Namaste
The light (divine) in me,
honors the light (divine) in you,
In truth,
We are one,
The Great I AM

The ‘namaste’ gesture acts as a simple yogic asana, balancing and harmonizing our energies-keeping us centered, inwardly poised and mentally protected.

The ‘namaste’ gesture closes our aura, shielding us psychically.
This mudra (seal to contain energy, prana (life-force, vital energy) within the body) keeps us from becoming to externalized, thus we remain close to our intuitive nature, our more expanded being.

Namaste draws us inward to our true self for a moment.

Opening Ashtanga Yoga Mantra

OM

VANDE GURUNAM CHARANARAVINDE

SUNDARSITA SVATMA SUKHAVA BODHE

NIH SREY ASE JANGAL"EE" KAYAMAN A

SUMSARA HALAHALA MOHASANTYA A

ABAHU PURUSAKARAM

SANKHA CAKRASI DHARINAM

SAHASRA SIRASAM SVETAM

PRANAMAMI PATANJALIM

OM

I bow to the lotus feet of the guru
who awakens insight into the happiness of pure Being,
who is the final refuge, the jungle physician,
who eliminates the delusion caused by the poisonous
herb of samsara [conditioned existence].

I prostrate before the sage Patanjali
who has thousands of radiant, white heads
[in his form as the divine serpent, Ananta]
and who has, as far as his arms,
assumed the form of a man holding a conch shell [divine sound],
a wheel [discus of light, representing infinite time]
and a sword [discrimination].

om

"Lokah" Chant, (MANGALA MANTRA)
OM

SWASTHI PRAJA BHYAH PARI PALA YANTAM

NYE YENA MARGENA MAHIM MAHI SHAHA

GO BRAHMANEBHYAHA SHUBHAMASTU NITYAM

LOKAHA SAMASTHA SUKHINO BHAVANTHU

OM

SHANTI SHANTI SHANTI

OM


Let prosperity be glorified

Let Rulers (Administrators) rule the world with law and justice

Let Divinity and Erudition be protected
May all beings everywhere be happy and freeand may our thoughts and actions contribute to the well-being for all.

Om, Peace, Peace, Peace, Om

Peace, Peace, Peace

Gayatri Mantra
Om bhur bhuvaha swaha
Tat savitur varin yam
Bharga devasya dhi mahi;
Dhi yo yo nah prachodayat
 

My favorite, the Gayatri Mantra, one of the oldest Mantras of the Vedas.  Used for celebrating the miracle of Divine light outwardly and inwardly and aligning one's intelligence with the evolutionary power pervading all life.   The mantra frees one from the fruits of Karma, leading us towards Moksha (liberation).  It vitalizes life force to express itself through the body, thus establishing longevity, courage, strength, understanding, confidence, contentment.

This mantra embodies all the divine potencies.
Through the coming (future), going (past), and the balance of life (present)
The essential nature which illuminates existence is the adorable one (Adoration of God)
May all perceive through subtle intellect
The brilliance of enlightenment
May the divine light illuminate and guide my intelligence.

Meditation and prayer to the Lord
To center all powers and talents
Connect to God within us
Realize that everything is within and thereby develop confidence in the self.

Oh Lord, embodiment of vital spiritual energy and remover of suffering
May you enlighten my intellect and may you give me wisdom

It is said that the Gayatri Mantra purifies the listener as well as the singer.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in Heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power

and the glory forever.

Amen.

Matthew 6:9-13