The Dalai Lama visited the Westminster Abbey on 20th June 2012 where the Dean of Westminster the Very Rev. Dr John Hall held a service of Prayer and Reflection in his honour. Dr Hall introduced various faiths representatives to the Dalai Lama and exchanged affectionate and warm greetings.
[The Dalai Lama is the 14th reincarnation of a lineage of spiritual leaders in the Tibetan Buddhist Monastic Order. The first Dalai Lama of this Monastic Order reigned in the 14th/15th century who was told in a vision by the Goddess Palden Lhamo, [For Hindus: the Goddess Kali the fierce Shakti consort of Lord Shiva], that she will protect the reincarnation lineage of the Bodhisattva Compassionate Dalai Lamas from demonic forces. The Dalai Lama lives in DharamShala India, north of Shimla.]
The Very Rev. Dr John Hall read prayers and the Christian Hymns filled the Abbey as everyone joined in to sing along. Rev. Michael Macy read a prayer from the Bible.
The Dalai Lama said that he was so happy to see all faiths represented before him giving the message that we all are working towards the same goal and must continue to unite in spirit. He said we must practice what we preach and referring to himself, in his familiar modesty to us all, he said he too finds a gap sometimes between his knowledge and practice but that he still strives to keep on working to narrow that gap. He said we all want peace and compassion for all humanity and now so pressingly for the ecology too.
Prayers were then read by the Buddhist, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu and Jain representative and my prayer was the Hindu Shanti Prayer.
Mr Anil Bhanot OBE, Representative of the Hindu Community, says:
This Shanti Mantra is recited at the end of almost every Hindu ceremony. We pray to the Lord to bless Peace everywhere in the Cosmos, by relieving us from sufferings from natural calamities to physical ailments and from our mental jealousies and impositions on fellow beings which give rise to conflicts around the world. By understanding our inter-connectedness through the omnipresence of God may we acquire Peace in our World.
Om Dyau Shanti Rantariksham
Shanti Prithvi Shanti Rapah
Shanti Roshadhayah Shanti Vanas Patayah
Shanti Vishwe Devah Shanti Brahma
Shanti Sarvam Shanti Shanti Reva
Shanti Sa Ma Shanti Redhi
Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi
O Lord, May there be Peace in the Sky on the Earth and in the Waters.
May there be Peace in the Plants and Trees.
May there be Peace in the celestial realm and in Brahma’s entire Creation
May there be Peace unto All and may Peace pervade everywhere
May Peace reside in our Minds
O Lord, Peace, Peace, Peace, for all the three realms of Existence.
Anil Bhanot
Managing Trustee/Director
Hindu Council UK