Tag Archives: Aramaic version

all that dignifies, gives life, and astonishes

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Another rendition of The Lord’s Prayer, or Jesus Prayer, translated from the original Aramaic by Mark Hathaway.

 

O source of the Wave,

which envelops and embraces the cosmos,
sustaining and renewing it at each moment,

Penetrate the deepest recesses of our hearts,
and there create a space for Thy holy shrine.

In this nuptial chamber,
conceive the creative potency of Thy Reign,

So that we may give birth to the embodiment of Thy desire:
as from the emanation, so too in form.

With passion and soul let us generate
that which is needed to sustain life this day.

Release us from the bondage of our karma,
as we free others from the captivity of their guilt.

And do not let superficiality cause us to vacillate,
but rather free us from all that impedes growth.

For from Thee bursts forth all that
dignifies, gives life, and astonishes,
from cycle to cycle, restoring wholeness.  Ameyn.

Translation by Mark Hathaway www.visioncraft.org

Related:

thy queendom come

from birthing to birthing

 

from birthing to birthing

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Mark Hathaway has generously given me permission to post versions of the Aramaic Lord’s Prayer, or Jesus Prayer, published on his website: www.visioncraft.org These renditions are based on his studies with Saadi Neil Douglas-Klotz, whose website is www.abwoon.com.

Mark is an author, web designer, and freelance “ecologian” studying the inter-relationships between ecology, economics, spirituality, and cosmology.  His latest book, co-authored with Leonardo Boff, is called The Tao of Liberation – Exploring the Ecology of Transformation; please go to www.taoofliberation.com/Home.aspx for more information.

For those interested in learning more about the Aramaic version of Jesus’ sayings, Prayers of the Cosmos by Neil Douglas-Klotz (Harper and Row, 1990) is highly recommended.

 

O Divine Womb,
birthing forth the river of blessing which runs through all,

Soften the ground of our being,
and hallow in us a space for the planting of thy presence.

In our depths,
sow thy seed with its greening-power
that we might be midwives to thy Reign.

Then, let each of our actions
bear fruit in accordance with Thy desire.

Impart to us the wisdom to bring forth the gifts of the earth
and share them daily according to the needs of each being,

And restore that which has been usurped
by injustice to its rightful owners,
as we restore to others that which is not our own.

Do not let us be seduced
by that which would divert us from our purpose,
but make us sensitive to the moment at hand.

For from Thy fertile soil is born the creativity,
the life-energy, and the dance,
from birthing to birthing.  Ameyn

Related:

thy queendom come

 

thy queendom come

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Isabel Lilian Turner
26 October 1914 – 12 January 2011

The last of the ancient aunties has been fittingly farewelled. It was a small, simple, and serene funeral. Dying at 96 of plain weariness after a healthy creative life was cause for celebration and joy, yet we felt the quiet ache of her absence as well.

Included in the service was the recitation of The Lord’s Prayer, a mainstay and inspiration for so many souls. As I recited the lines I couldn’t help but inwardly offer up a different version, one that I learned many years ago. It’s a rendition from the Aramaic language, the tongue spoken by Jesus himself.

The version that we know as The Lord’s Prayer has been through the grist of Greek and the labyrinths of Latin before being translated into English, with all the modifications inherent in such a winding pathway. The shift, from a song of praise and supplication addressed to a matriarchal source of Life, to a patriarchal prayer, happened somewhere along the way.

Because Aramaic is a language that – like most indigenous languages – allows for many different possibilities to be present simultaneously, there are many different renditions. They are like subtly different perfumes given off by a single glorious flower.

I came away from the funeral with a little project – to post as many versions from the Aramaic as I can find, or gain permission to publish.

Perhaps you have a favorite version you’d like to contribute?

 

O cosmic Birther of all radiance and matter!

Soften the ground of our being and carve out a space within us where Your Presence can abide.

Fill us with your creativity so that we may be empowered to bear the fruit of Your mission.

Let each of our actions bear fruit in accordance with our desire.

Endow us with the wisdom to produce and share what each being needs to grow and flourish.

Untie the tangled threads of destiny that bind us, as we release others from the entanglement of past mistakes.

Do not let us be seduced by that which would divert us from our true purpose, but illuminate the opportunities of the present moment.

For You are the ground and the fruitful vision, the birth-power and fulfillment, as all is gathered and made whole once again.

Ameyn