This Sunday is the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 – as if any of could escape this information. We all have our different ways of honoring those that have passed and those that continue to be touched by this tragedy. I would like to share a Sanskrit prayer with you.
Lokaha Samastaha Sukino Bhavantu
May all beings everywhere, be happy and free
And may I, in some way, contribute to that happiness and freedom
This is a prayer that we often chant after our practice of yoga, so that all may feel the peace that yoga brings. You may wish to chant this with specific individuals in mind, or perhaps an image of the globe before you, or even the universe.
This prayer can also be an act of devotion. Taking a moment to devote your practice can help to strengthen your commitment because you are showing up for someone other than yourself. Many of us can feel guilty when we take time to serve ourselves. We may feel or think that we do not deserve to our own attentions, or that others need to be taken care of first. But the truth is that we all deserve and have earned self-care. When you take time to care for yourself, you end up supporting those around you, sometimes in ways that you could never imagine.
Saying this prayer, whether you choose the Sanskrit or the English, can be a moment where you invite everyone to feel the bliss of oneness that comes from your practice.
