Swami Tattwamayananda offers two Universal Vedic prayers from the Yajur Veda and gives a short description for these troubled times.

This is a prayer from Rig Veda and Yajur Veda. The essential harmony and unity of all existence are expressed eloquently in these Vedic mantras. The ancient Vedic sages of India prayed for peace and prosperity and harmony both in the external nature and also in our own hearts. They always prayed for peace, tranquility and harmony in all natural phenomena on Earth, in the sky, in the winds, in the oceans, in the rivers, mountains, and everywhere. They believed the interrelatedness or what we call Ritam in the Vedic tradition of all existence.

When we tune our life and actions according to this principle of inherent harmony and interrelatedness of all existnece, we are following the path of Ritam. We are in tune with the entire creation and when we regulate our actions and lifestyle according to this principle of spiritual unity of existence, then we are following the path of Dharma, and when we speak and interact with others in tune with this inherent principle of peaceful coexistence and interrelatedness of the whole creation we are following the path of Satyam.

When we live our life according to the principles of Ritam, Dharma, and Satya, which constitute the highest universal principles of ethics and morality and spirituality then our whole life becomes spiritualized. Every word becomes a sacred mantra, every action becomes an act of worship. Even without going to churches or temples or any places of worship, in our own hearts we can worship the Lord, we can worship the divine presence present everywhere and present in all of us. This idea of universal spiritual oneness of the whole creation, the idea that the whole creation is one spiritual humanity, helps us to live in peace, especially in trying times while facing challenges, which are beyond our control.

Om Shanti Shanti Shantih Hari Om Tat Sat Sri Ramakrishna Pranamastu