There followed prayers for universal peace chanted by Sangha members from India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Cambodia, all of whom prayed in Pali. Monks from Taiwan recited the ‘Heart Sutra’ in Chinese. Monks from Korea, Japan and Vietnam chanted the ‘Heart Sutra’ in their respective languages as they beat a wooden fish to keep their rhythm. Lastly, Tibetan monks recited the ‘Prayer of the Three Continuums’ and the following verse:

May there be happiness in the world, may harvests be abundant,
Increasing the production of grains; may spirituality flourish;
May we achieve all happiness and benefit
And fulfill all our heartfelt desires.

World Peace Prayer at the Mahabodhi Temple December 23, 2023

“None of us wants to suffer; we all want to be happy, but those who cultivate the causes of happiness through actually practising the path are few. Remember, the Buddha told us that the Enlightened Ones don't wash unwholesome deeds away with water, and they don't remove the sufferings of beings with their hands, nor do they transplant their own realization into others. It is by teaching the truth of suchness, revealing reality as they have experienced it, and the means to pacify restless minds, that they liberate beings. What’s more he stated, ‘You are your own master.’

“I can see how we rid ourselves of negative emotions, the causes of suffering by applying the teachings within ourselves. I can feel the impact the Dharma has had on my mind. If you too practise, if you study and practise, you’ll see how doing so brings about peace of mind.