24 January 2005

The Four Immeasureables: a Buddhist prayer

Well, after revising my version of the Lord's Prayer yesterday, I feel moved today to do a sort of similar adaptation of a central Buddhist prayer, "The Four Immeasurables." But instead of interpreting it in personal terms as I did the Lord's Prayer, I want to attempt to "translate" the concepts of this prayer into language familiar to North American Christians. So here goes:

O God, grant all of Your creatures happiness.

Grant all of Your creatures freedom from suffering.

Grant all of Your creatures perpetual, perfect joy.

Grant all of Your creatures peace and freedom from greed and prejudice.

Amen.

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