Sunday, May 27, 2007

A prayer from Bahmo Samaj

Brahmo Samaj is an offshoot and radical updating of Hinduism, and a sort of East Indian relative of Unitarian Universalism.

Here is a hymn from the Brahmo Samaj liturgy:

Thou art the Real, the prime cause of the Universe. We bow to Thee
Thou art the All-wise, the one refuge for all. We bow to thee.
We bow to thee, the Absolute, the Giver of salvation.
Thou are the Supreme, the Eternal. All-present Brahma, we bow to Thee.
To Thee alone is honor due, Thou alone art the protector of all,
Thou alone preservest the universe, the Self revealed.
Thou alone art Creator, Preserver, and Destroyer of all.
Most high, motionless, and fixed of purpose,
Thou the dread of dreads, the terror of the terrifying,
Thou art the end of all creatures, the purifyer of all who purify,
Thou alone art the Ruler of all high estates, holier that the holiest,
the Guardian of all who guard.
We commune with Thee, we pray to Thee,
Thou art the Witness of the universe, we bow to Thee.
Let us seek refuge in the one, absolute God, Who is shelter, self-poised,
Who is our raft on the sea of life.

I think that it would be a usefull exercise, spiritually and intellectually, for us to look into this prayer and compare to it our own spiritual beliefs and world-concept. Responses are welcome!

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