The Sacred Symphony of My Mornings

The Sacred Symphony of My Mornings

Mornings are the overture to the symphony of the day—a time when the mind is serene, the heart is receptive, and the soul, if nurtured well, sets the rhythm for what follows. The Vedas extol the sanctity of dawn, where the first light of the sun is likened to divine wisdom illuminating the darkness of ignorance.

उषा आविर्भूत्वा तमसा पुरस्तात् ।
यत् सत्वं रजस्तमसि ज्योतिर्बिभर्ति सूर्यः ॥
Uṣā āvirbhūtvā tamasā purastāt,
Yat satvaṁ rajas tamasi jyotir bibharti sūryaḥ.
The dawn dispels the darkness and brings forth light,
just as the sun illuminates the world with its radiance.
—Rigveda 1.113.16

With the first light peeping through the curtains, I rise with a quiet reverence for the day ahead. The initial moments are not hurried; they are deliberate, reflective, and filled with gratitude. A refreshing bath marks the cleansing of both body and spirit, an essential prelude to what follows—prayers that are not merely recitations but dialogues with the Divine.

सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत् ॥
Sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ, sarve santu nirāmayāḥ,
Sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu, mā kaścid-duḥkha-bhāg bhavet.
May all be happy, may all be free from illness,
May all see auspiciousness, and may none suffer in sorrow.
—Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.14

This invocation fills the heart with selflessness and compassion, setting the right tone for the day.

In this sacred communion, time ceases to be a mere progression of hours. It transforms into an eternal moment, where the transient and the eternal converse. The mind, in its purest state, becomes akin to a still lake reflecting the limitless sky above.

योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः ॥
Yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ.
Yoga is the cessation of mental fluctuations.
—Yoga Sutras 1.2

The wandering thoughts, the residual worries of yesterday, all subside into a meditative stillness.

Emerging from this spiritual sojourn, hunger inevitably calls, and I heed its summons with a direct march to the kitchen. Be it a hearty breakfast, a modest brunch, or a simple snack, this is an unmissable act of replenishment. The body, like the mind, demands its due, and I ensure that both are adequately fuelled before embarking on the day’s pursuits.

युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु ।
युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा ॥
Yuktāhāra-vihārasya yuktaceṣṭasya karmasu,
Yukta-svapnāvabodhasya yogo bhavati duḥkha-hā.
Balance in eating, balance in activities, and balance in work lead to well-being.
One who regulates sleep and wakefulness attains yoga that destroys sorrow.
—Bhagavad Gita 6.17

This wisdom reminds me that even the most mundane acts, when done with mindfulness, become sacred.

Next, I settle into my working chair, a throne of productivity where digital interactions take precedence. The realm of messages, emails, and correspondences demands attention, and I diligently clear the slate, ensuring no lingering query or conversation remains unattended. There is a methodical rhythm to this—like sorting through pebbles on a shore, keeping the valuable and discarding the redundant. In the words of the great poet Khalil Gibran, “Your work is your love made visible.”

With the preliminary engagements complete, I immerse myself in the true essence of my mornings—reading and writing. The written word is my truest companion, an inexhaustible reservoir of wisdom and expression. Whether it is delving into history, philosophy, or contemporary discourses, or crafting narratives that weave together knowledge, experience, and thought, this is the pursuit that gives my mornings their ultimate purpose. The Upanishads liken knowledge to an eternal flame.

असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ॥
Asato mā sad gamaya,
Tamaso mā jyotir gamaya,
Mṛtyor mā amṛtaṁ gamaya.
Lead me from untruth to truth,
Lead me from darkness to light,
Lead me from mortality to immortality.
—Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.28

Thus unfolds the first hour of my day—a seamless confluence of faith, nourishment, engagement, and intellectual pursuit. It is an hour well-spent, an invocation to a day well-lived. Each morning, I am reminded that life is not a race to the end but a melody to be played with harmony. The sun rises with a promise, and I, in turn, rise with purpose, letting my mornings be the foundation of a day steeped in wisdom, grace, and fulfilment.