Mantras that Inspire

       Friends, I am posting two units this week to break the monotony of the series. One is Number 9 in the series on Life's lessons - Who taught me what? The other is on Vedic mantras for meditation and prayer.

Meaningful Passages from the Vedas for Meditation

Over the years, I have learnt several noble slokas and passages from the Vedas and the Upanishads. Here are a few inspirational slokas ideally suited for insightful meditation and prayers, since they help connect the part with the whole, historical with the universal and the ephemeral with the eternal, in both form and substance.

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते।
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते॥   Shanti Mantra of Isha

Both the Supreme Brahman (That, adah) and the conditioned Brahman (idah, in this body) are full, infinite. The conditioned infinite arises out of the Supreme Infinite. That Supreme remains full, infinite and, unconditioned even after the conditioned infinite had been separated.

 

यस्तु सर्वाणि भूतान्यात्मन्यॆवानुपश्यति ।
सर्वभूतॆषु चात्मानं ततॊ न विजुगुप्सतॆ ॥ Isvasya 1: 6

He who can see all beings in oneself and, can see the Self in all beings does not feel any negative feelings towards the other.

(It is interesting that there is a similar passage in the Bible. It is John 15:5 which states "  I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing") 

 

तदेजति तन्‍नैजति तद् दूरे तद्वन्तिके ।

तदन्‍तरस्‍य सर्वस्‍य तदु सर्वस्‍यास्‍य बाह्यत: ।।  Isvasya   1:5

It (or That) moves. It does not move. It is far. It is near. It is inside all and, It is outside all.

 

तमेव भान्तमनुभाति सर्वं तस्य भासा सर्वमिदं विभाति ॥  Mundaka 2:2: 10

When It shines It illuminates ( makes know) everything ;  In Its brilliance everything else shines.

 

यन्मनसा न मनुतॆ यॆनाहुर् मनॊ मतम् ।
तदॆव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नॆदं यदिदमुपासतॆ ॥  (Kena 1:6)

That which is not thought of by the mind, but That enveloped by which the mind thinks, is Brahman, not what people worship as an object.

समानी व आकूतिः समाना हर्दयानि वः |
समानमस्तु वोमनो यथा वः सुसहासति || Rg Veda 10:191

Let your resolve be one and let your minds (hearts) be of one accord.
Let your thoughts be united so that all may happily agree.

 

ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

May all be happy, May all be free from illness, May all experience everything auspicious,
May no one suffer. Om Peace, peace, peace