Practices for Peace in the World

June 28 2004

My dear Dharma brothers and sisters,

It looks like there could be a lot of violence happening in Iraq.

It comes out very beneficial if people read the Golden Light Sutra at least 1000 times and dedicate it for peace in Iraq and the rest of world. This will at least reduce the killing and suffering.

The holy Sutra of Golden Light is the king of the sutras (Ser.ö dam.päi do wang.gyi gyälpo). It is extremely powerful and fulfills the wishes, as well all the peace and happiness, of all sentient beings, up to enlightenment. It is also powerful for world peace, your own protection and the protection of your country and the world. Also, it has great healing power for people in the country, even if only one person reads it.

I am offering my suggestion for people who desire peace for themselves and for others. This is the spiritual, or dharma, way to bring peace that doesn't require you to harm others, doesn't require you to criticize others or even to demonstrate against others, yet can accomplish peace. So I hope some people will read this text, Buddhists and even non-Buddhists who desire world peace.

This also protects individuals and the country from what are labeled natural disasters-of the wind element, fire element, earth element and water element-such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones, fires, tornadoes, etc. They are not natural because they come from causes and conditions that make dangers happen. They come from past inner negative thoughts and actions of people, and external conditions. Their creation is not natural, it happens from our own side.

So here, I would like to make this request with my two palms together, to please recite the Sutra of Golden Light for world peace as much as you can.

Thank you very much.

With much love and prayers,

Lama Zopa