LET THE TIGER RUN
PRAYERS
ENGLISH GAYATRI
After bhajans in around 2003, Mohan approached me and asked me to translate the Gayatri mantra. I said to him, "Mohan, I am honored but the task is impossible." The next week, right after bhajans, Mohan approached me again and handed me an envelope with an explanation about the Gayatri. Again, I smiled, thanked him and replied, "Mohan, asking me to translate the Gayatri is like asking me to translate 'Om.' All rhythms in the Universe originate from the Gayatri mantra. I can't translate it."
Shortly after that, I was waiting for dinner in a restaurant. It is my habit to invite Swami to sit at the table with me...so I have these silent conversations! As always I had a pen and paper with me. Silently, I began to ask, "Swami, do you really want me to translate the Gayatri?" Before I could get half way through my question, Swami interrupted and said, "DO!!!!!" I immediately began to write, and 75% of the translation was done in the restaurant. The task was to translate the original words as closely as possible AND maintain the rhythm for every syllable.
English Gayatri
Om Lord
Light is your form
Shining through Earth and Heaven
Your radiant splendour we adore
Ignite our minds with wisdom
MORNING PRAYER
Morning Prayer
These are the words of the morning prayer Swami gave us.
Oh Lord, I am born again
From the womb of sleep
And I am determined
To carry out the tasks of the day as an offering to You
May all my thoughts and words and deeds
Be sacred pure and true
Let me harm no one,
Let no one harm me
