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At the right is the Asatoma Prayer that we chant at the beginning of every session of Amrit Yoga, Amrit Yoga Nidra and any other Yoga class I teach.

Why do I insist on chanting these mantra at the beginning of my classes?  Chanting makes so many people so very, very uncomfortable; so, why do I do it and why do I require students to chant along?

This chant teaches something so very powerful:  You are the source of everything you experience.

Don’t believe me?  Find a friend and both of you go outside.  What is the first thing you notice?  What is the first thing your friend notices?  You are both in the same environment but you both, most likely, notice different things.  You are both creating different realities from the same environment.

You ARE the power of Creation.

[/one_half] [one_half_last] Asatoma Sadgamaya

Tamasoma Jyotir Gamaya

Mrityorma Amritam Gamaya

Guru Brahma

Guru Vishnu

Guru Devo Maheshvarah

Guru Sakshat Praram Brahma

Tasmai Shri Guruve Namaha

OM, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti

Translation

Lead me from the unreal to the real.

Lead me from darkness to light.

Lead me from time-bound consciousness to timeless state of BE-ing.

Guru is my power of Creation.

Guru is my power of Preservation.

Guru is my power of Transformation.

Guru is the Supreme Absolute.

Salutations to the True Guru within me.

OM, Peace, Peace, Peace[/one_half_last]

There is a new campaign starting, #LikeAGirl, that actually illustrates this power rather well.  Take three minutes and watch the video below before reading further.

“Run like a girl.”  Four little words.  We are those who have created what that phrase means.  We have the power to preserve and sustain that meaning or to transform it, and ourselves, into something more.  It sounds very noble, it sounds very powerful.  It is still kindergarten level.

Like a girl or like a boy still divides us, reinforces the belief that we are separate.  Yoga is union, not separation.  “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” (John 17:11)  The Gospel of Peace is about Oneness, not separation.

The little girl in red at 0:57 and the young woman at 2:37 have it right:  “It means run fast as you can.”  “I would run like myself.”  There is no girl, no boy, no separation in what they said.  There is only acceptance of themselves and doing their best.

All of you, run like yourself, every day.  #LikeMe

Jai Bhagwan