A Passage for May

/

The recent advent of spring here on the East Coast of the US (where dwells a segment of the YA Blog Team) has brought with it glorious sunshine and beautifully blossoming trees, longer hours of light and warmer temperatures. It has been a welcome change to the cold winter and reminded us of this passage by Hazrat Inayat Khan. In it, he praises the sun whom all beings take refuge in. 

YA-May-Picture

The sun and the beauty of nature can indeed be something to take refuge in. One activity we here on the YA Blog Team like to do when the weather is nice is “mantram in nature.” Sometimes this involves taking a little hike or walk through a park while repeating the mantram. Some of us like to take mantram runs, swims or bike rides. And sometimes, it’s as simple as sitting alone in nature (whether “nature” be your backyard, a small park in the city or a vast wilderness), letting yourself take refuge in the sun and hearing the mantram in all around you.

If you don’t already know Easwaran’s instructions on choosing and using a mantram, or if you would just like a refresher, you can find them here.

YA-May-flowerw

Of course, another activity to enjoy in lovely weather is passage memorization!  This month, we invite you to enjoy and appreciate nature, the sun and its warmth by memorizing or putting into your passage rotation “Prayer for the Peace of the World.” We hope that whatever the weather may be like in your part of the world, this passage may bring you some sunshine.

And, as always, we’d love to hear from you, so please share your thoughts in the comments below:

  • Which parts of this passage speak to you right now?
  • Are there other passages that come to mind when you are enjoying springtime?
  • What “mantram in nature” activities have you tried? Or which of the other eight points have you enjoyed practicing in nature?

Prayer for the Peace of the World – Hazrat Inayat Khan

O Thou, the Almighty Sun,
Whose light cleareth away all clouds,
We take refuge in Thee,
King of men, God of all deities,
Lord of all angels.
We pray Thee
Dispel the mists of illusion
From the hearts of the nations
And lift their lives
By Thy all-sufficient power.
Pour upon them
Thy limitless love
Thy everlasting life
Thy heavenly joy
And Thy perfect peace.