You know when you get a song stuck in your head?
Well, these days instead of a tune, it’s a prayer:
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
Maybe you’re familiar with it, from a yoga class?
When we chant these sounds we are saying:
May all beings be happy.
May all beings know peace.
May all beings be free from suffering.
And that includes us.
We cannot wish something for another without receiving it for ourselves as well.
Maybe you’re wondering, do you really have to say this prayer in Sanskrit as opposed to any other language?
In short, NO.
Words in every language have power. What matters is your intention.
If you are genuinely focused and truly believe what you are saying, AND you really want it for all of humanity, that is your pure intention, that is what really matters.
However, Sanskrit is an ancient language, and has been used for thousands of years.
It is believed that the great sages, the Rishi, known as the keepers of knowledge, had the ability to hear the vibrations of everything in nature. From that, they took these sounds and created phrases. These are known as prayers or mantra.
Sanskrit phrases actually birth creation into existence. This is why the sounds are so potent.
They hold immense power because with them, we literally transform energy into matter.
Therein lies the power of using Sanskrit.
We are all creators, and are constantly creating our world. Yes, we forget this all the time, but we really do have that power because we are part of God.
Using Sanskrit mantra allows us to harness that power, and create the world we want.
After all, we are the embodiment of love, we are the light workers, and our prayers are needed NOW more than ever.
So join me.
Let our prayers ripple love, healing, and peace out into the world.
Let us invoke these prayers for ourselves as well as for all sentient beings anywhere and everywhere.
The world needs you to take your power and stand for love.
If you’d like to hear this prayer spoken – here’s a video of Deva Premal on YouTube.
If (like me) you’re fascinated with the meaning of the Sanskrit, here is a breakdown from jivamukti.com.
lokah: location, realm, all universes existing now
samastah: all beings sharing that same location
sukhino: centered in happiness and joy, free from suffering
bhav: the divine mood or state of unified existence
antu: may it be so, it must be so (antu used as an ending here transforms this mantra into a powerful pledge)
AND
if you want to connect more-
Join me on Tuesdays 6pm PST / 9pm EST -LOVE’S REFUGE
As a community, we meditate together then discuss how to maintain our practice throughout the week.