asato mā sadgamaya
tamasomā jyotir gamaya
mrityormāamritam gamaya
Oṁ śhānti śhānti śhāntiḥ

From ignorance, lead me to truth;
From darkness, lead me to light;
From death, lead me to immortality
Om peace, peace, peace

The above is a mantra of peace, taken from an ancient Sanskrit treatise called Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1.3.28). (Source: http://aumamen.com/prayer/asatoma-sadgamaya-lyrics-and-meaning). We used to sing these lines every day as part of our morning prayer at school for twelve straight years. I never really knew the meaning of it until I recently started reading Sanskrit literature. It is a mantra for every seeker of transformation.

Transformation is a perilous journey. While there is a lot to talk about the principles leading to transformation–realisation, will power, knowledge, action–it is even more important to talk about the darkness that lurks around the corners and how easy it is to fall into the pit of old behaviours. It is important to know that your personal transformation is never fully complete and it is this very awareness that will help you not give up on your journey. The chains of behaviour are strong indeed. There will always be a little bit of that ignorance, darkness and decay that will try and ensnare you. To be aware of your asatoma, tamasoma and mrityorma will always be your greatest challenge and opportunity. Each of us will have our own blindspots and it is not the intent to explore them here and now. The intent is to acknowledge their presence and summon the courage to ask, “What are my three blindspots?” To ask this question is very difficult. It will wring your heart dry. You will hate to see what lies in those corners. It is the underbelly of your self. This very investigation brings you the awareness. The awareness hopefully shines a powerful enough light to drive away the darkness. The awareness also applies the balm of forgiveness, a critical part of your first-aid kit. You apply it on your cuts and infractions time and again. These dark corners are going to knock you down when you are least aware and that is why these are called your blindspots. They will make you feel like a dissolving lump of fakery. And that’s why your ability to forgive yourself whenever you are down is critical. It allows you to get up and persevere through your journey from asat to sat, from tamas to jyot, from mrityu to amrit. Finally, this very awareness, your beacon, your balm, your ally will bring you the much needed peace. The peace that soothes the pain. The peace that gives you the wind to get back on your feet. The peace that gives you the steadiness to pursue your journey. Oṁ śhānti śhānti śhāntiḥ.