…over all, through all, in all

In the Hindu calendar this coming Tuesday night, February 17, is called Maha Shivratri, the “great night of Shiva.” It is the night when Shiva is said to have performed the Tandava Nritya – the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction (In December, I wrote about Shiva as “Nataraj” – Lord of the Dance). The festival is observed with all-day fasting and an all-night vigil.

There’s a traditional Hindu prayer to Shiva called the Shiva Dhun:

Shivo Bhokta, Shiva Bhojya
Shivo Karta, Shivah Karma
Shivah Karanatmakah

These few Sanskrit words apparently pack a lot of meaning, as this is the English translation given:

Shiva is the experiencer and the highest object of experience.
Shiva is the goal of Sadhana.*
There is nothing apart from Shiva.
There is nothing other than Shiva.
Whatever there is, is Shiva.
There is nothing which is not Shiva.
There is no place which is not Shiva.
There is no time which is not Shiva.
To be aware of this is to be aware of Shiva.

*Sadhana = spiritual practice/discipline

For me this is a powerful meditation on the God who is All-In-All. Recite it to yourself a couple of times (insert “God” for “Shiva”, if you like) and you feel the powerful majesty of this prayer. To recite it feels like putting on a kind of mantle of protection and, in this, it reminds me of the “Prayer for Protection” commonly used in Unity churches:

The light of God surrounds us,
The love of God enfolds us,
The power of God protects us,
And the presence of God watches over us;
Wherever we are, God is and all is well.

In the New Testament (Ephesians 4:6) Paul speaks of the “one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.” And I think it may have been Christian Science Sunday School teachers who took this idea and succinctly rephrased it to read:
“There is no spot where God is not.”

Many years ago a friend who was deeply involved in the spirituality of yoga taught a song to me that she had learned from a yogic nun (yes, there is such a thing) who was passing through town. I love this song, which I call “You Are the Grey Sea,” though I don’t know it’s origin or proper title. It’s all about the God who is “over all and through all and in all.” I’ll share a few stanzas:

You are the grey sea in a dress of broken lace.
You are inside me, and I know your face.

You are a young tree wearing sun-embroidered gold.
You are my body as it’s growing old.

You are tomorrow when today is laid to rest.
You are my sorrow and my happiness.

It seems a very practical and yet profound spirituality to simply believe that God is there present in all that we encounter and experience. Your “sadhana,” your spiritual practice, then becomes one of continually being open to that Presence, maintaining a child-like curiosity. “Who are you being now, God? What is your disguise today, in this moment?” “You can’t fool me, God! I know you are here in this seeming disaster. You are always with me and I am always safe.”

When we join for our communal sadhana on Sunday evening (6:00 pm) we’ll continue to reflect on the God who is everywhere and every-when, present in everything.

Blessings,
Roger