Ganesh Chaturthi and the Universal Call of the Divine
“Ganpati Bappa Morya!” “Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh Deva!” The voices of young Indian students filled the hall at Boston University during a Ganesh Chaturthi celebration. [...]
Free me from all pain, even the pain for which I have no name
Bhagavad Gita 12.19 tulya-nindā-stutir maunī santuṣṭo yena kenacit aniketaḥ sthira-matir bhaktimān me priyo naraḥ Alike in praise and blame, Silent, content in any frame; [...]
Let me stand in your fairness and soar by your mercifulness
Bhagavad Gita 9.29 samo ’ham sarva-bhūteṣu na me dveṣyo ’sti na priyaḥ ye bhajanti tu māṁ bhaktyā mayi te teṣu cāpy aham I am [...]
You care more for how my offering impacts my heart than how it impacts the world
Bhagavad Gita 9.26 patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ A leaf, a flower, a fruit, or even [...]
Let faith in your protection reduce my anxiety, not reduce me to apathy
Bhagavad Gita 9.22 ananyāś cintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham Those who worship me with hearts undivided, In constant remembrance, [...]
Lead my life into the light of your presence, your purpose, and your power
Bhagavad Gita 9.4 mayā tatam idaṁ sarvaṁ jagad avyakta-mūrtinā mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni na cāhaṁ teṣv avasthitaḥ By my unmanifest form, all this world is pervaded, [...]
I seek your shelter, O shelter of all shelters
Bhagavad Gita 9.18 gatir bhartā prabhuḥ sākṣī nivāsaḥ śaraṇaṁ suhṛt prabhavaḥ pralayaḥ sthānaṁ nidhānaṁ bījam avyayam I am the goal, the sustainer, the master, [...]
Free me from the expectation that you will make my path obstacle-free
Bhagavad Gita 9.14 satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ namasyantaś ca māṁ bhaktyā nitya-yuktā upāsate Forever, they sing my glories unending, Endeavor for me [...]
May my vision, conception, and aspiration turn toward you
Bhagavad Gita 9.13 mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ bhajanty ananya-manaso jñātvā bhūtādim avyayam The great souls take shelter in nature divine, With [...]
Your seeming humanity doesn’t diminish your divinity—it deepens your lovability
Bhagavad Gita 9.11 avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto mama bhūta-maheśvaram Fools mock me, seeing but a human-like manifestation, Not knowing [...]
In the world’s distress, let me see not your disregard for my well-being, but your respect for my will
Bhagavad Gita 9.9 na ca māṁ tāni karmāṇi nibadhnanti dhanañ-jaya udāsīna-vad āsīnam asaktaṁ teṣu karmasu By none of the world’s mess or distress, Am [...]