opening & closing mantras

opening invocation 1

om sahana navatu
saha nau bhunaktu
saha viryam karavavahai
tejas vina vadhitama astu
ma vidvishavahai
om shanti, shanti, shanti,
om

translation:

may we be protected together
may we be nourished together
may we work together with great vigour
may our study be enlightening
may there be benevolence between us
om, peace, peace, peace,
om

opening invocation 2 (gandhi's favorite chant, part of the shanti path mantras)

asato ma sad gamaya
tamaso ma jyotir gamaya
mrityor ma amitram gamaya

translation:

lead us from the unreal to the real
lead us from darkness to light
lead us from death to immortality

opening invocation 3 (on full moon)

om poorna mada poorna midam
poornaat poornam udachyate
poornasya poornam aadaaya
poornam evaa vasishyate
om shanti shanti shanti

translation:

this is fullness. this is also fullness
from perfection, the perfect thing arises
taking the perfect thing from perfection,
perfection remains
peace, peace, peace


closing prayer 1 (from the shanti/peace path)

asato maa sad gamaya
tamaso maa jyotir gamaya
mrityur maa amritam gamaya

saarvesham svasti bhavatu
saarvesham shaantir bhavatu
saarvesham purnam bhavatu
saarvesham maangalam bhavatu

lokah samastah sukhino bhaavantu

shanti, shanti, shanti

translation:

lead us from the unreal to the real
from darkness lead me to light
from death lead me to immortality

may all beings dwell in happiness
may all beings dwell in peace
may all beings attain oneness
may all beings attain auspiciousness

may all beings be unto the whole world

peace peace peace