Stages of Life

Origins
In every birth, blessed is wonder. In all creation, blessed is the beginning.
In every child, blessed is life.
Jewish Blessing

Origins
Giving birth, nourishing, acting without expectations, this is the supreme virtue.
Taoism. Tao Te Ching

Birth
Allow the little children to come to Me and do not hinder them. For of such is the kingdom of God .
Christianity. Mark 10: 13-14

Birth
Baby knows all manner of wise words, though few on earth can understand their meaning.
Rabindranath Tagore

Youth
Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself.
Khalil Gibran, The Prophet

Youth
May these children live long, meet the Dharma, benefit others, and live a fulfilling life.
Buddhist Prayer

Marriage
When two people understand each other their words are sweet and strong, like the fragrance of orchids.
Confucianism. I Ching

Marriage
Man and woman are God’s master-pieces.
Their love is supreme, transcendent,
shining forever.
Reverend Sun Myung Moon

Mature in Love
All of the days of your life may you walk
gently through the world and know its beauty.
Native American Religions Apache Blessing

Sweet the glances we exchange.
Enshrine me in your heart and let
One spirit dwell
within us.
Mature in Love Hinduism. Atharva Veda 7.36

Farewells
We are on a market trip to earth:
Whether we fill our baskets or not,
Once the time is up, we go home.
African Traditional Igbo Song

Farewells
It is inevitable that humans should be reborn as beings that resemble God. How does that happen? Through death.

Passing
The dust returns to the earth as it was, the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Judaism. Ecclesiastes 12.7

Passing
Perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and mortal nature must put on immortality.
Christianity. 1 Corinthians 15:53

Ascension
Freed from the body, she becomes one with the immortal spirit, Brahman, Light eternal.
Hinduism, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.4.7

Ascension
Just as the womb takes in and gives forth again, so the grave takes in and will give forth again.
Judaism. Talmud, Berakot 15b

Ascension
Discarding the physical body enables us all to participate in the infinite realm of God’s love.

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by Universal Peace Federation International on Apr 02, 2010