Prayers

Prayers

A selection from "I am with You"

"O Thou, who art ever present and watchest over us all, helping us on our journey, O Mother Divine, let me first offer my immense gratitude for the year that passed in which Thy vigilant and most effective presence was felt so concretely. Now, on the threshold of a new year of my life, O sweet Mother, all the atoms of my being are on fire invoking Thee in an ardent prayer to remove all their obscurity, ignorance and coats of falsehood, to dispel all lassitude, torpor and the deep slumber of their inconscient depths, to burn the ego and all its ugliness, to root out each element of this being that still refuses Thy Light and retards Thy manifestation. Let Thy pure Beauty shine in them. Work out Thy alchemy, O all-powerful Mother of my destiny and transmute every atom of my being into a centre of Thy Light and Love so that they may ever sing the song of Thy divine Harmony and Delight. O Mother of Radiances, everything in this being must belong to Thee alone. My entire being prostrates before Thee in a sincere surrender and a joyful consecration awaiting Thy total reign. Do not wait. Take complete charge of Thy kingdom. Do not spare its defects, nor condescend to its weaknesses, but charge it with Thy purifying Fire and and transmuting Force so that it may serve Thee worthily. Grant that I may have only one freedom - freedom to live in Thee, to be in a constant and invariable union with Thee so as to obey Thy Will perfectly with love. Let me have only one delight - the delight to live in Thy Truth and commune with Thy Light so as never to falter in the accomplishment of Thy Law. Grant that I may have only one love, O Mother sweet, the love in which I become Thou and give myself every moment in joy without any reserve, wholly to Thee - Thou who art everywhere and in all things so that all may realise the plenitude of Thy Presence which is a sweet reign of Bliss. Let Thy Divine Consciousness be awakened in each tissue and cell and nerve, in each element of my being - in all parts and planes - and make me a centre of Thy luminous Love and Truth for the perfect accomplishment of Thy Work so that I may fulfil my sacred mission and earth may become Thy home of Love and Light and manifest the Life Divine. Let me offer my all to Thee and let me ever be Thy most humble, clairvoyant and faithful servitor consecrated to Thee in absolute love. May Thy Truth, Love and Ananda reign in all hearts!

***

In August 1967, Usha had bought three sarees used by the Mother for Kusumben, Jayshree and myself. The Mother had instructed her to let me choose first. So, Usha asked me to select one. I sent it to the Mother with this letter: "Mother Divine: pranams. Is this the saree that You want me to have? But, Sweet Mother, I have not yet lost the sacred memory of Your most precious gift, the crown You sent me while I was in New York, nor the guilt of having lost it during the language riot. Somehow, I can never forgive myself. How then can I accept another gift? Grant instead, I pray, that I be pure and worthy of Your Presence and each breath of my life be a loving service to You. Show me how to serve You integrally and worthily. I realise my limitations, which are overwhelming. Grant me Your Grace and Benedictions for the fulfillment of my prayer: "May I be perfect in my love for You and the Lord. Let me be so completely one with You that I become You and see with Your vision of Truth-Consciousness and act with Your invincible Force. Then I will be able to do Your work and shall be truly fulfilled!' With humility, ever Thy own.

***

"Mother Divine: Grant that the New Year which is about to begin be filled with the blazing Light of Truth-Consciousness, penetrating all the elements of our being so that we may live and move in Truth, and collaborate in Thy work upon earth with love."

***

"May this New Year which just opens its eyes be filled with the Light and Beauty and Power of Thy Truth, Thy Love and Thy Bliss, O Lord, so that all may be awakened to Thy Call and collaborate with love and joy in Thy work upon earth." I sent this prayer with a folder stuck with the flowers of Transformation, cut out from the shining gold paper. The Mother sent me a golden packet with Her blessings. Accepting Her blessings, on the second day of the New Year, I wrote another prayer: "My New Year begins with intense gratefulness - gratefulness for Thy gifts and gratefulness for Thy denials, for the ecstasies as well as the shocks of agony through which Thou hast been shaping my life. Thou art the all-puissant navigator of my life, who wilt surmount all storms and obstacles and wilt carry the ship to its shore of Victory. The struggle is over and so also the anxiety, because I belong to Thee alone and Thy Will is mine. Thou art at the helm of my destiny and my destiny is Thou. Lord, my eternal Master, marvellous Teacher and Friend, accept my deep gratitude and make me Thy useful and effective servitor who wills always what Thou willest and offers its all to Thee with love."

***

The Service tree over the Samadhi, spread out in all directions and laden with flowers, looks so magnificent that a prayer arose in my heart and I wrote: "Mother Divine: pranams... Every time I see the Service tree with its beautiful, broad, majestic branches spreading over the Samadhi waving with their happy, golden laughter, I am so moved that the only inspiration that rings in my heart is to serve the Lord equally worthily. And so, day after day. I weave a garland of my prayers for service, and though it is becoming now thinner and thinner, my heart rings with a more intense invocation: Make me Thy perfect instrument and ' drive me on the Wheels of Thy works.? Ever gratefully, Thy own."

***

"O Mother Divine, this being is filed with tears of joy and gratitude and prostrates before Thee in humble adoration. Thy Grace has helped me to realise that Thou at my centre of Life, Love and Bliss. Thou art my fulfilment and my Crown. And Thy Grace is constant. My heart never ceases to sing a hymn of thanksgiving to Thee for this supreme delight that Thou accordest to it at each moment without interruption. The clouds of doubt and depression and gloom have vanished forever, and I live in the full splendour of Thy Sun whose light of Truth warms and illumines my life at each instant. O Mother of Love, O Mother of Radiances, let all realise the marvel of Thy Presence upon earth. Let them seek Thee so that they too may drink the nectar of Thy Love and know the invariable bliss of living in Thee and for Thee."

***

It is the ecstasy of belonging to Thee completely without any reserve or restraint that liberates me from all desires. For, there is such peace, calm strength, inexpressible freedom and delight in this state of an absolute love where nothing matters except Thou that it seems as if there is nothing more left for me to realise. And yet, there is one sovereign aspiration which arises in my heart - to share this Delight with all. Is it not the only way that I can express the deep gratitude that I owe to Thee for many lives to come till this earth has become a field and camp of God!' Is it not Thy Will which accordest me this mission on earth? O Mother Divine, whatever Thy Will, let me be totally united with Thee in love in every part of my being so that this instrument may become Thy direct, uninterrupted, pure and clear channel of Thy Work. Let there be no existence for it outside Thee, no joy except in Thee. I already hear Thy promise and wait with patience for the day when Thou wouldst possess me so completely that there will be nothing in this being except Thou - a song of Thee in every part of its being: Thou in all its thoughts and feelings and actions, - Thou in every movement and impulsion - Thou filling every moment of its life!"

Ma, Thy radiant face beckons me with love and my soul rushes forth to be engulfed in Thy Light. But at times, my vagrant thoughts stop to pluck the wayside flowers and delay the journey. My soul enamoured of Thy secret Presence everywhere waits in patience.. Ma, is it Thy Will that it be so? I know not. But deep within me I do know that all is ready and gathered together in one centre of aspiration - to merge in Thee. And I pray: Let everything within and around manifest Thy beauty so that there is nowhere to go or to arrive - because all will be manifestly Thou!"

***

"Let my aspiration rise constantly higher and higher towards Thee so that I may offer all in me, at each moment, to the Divine for purification and transformation by the Divine Shakti, by Thee, Mother Divine. Oh! Mother! How can I ever express my joy and gratitude for Thy innumerable blessings which ever come to me, at each moment, in so many ways and leave an eternal smile of calm confidence in Thy infinite Grace! Thou hast granted me the joy of a simple offering and I lay my all at Thy feet with humility and adoration. Ever with gratitude, love, joy and surrender, Thy own."

***

"Oh T'appartenir sans ombre et sans restriction!" (Oh, to belong to Thee withou any shadow or restriction!') I am grateful for Your gifts and I am grateful for Your denials, which too are ever so sweet! Grant that I may be true to Thy law, true to my being as an individual centre of Thy manifestation and radiate Thy truth through the purity of my being. Let me have no other thought than Thine, no other love than Thine, no other will than Thine, no other consciousness than Thine. Let me ever wear the perfume of Thy Divine purity. Be ever present at all moments, I invoke Thee with the fire of my being, O supreme Mother, in every thought and feeling, in every movement and impulsion, in every cell, tissue and nerve - every atom of my being - so that I may become Thy worthy servitor.

***

Mother Divine: Thy coming is the advent of Truth. Thy Presence is the sweet reign of Love. Thy Force is the promise of the victory of the Divine. In the name of India I bow to Thee with infinite gratitude for Thy coming and choosing her wide, open, welcoming heart as Thy seat. Let India realise her soul in Thee so that she may fulfil her glorious destiny. In the name of the earth I salute Thee, O Mother Supreme, for Thy divine manifestation and implore that we may consecrate our all to Thee and collaborate in Thy work so that this earth may be a field and camp of God and Thy Will may be accomplished in all its details.

***

"Thou hast let me drink Ever so deep from the fountain of Thy Divine Love that it foods my being and yet Thou pourest more and more. It has lighted an eternal fame in my heart which ever purifies all the elements of my being and charges them with the Force of Thy Truth. All through my life Thou hast taught me one thing above all. how to love purely, selflessly, profoundly, infinitely and eternally and thus to be an instrument of Thy Truth. O Mother Supreme, my heart melts with gratitude and sings a hymn of gladness, for it knows no joy greater than to be Thy Divine Love. O sweet Mother of Love, my being prostrates before Thee in a humble supplication: Intensify in me this deathless Fire of Thy Divine Love and let me be consumed by it so that I may be transformed into a being of Thy Truth, a being of Thy Love and collaborate with Thee for a more and more perfect manifestation of the Divine on earth.

***

Let it take many lives if that is the way it must be, but teach me, O Mother of Radiances, how to love Thee integrally and grant that my love for Thee may always grow more and more intense, more profound, pure and integral and thus become one day more and more perfectly perfect and absolute as Thy Divine Love, if such is Thy Will, to which I offer myself with tears of joy.

***

And for me there is no question of sacrifice, because Your Work is my joy and I am prepared to do anything for it; nor am I afraid of any involvement if it achieves Your purpose. For me everything can be a field of experience, sadhana and progress. And You alone can tell me what is best and needed for Your Work. I offer my will at Your feet - my abilities, weaknesses and shortcomings - all without exception. I offer everything to You with all my love and joy. For my heart's aspiration is only You. I want to be what You want me to be. I want to do what You want me to do. For me You are the Divine Mother, and I am here to serve You. Nothing is more important to me. Difficulties do not matter to me and I am prepared to do whatever You expect of me. Give me the command, the direct and distinct Word and I will obey it With joy. Make me pure so that Your Light and Force may work through it without any shadow or obscurity. With all sincerity. I offer myself to You.

***

And with my head on Your knees implore: Mother Divine, guide me. I know nothing. I understand nothing and I feel utterly useless, as if I am contrary to all You are - utterly blank, void and empty like a hollow reed. Take it in your gracious hands and place it against Your lips so that Your divine breath may flow through it and play out Your sweet and mighty tunes and thus make it useful in Your service.' "

***

"Pranams... You are silent, Mother Divine, and to me Your silence too is sweet. For, with it You lift me up above the realm of all thoughts and forms into the blissful state of still purity. Let all that I was be forever expunged in its white flame. But let there be some Word arising from its depths so that I may know and understand and manifest this Bliss! I lay my all - all without any reserve - at Thy feet. All is Thine. Accept my offering, O Sweet Mother of my being, and remake my consciousness into the Consciousness of Thy Truth in the way of the Divine so that I may enter into Thee and know Thy Will and Thou alone mayst live in me forever!"

***

"O sweet Mother, Thy everlasting 'Yes' with all its enthralling magic and marvels in its bosom has struck all the chords of my being from the supreme heights to the lowest depths into an unending rapture. And the unheard rhapsodies that arise lift me up into Thy high heavens of Glory where all is Love and Light and Bliss. Surging from the silence of the ages, this one little Word is so potent with Thy Bliss that my being overflows and tears roll down from my eyes, ceaselessly weaving a garland for Thee... Accept my humble offering."