony and accord. Become as waves of one sea, trees of one forest, growing in the utmost love, agreement and unity. 

We offer to the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for the light of the Divine Saintliness. 


JUDAISM - Psalm 118:24-27, Isaiah 56: 7. Tanakh, The Holy Scriptures

This is the day that the Lord has made -- let us exalt and rejoice on it. O Lord, deliver us! O Lord, let us prosper! May one who enters be blessed in the name of the Lord; We bless you from the House of the Lord. The Lord is God; He has given us light.... “...my House shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” 

We offer to the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for the light of the Divine Covenant. 


CHRISTIANITY - Luke 10:25-37. New Jerusalem Bible 

And now a lawyer stood up and, to test him, asked, ‘Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?’ He replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have answered right, do this and life is yours.’ But the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?” In answer Jesus said, “A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of bandits; they stripped him, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead. Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan traveller who came on him was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him onto his own mount and took him to an inn and looked after him. Next day he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper and said, “Look after him, and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have.” Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour of the man who fell in the bandits’ hands? He replied, ‘The one who showed pity towards him.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go, and do the same yourself.’

We offer to the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for the light of the Divine Self-sacrifice. 


ISLAM - Surah 30:17-24. The Meaning of the Holy Qur’an

So give glory to Allah, when ye reach eventide and when ye rise in the morning; Yea, to Allah be praise, in the heavens and on earth; and in the late afternoon and when the day begins to decline. It is Allah who brings out the living from the dead, and brings out the dead from the living, and who gives life to the earth after it is dead: And thus shall ye be brought out from the dead. Among Allah’s Signs is this, that Allah created you from dust; and then -- behold, ye are people scattered far and wide. And among Allah’s Signs is this, that Allah created you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquility with them, and has put love and mercy between your hearts: verily in that are Signs for those who reflect. And among Allah’s Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colours; verily in that are Signs for those who know. And among Allah’s Signs is the sleep that ye take by night and by day, and the quest that ye make for a livelihood out of Allah’s Bounty: verily in that are Signs for those who hearken. And among Allah’s Signs, Allah shows you the lightning, by way both of fear and of hope, and Allah sends down rain from the sky and with it gives life to the earth after it is dead: verily in that are Signs for those who are wise. 

We offer to the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage ,and our gratitude for the light of the Divine Unity. 
From the Gayan, Vadan, Nirtan of Hazrat Inayat Khan 

I searched, but could not find Thee; I called Thee aloud, standing on the minaret; I rang the temple bell with the rising and setting of the sun; I bathed in the Ganges in vain; I came back from Ka’ba disappointed; I looked for Thee on earth; I searched for Thee in the heaven; my Beloved, but at last I have found Thee hidden as a pearl in the shell of my heart. -------- 

The closer one approaches reality, the nearer one comes to unity.

We offer to the Omniscient God, our reverence, our homage, and our gratitude for the light of the Divine Truth. 


BLESSING May the Blessing of God rest upon you; May God’s Peace abide with you; May God’s presence illuminate your heart, Now and forever more. Amen