THE LOVINGKINDNESS SURVIVAL KIT
Introduction
The Lovingkindness Survival Kit is small, and simple; fold
it up and it will fit in your pocket, or your backpack, or any
small corner. It is more than big enough, in a homeworld already
so very crowded. It holds the basic necessities of ritual, ready
when you feel a need for them. It has been constructed with the
most scrupulous attention that I could bring to the task.
It may be that none of the words you find here will strike
you as words that you can fit into your life. If so, remember
that all around you is the radiant Holy Book of the Universe;
remember that at every hand are the words spoken and written by
the wise, available always for your use. Remember, too, the counsel
of your heart; respect and trust it. May you go in lovingkindness
in this world.
Copyright OCLS 1998
BIRTH
Welcome, Child; you are a part of this Earth.
You are cradled in blue oceans;
you are bathed in golden light;
you are wrapped in green grasses;
you are made shining by the stars.
Welcome, Child.
The redwood is your friend,
and the Joshua Tree;
the fern is your companion,
and the wild berry garland.
There will be rain for you, hushing;
and thunder for you, roaring;
and lightning for you, dancing;
and all this perfect world for you,
turning.
Welcome, Child.
Amen.
(Note: If the plants and trees named are not
suitable for the situation, use those you find
around you or those dearest to you.)
DEATH
(for one who is dying)
I go from you
into a new becoming;
rejoice for me and wish me an easy journey
into the Light.
The winds will speak to you of me,
the waters will mention my name;
snow and rain and fog,
first light and last light,
all will remind you that I had
a certain way of being
that was dear to you.
I go back to the land I came from
and on beyond.
Watch for me,
from Time to Time.
Amen.
DEATH
(for one who has died)
You go from us
into a new becoming;
we rejoice for you and wish you an easy journey
into the Light.
The winds will speak to us of you,
the waters will mention your name;
snow and rain and fog,
first light and last light,
all will remind us that you had
a certain way of being
that was dear to us.
You go back to the land you came from
and on beyond.
We will watch for you,
from Time to Time.
Amen.
JOINING LIVES
May you be together
through as many seasons
as are fit and meet
for the joining of your lives,
remembering that you cannot be given more
than you yourselves shall give,
avoiding those creatures that have no skill but stinging,
refraining from becoming like them,
rejoicing always.
May you live in the Country of the Loving Mind.
Amen.
(Or "May we," "our lives," "we
ourselves," and so on.)
SEPARATION
It happens, from time to time,
that rivers join, only to part again;
this lessens in no way those days and nights
when they flowed as one river.
Part now as waters do; part quietly,
in lovingkindness,
without doing harm;
move on serenely into newer days,
and newer nights,
and newer ways
of flowing.
Amen.
(Or "Let us part now" and "let us move
on.")
NAMING
Let there be no mistake:
the giving of a name, or its taking,
are solemn matters.
There is power in naming,
and a name is a covenant.
I name you ...........................................
Be true to this name;
it is expected of you.
(Or "I take the name" and "I will be
true" and "of me.")
CONSECRATION
This place is holy; I hold it sacred.
I dedicate it to radiance and to lovingkindness.
This time is holy; I hold it sacred.
I dedicate it to radiance and to lovingkindness.
Weaving space and time,
weaving radiance,
weaving lovingkindness,
I pronounce this consecration.
May it be blessed.
Amen.
(Or "we hold" and "we dedicate"
and "we pronounce.")
HEALING
My body has set itself against the harmony of the universe;
thus, I feel pain.
Let there be an end to this, and let joy return.
My mind has set itself against the understanding of
the universe;
thus, I feel confusion.
Let there be an end to this, and let joy return.
My spirit has set itself against the serenity of the
universe;
thus, I feel distress, and I feel despair.
Let there be an end to this, and let joy return.
I have set my body, mind, and spirit
to struggle among themselves and against all that is holy.
Let there be an end to this, and let wholeness return.
May I be humble enough to grant myself
that same lovingkindness I grant all other things.
May I be humble enough to grant myself
that same lovingkindness that others show toward me.
Amen.
(Or "you" and "your" and so on.)
CONSOLATION
There is only one way out of grief,
and that is to go through it and beyond it.
Turn away from grief and it will follow you everywhere;
it will be your shadow even in darkness.
Turn toward it now and know that it can be encountered,
that it can be learned from,
that it can be grown through,
that it can be surpassed.
Move now, without fear or hesitation, toward the borders
of sorrow,
and pass through them.
Amen.
PRAYER
Holy One,
we delight in Thee
as Thou delightest in us.
We delight in the Earth,
and in the radiance of this universe,
knowing full well (if we choose wisely and with love)
that radiance will shine through us
as it shines through Thee.
And if there be weak ones among us,
by the strength of lovingkindness
there shall be radiance enough
for them as well.
Amen.
(Or "You" and "You delight," if
you prefer.)
BENEDICTION
May I go forth in peace,
lovingkindness my pleasant bond,
even when I am apart from those I love;
thus, I am never truly apart.
May I go forth in love,
joy my constant companion,
even when I am alone;
thus, I am never truly alone.
Amen.
(Or "May we" and "our" and "we
are.")
THE SMALL CREED
I believe in lovingkindness,
the manifestation of the Holy,
inexhaustible, infinite, and undivided.
Whatsoever hinders lovingkindness,
humankind perceives as pain and evil.
I will not be a hindrance.
I will not be confused by hindrances.
I believe in lovingkindness,
the manifestation of the Holy,
whose channel in this world I am,
now and forevermore.
Amen.
FOUR MEDITATIONS
To be selfish is to do harm;
to do harm is forbidden.
To use violence is to do harm;
to do harm is forbidden.
***
The visible manifestation of love is radiance.
***
What is not lovingkindness
is not welcome here;
the task is always to change it and make it welcome.
***
There is no sterner discipline than joy.
***
THE FOUR PRINCIPLES
ONE
Any time, any place, is a worship service;
any life is a worship service.
The quality of the service rests with us.
TWO
It is a true law: As ye sow, so shall ye reap.
Remember it well.
In lovingkindness there is always space enough,
and time enough,
and love enough,
to go around.
THREE
Not one of us is set above any other, ever.
We are equal in our value and in our rank,
in the sight of the Holy One,
and in the sight of one another,
and in our own hearts,
for all time.
FOUR
We are part of this Earth, and of this universe.
We do not abuse them, or abuse their creatures;
we do not defile them;
we do not do lay them waste.
We hold them always lovingly in mind.
HYMN (Tune: "Amazing Grace")
On the lovingkindness path I stand, within this church
of Earth;
my altar is this living land, my membership my birth.
I need no church with walls set round, no door, no
lock, no key;
where lovingkindness can be found is church enough for me.
I need no pastor, priest, nor pope, in solemn silken
gown;
my vestments are the robes of hope, and joy shall be my crown.
I am a child of galaxies, of planets all unknown;
a child of One Whose majesties require nor sword nor throne.
On other worlds and other seas, lit by another star,
and hearing other harmonies, my myriad kindred are.
Around me spread the endless skies, ablaze with star
and sun;
no world so small it cannot rise to greet the Holy One.
(Repeat first verse to close.)
HYMN (Tune, and most of the words: "Morning
Has Broken")
Morning has broken, like the first morning;
blackbird has spoken, like the first bird.
Praise for the singing, praise every morning,
praise for them springing fresh from the Word!
Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven,
like the first dewfall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
sprung in completeness where Thy feet pass!
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning,
born of the One Light angels saw play.
Praise with elation, praise every morning;
sing celebration for the new day!
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