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Document No 11

2003          Page last updated: 30 July, 2005

University Hospital Birmingham

and

Birmingham Women's Hospital

Chaplaincy Departments

A Celebration and Affirmation

of

VOLUNTEER VISITORS

from the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim faiths

Birmingham Women's Hospital

Education Centre

Wednesday January 29th 2003

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION Revd Francis Buxton

SILENCE

“Lord, I just don't know what to say when I am asked to make a prayer. It is like being asked to breathe.” (Young Indian Christian)

BUDDHIST

Buddhist Chanting

The following describes and explains Thai Theravada Buddhist Chanting.

There are three kinds of chanting. The language used is Pali, an ancient dialect used in North-East India in the time of the Buddha, some two-and-a-half thousand years ago. This language is widely used in such traditional Theravada Buddhist countries as Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka.

Please be silent and listen mindfully during the chanting, freeing your mind from thinking of other things.

(1) Chanting for all who have completed the training here and are receiving a certificate for voluntary work among the sick in hospital and elsewhere.

Monk No. 1 leads the chanting.

The meaning of the chanting is as follows:

Homage to the Buddha

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammasambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammasambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammasambuddha s sa

Homage to the Blessed One,
far from defilement, perfectly enlightened by himself.
Homage to the Blessed One,
far from defilement, perfectly enlightened by himself.
Homage to the Blessed One, far from defilement, perfectly enlightened by himself.

Chanting of Blessing

Mahakaruniko natho hitaya sabbapaninam
Puretva parami sabba patto sambodhimuttamam
Etena saccavajjena hotu te jayamangalam
Jayanto bodhiya mule sakyanam nandivaddhano
Evam tvam vijayo hohi jayassu jayamangale
Aparajitapallanke sise pathavipokkhare
Abhiseke sabbabuddhanam aggappatto pamodati
Sunakkhattam sumangalam supabhatam suhutthitam
Sukhano sumuhutto ca suyittham brahmacarisu
Padakkhinam kayakammam vacakammam padakkhinam
Padakkhinam manokammam panidi te padakkhina
Padakkhinani katvana labhantatthe padakkhine

The Protector,
greatly compassionate for the welfare of all living beings,
Fulfilled all the perfections and attained supreme enlightenment.
By the speaking of this truth, may you be blessed with victory.
Victorious at the root of the Bodhi-tree,
he brought great joy to the Sakyas:
Be likewise victorious, and win the blessing of victory.
Sitting cross-legged and undefeated on that exalted place,
on the lotus-like earth,
Attained to the utmost
he rejoices in the consecration of all the Buddhas.
Auspicious stars, great blessings, a good dawn, rewarded generosity,
A good moment, an auspicious moment,
giving to those leading the Holy Life.
When actions of body are good, when actions of speech are good,
When actions of mind are good
and your resolves and aspirations are good,
Having done good acts, one attains the good.

( 2 ) Chanting for those who are not well in hospital. May they all recover well and may their life be full of happiness and joy.

Monk No. 2 leads the chanting.

Bojjhango satisankhato dhammanam vicayo tatha
Viriyam piti passaddhi bojjhanga ca tathapare
Samadhupekkhabojjhanga sattete sabbadassina
Munina sammadakkhata bhavita bahulikata
Samvattanti abhinnaya nibbanaya ca bodhiya
Etena saccavajjena sotthi te hotu sabbada
Ekasmim samaye natho moggallanan ca kassapam
Gilane dukkhite disva bojjhage satta desayi
Te ca tam abhinanditva roga muccinsu tankhane
Etena saccavajjena sotthi te hotu sabbada
Ekada dhammaraja pi gelannenabhipilito
Cundattherena tanneva bhanapetvana sadaram
Sammoditva ca abadha tamha vutthasi thannso
Etena saccavajjena sotthi te hotu sabbada
Pahina te ca abadha tinnannam pi mahesinam
Maggahatakilesa va pattanuppattidhammatam
Etena saccavajjena sotthi te hotu sabbada

The enlightenment factor of mindfulness,
likewise investigation of Dhammas,
And the enlightenment factors of vigour, joy, tranquility,
The enlightenment factors of Samadhi and equanimity:
these seven, perfectly taught
By the all-seeing Sage, developed and much-practised
Bring about higher knowledge, Nibbana and enlightenment:
By the speaking of this truth, may well - being ever be yours.
On one occasion, the Protector saw Moggallana and Kassapa
Ill and in pain, and taught the seven factors of enlightenment.
They took delight in that
and were in that moment freed from their illness:
By the speaking of this truth, may well-being ever be yours.

Once when the King of Dhamma himself was afflicted with an illness
He asked the Elder Cunda
to speak of the same factors with devotion,
And rejoicing he immediately arose from that illness:
By the speaking of this truth, may well-being ever be yours.
Those diseases were abandoned by those three great sages
Like defilements destroyed through the Path by those attained to the fulfillment of Dhamma.
By the speaking of this truth, may well-being ever be yours.

(3) Chanting of Blessing for All Sentient Beings.

Monk No. 3 leads the chanting.

Dh u kkhapatta ca niddukkha bhayappatta ca nibbhaya
Sokappatta ca nissoka hontu sabbe pi panino
Ettavata ca amhehi sambhatam punnasampadam
Sabbe devanumodantu sabbasampattisiddhiya
Danam dadantu saddhaya silam rakkhantu sabbada
Bhavanabhirata hontu gacchantu devatagata
Sabbe buddha balappatta paccekanan ca yam balam
Arahantanan ca tejena rakkham bandhami sabbaso

Those in pain be free from pain, those in fear be free from fear,
Those in grief be free from grief, may it be so for all beings.
To whatever extent we have gathered merit,
May all devas rejoice in it,
for the sake of all happiness and prosperity.
May people give g ifts through faith, may they always guard sila,
May they find delight in practice,
and let the devas present here take leave.
By all Budd has attained to power,
and the power of the Pacceka Buddhas,
And by the might of the Arahats, I bind protection of every kind.

A time of SILENCE

CHRISTIAN

Hymn : Sing for God's glory (tune Lobe den Herren)

Sing for God's glory that colours the dawn of creation
Racing across the sky, trailing bright clouds of elation;
Sun of delight succeeds the velvet of night,
Warming the earth's exultation.

Sing for God's power that shatters the chains that would bind us,
Searing the darkness of fear and despair that could blind us,
Touching our shame with love that will not lay blame,
Reaching out gently to find us.

Sing for God's justice disturbing each easy illusion,
Tearing down tyrants and putting our pride to confusion;
Lifeblood of right, resisting evil and slight,
Offering freedom's transfusion.

Sing for God's saints who have traveled faith's journey before us,
Who in our weariness give us their hope to restore us;
In them we see the new creation to be,
Spirit of love made flesh for us.

(Words: Kathy Galloway)

Christ taught his disciples to love one another. In his community of love, in praying together, in sharing all things and in caring for the sick, they recalled his words: ‘In so far as you did this to one of these, you did it to me.' We gather today to witness to this teaching and to pray in the name of Jesus the healer that the sick may be restored to health and that all among us may know his saving power.

Bible reading The Gospel according to St Matthew, 25. 31-40

Jesus said: When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, "Come, you that are bless by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you? And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord:
ALL PRAISE TO YOU, LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Prayer

Today we pray for God's rich blessing on these hospital Trusts and all our staff.
(Silence)
Lord, hear us.
LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.

We pray that God the Holy Spirit may guide, strengthen and encourage all who work in our Chaplaincy departments: Barry, Francis, Jeremy, Julie, Kay, Ned, Peter, Rehanah, Roberta, Roy, Stephen and Zaman; and all our volunteer visitors and helpers, religious sisters, and students.
(Silence)
Lord, hear us.
LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.

We pray that Jesus may touch our patients and their families with his healing power and love, and we name in the silence those for whom we have a particular concern at this time.
(Silence)
Lord, hear us.
LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.

We pray with profound thanksgiving for our families and our churches to whom we owe so much, that they may be united in God's love. (Silence)
Lord, hear us.
LORD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.

And we join in prayer for all our new volunteers as we say together:

Lord Jesus, our brother,
you showed your love for the sick by your concern for them.
Help us to see you and serve you in those who are sick.
Bless these women and men
who are dedicating themselves
to the care of sick people and their families.
Guide them in their labours,
and give them a greater share in your love.
Reward their service by the peace and joy of your Holy Spirit,
and by the everlasting happiness of heaven.
Lord Jesus, we praise you,
for you are our Lord for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come; thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.

Hindu

Bhagavad Gita 2. 58-end

(Krishna speaks to Arjuna)

When in recollection a man withdraws all his senses from the attractions of the pleasures of sense, even as a tortoise withdraws all its limbs, then his is a serene wisdom.
Pleasures of sense, but not desires, disappear from the austere soul. Even desires disappear when the soul has seen the Supreme.
The restless violence of the senses impetuously carries away the mind of even a wise man striving towards perfection.
Bringing them all into the harmony of recollection, let him sit in devotion and union, his soul finding rest in me. For when his senses are in harmony, then his is a serene wisdom.
When a man dwells on the pleasures of sense, attraction for them arises in him. From attraction arises desire, the lust of possession, and this leads to passion, to anger.
From passion comes confusion of mind, then loss of remembrance, the forgetting of duty. From this loss comes the ruin of reason, and the ruin of reason leads man to destruction.
But the soul that moves in the world of the senses and yet keeps the senses in harmony, free from attraction and aversion, finds rest in quietness.
In this quietness falls down the burden of all her sorrows, for when the heart has found quietness, wisdom has also found peace.
There is no wisdom for a man without harmony, and without harmony there is no contemplation. Without contemplation there cannot be peace, and without peace can there be joy?
For when the mind becomes hound to a passion of the wandering senses, this passion carries away man's wisdom, even as the wind drives a vessel on the waves.
The man who therefore in recollection withdraws his senses from the pleasures of sense, his is a serene wisdom.
In the dark night of all beings awakes to Light the tranquil man. But what is day to other beings is night for the sage who sees.
Even as all waters flow into the ocean, but the ocean never overflows, even so the sage feels desires, but he is ever one in his infinite peace.
For the man who forsakes all desires and abandons all pride of possession and of self reaches the goal of peace supreme.
This is the Eternal in man, O Arjuna. Reaching him all delusion is gone. Even in the last hour of his life upon earth, man can reach the Nirvana of Brahman – man can find peace in the peace of his God.

SILENCE

Muslim

AL-FATIHAH, THE OPENING (Holy Qur'an, Chapter 1).

(Recitation in Arabic)

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,
The Beneficent, the Merciful;
Owner of the Day of Judgment,
Thee (alone) we worship;
Thee (alone) we ask for help.
Show us the straight path,
The path of those whom Thou hast favoured;
Not (the path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.

ILLNESS

In Islam, there have been many narratives, which explain that sickness expiates evil deeds and wipe out sins.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: “ For every misfortune, illness, anxiety, grief, or hurt that afflicts a Muslim, even the hurt caused by the pricking of a thorn – Allah removes some of his sins.”

He also said: “No Muslim is afflicted with any hurt, even if it is no more than the pricking of a thorn, but Allah wipes off his sins because of it and his sins fall away from him as leaves fall from a tree.

It has been narrated that Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, spoke also about the seeking of treatment for illnesses saying: “There is a cure for every disease. Whenever an illness is treated with its right remedy, it will, by Allah's permission, be cured.”

Patience during illness

A companion of the Prophet, peace be upon him, once narrated a story. He said: “A woman came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and said: ‘I suffer from epileptic fits, and because of these, (at times) my body becomes uncovered. Would you invoke Allah, the Exalted One, to cure me of this disease?' The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “If you wish, you can be patient and you will attain Paradise, (for this suffering). But if you prefer, I will pray to Allah, the Exalted, to cure you of it.' To this the woman replied: ‘I will be patient,' then added: ‘But as I become uncovered when I have fits, please invoke Allah for me that I do not become uncovered.' So the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, prayed for her.

It is reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, once exclaimed: “How remarkable is the case of the believer! Whenever something good happens to him, he is thankful to Allah, and is rewarded. And when some misfortune befalls him, he endures it patiently, for which he is also rewarded.”

Rewards for good deeds normally performed in state of health

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “If a servant of Allah falls sick or goes on a journey, he ( continues to be ) rewarded for the good deeds he used to do when he was healthy or at home.”

Visiting the sick

Part of Islamic etiquette is to visit the sick, to provide him moral support, and to make sure that he is well taken care of.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and free the captives.”

Reward of the Hereafter for visiting the sick

It is related by a companion of the Prophet, peace be upon him, that he had said: “A caller from heaven calls out to the person who visits a sick person, ‘You are good and your path is good. May you enter your residence in Paradise'.”

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Verily, Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, will say on the Day of Judgement: ‘O Son of Adam! I fell ill but you did not visit me.' The person will ask, ‘O my Sustainer! How could I visit You when You are the Sustainer of the worlds? And how can You fall sick?' He, the Almighty will say, ‘Did you not know that such and such a servant of mine was sick? But you did not visit him. Did you not know that, had you visited him, you would have found Me by his side?…'

Etiquette in visiting the sick

The Prophet, (p.b.u.h) used to recommend that the visitor pray for the recovery and health of the patient and that he should urge him to endure his trouble patiently. He said: “When you visit a sick person, give him hope for a long life. This will not avert anything, but will please the patient and give him comfort.”

When he would visit a sick person he used to say to him: “Do not worry! It is a means of cleansing (you) of sins, God-willing.”

Unless the patient desires long or frequent visits, it is preferable to keep visits short and to make them less frequent as far as possible, lest they should become burdensome for him.

Words of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), peace be upon him, in the Qur'an.

Chapter 26, Verses 80-82,

(Recitation in Arabic)

And when I am ill, it is He Who cures me;Who will cause me to die, and then live (again)

And Who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the Day of Judgment.

Requesting prayers from the sick

It has been narrated that the messenger of Allah, (p.b.u.h) said: “When you visit a sick person, ask him to pray for you. Indeed, the prayer of a sick person is like the prayer of angels.”

Address Revd. Stephen Barton

Presentation of certificates of attendance and welcome to the new volunteers

Closing prayers of BLESSING and PEACE spoken by a representative from each religious tradition

Followed by greetings of peace among each other and sharing of refreshments

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