Luminous One

Several years ago we had the opportunity to explore the Gayatri Mantra with Swami Muktibodhananda when she was offering a workshop at Dayaalu. Although the Gayatri is often translated as “the mantra of protection”, she taught us that the root ga means to sing and yatri means one who is on a spiritual journey. When we live a life that supports us in becoming our most radiant self, we don’t need protection. Living this way invites us to experience all that is unfolding as an opportunity to become more radiant and more loving. From this place we receive the most profound protection we could ever ask for. Often protection infers that we need a shield to keep danger away. Instead, this way of being invites us to let life fully in and to let it transform us so we can shine our radiance out into the world.

More than ever I feel that it’s time for us all to step into our radiance. This inspired me to explore the profound teachings of the Gayatri Mantra this month. I’ll share the words and my translation here:

Om Bhur Bhuvah Swah Tat-savitur Vareñyam

Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayat

We meditate on this adored radiant light, the source of creation. May this divine light that is both within and without, illuminate all realms, physical, mental and spiritual and enlighten my understanding.

One of the things I cherish about the spiritual path of yoga is how it offers guidance to support our experience in our bodies, minds and emotions as well as our connection to spirit. The first phrase of this mantra honors these three parts of our human experience with the words Bhur (physical body), Bhuvah (emotions and mind) and Swah (soul and spiritual realm). This inspired me to ask the question: what will support more radiance or illumination in my body, mind and emotions and in my connection to spirit? This led me to the powerful Ayurvedic practices of Rasayana. The word Rasayana comes from rasa (essence) and ayana (the path) and offers us guidance to rejuvenate on all levels: body, mind and spirit. Imagine if we checked in with ourselves to ask, ‘What does my body, mind and spirit need to feel more radiant today?’ When we tune in to what we need, we reconnect to our vitality and remember that it arises from the source of all radiance.

With radiant love,
Sue