A Universal Prayer: From Darkness to Light, From Untruth to Truth

In spiritual traditions across the world, we find prayers asking for guidance to move from confusion to clarity, from darkness to light, and from death to life. One such prayer comes from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, an ancient Hindu text, offering a heartfelt request for divine guidance. Though its roots are in Hindu philosophy, its message speaks to universal human desires—truth, wisdom, and spiritual transformation.

For my Christian readers, this prayer can be understood as a plea for the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, as Jesus himself promised. It’s a prayer for light in a world often filled with darkness, and for life eternal.

The Meaning of the Mantra:

The mantra, “Om Asatoma Sadgamaya”, carries three simple yet profound aspirations:

   •   “Asatoma Sadgamaya”: Lead me from untruth to truth.
   •   “Tamasoma Jyotirgamaya”: Lead me from darkness to light.
   •   “Mrityorma Amritam Gamaya”: Lead me from death to life.

Each line is a prayer asking for guidance out of the illusions and falsehoods of the material world, and into the truth, light, and life of the eternal. These are aspirations that align with the teachings of Jesus, who calls us to walk in light and truth.

Connecting the Mantra with Christian Scripture:

   •   Truth:
John 16:13: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.”
This line from the Gospel of John shows that Christians, too, seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to move from untruth to truth, echoing the essence of the first line of the mantra.
   •   Light:
John 8:12: “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”
The prayer for light in the mantra resonates with Jesus’ teaching that he is the light, guiding us away from darkness and into spiritual illumination.
   •   Life:
John 11:25-26: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.’”
The desire for eternal life found in the mantra mirrors the Christian aspiration for resurrection and life through Christ.

A Universal Prayer for All Seekers:

While this mantra comes from the Hindu tradition, its prayer for spiritual transformation transcends religious boundaries. Whether one calls upon Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or simply the divine, the plea for guidance is a universal human experience. We all seek to move beyond the illusions of this world, to be guided from darkness to light, and to discover the truth that leads to eternal life.

This prayer can be embraced by Christians as a call to the Holy Spirit for wisdom, light, and life, and by people of all faiths as a heartfelt request for divine guidance.

In this spirit of unity and shared aspiration, I invite you to reflect on this ancient prayer in whatever way resonates with your faith. May it serve as a reminder that, though our languages and cultures may differ, our deepest desires—to know truth, to walk in light, and to experience life eternal—are shared.

🙏🕊️🙏