A World of Grace

My friend Nicole in New York, who I miss like crazy, sent me a copy of a poster she received in recognition for her work at the Poughkeepsie Farm Project.  The poster is titled A World of Grace (it's from Yes magazine) and it lists different ways some cultures go about pausing before a meal to give thanks.  Here are some that rendered me speechless.  Across the globe and throughout time, people have been trying to figure out how to remain grateful for the food they have.  What the earth gives us is so worthy of respect.

Buddist

This food is the gift  

of the whole universe. 

Each morsel is a sacrifice of life, 

May I be worthy to receive it. 

May the energy in this food 

Give me the strength 

To transform my unwholesome qualities 

Into wholesome ones. 

I am grateful for this food. 

May I realize the Path of Awakening, 

For the sake of all beings. 

Ashanti, Ghana

Earth, when I am about to die 

I lean upon you. 

Earth, while I am alive 

I depend upon you. 

Hindu, India

Before grasping this grain, 

let us consider in our minds 

the reasons why 

we should care for and safeguard this body. 

This is my prayer, oh God: 

May I be forever devoted at your feet, 

offering body, mind, and wealth 

to the service of truth in the world. 

Coptic, Egypt

Bless, O Lord, the plants, the vegetation, 

and the herbs of the field, 

that they may grow 

and increase to fullness 

and bear much fruit. 

And may the fruit of the land 

remind us of the spiritual fruit 

we should bear. 

Sioux, Native American 

I’m an Indian. 

I think about the common things like this pot. 

The bubbling water comes from the rain cloud. 

It represents the sky. 

The fire comes from the sun, 

Which warms us all, men, animals, trees. 

The meat stands for the four-legged creatures, 

Our animal brothers, 

Who gave themselves so that we should live. 

The steam is living breath. 

It was water, now it goes up to the sky, 

Becomes a cloud again. 

These things are sacred. 

Looking at that pot full of good soup, 

I am thinking how, in this simple manner, 

The Great Spirit takes care of me.