Ashtanga Invocation
Beginning your practice by chanting is a way to honor the past and all who have helped you to arrive here in this very moment. It is an invitation to pause and step into the present and open to the process and possibility of seeing yourself clearly.
I bow to the two lotus feet of the Gurus, which awaken insight into the happiness of pure Being which are the complete absorbtion into joy, the jungle physician, eliminating the delusion caused by the poison of Samsära (conditioned existence).
I prostrate before the sage Pataïjali who has thousands of radiant, white heads and who has, as far as his arms, assumed a human form, holding a conch shell (divine sound), a wheel (a discus of light or time) and a sword (discrimination).
(Translation Richard Freeman & Mary Taylor)
vande gurunam caranaravinde
sandarsita svatma sukhava bodhe
nih sreyase jangalikayamane
samsara halahala mohashantiyai
abahu purusakaram
sankhacakrasi dharinam
sahasra sirasam svetam
pranamami patanjalim
om
Closing chant
Closing your practice with this chant is a way of practicing loving kindness and acknowledging that we are all here on this earth together, doing the best we can.
May all of humankind be happy and well. May the great noble lords protect the earth in every way by the path of just virtue. May there be perpetual joy for those who know the real nature of things. May all the worlds be happy.
om peace peace peace
svasti praja bhyaha
pari pala yantam
nya yena margena mahim mahishaha
go bramanebhyaha shubamastu nityam
lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu
om shanti shanti shantihi