~ lovingly presented by Bill Bauman ~

Siddhartha Gautama, Jesus of Nazareth and Mohandas Gandhi share a common trait: all three have been given respectful nicknames. “The Buddha” means Awakened (or Enlightened) One, “Christ” means Anointed One, and “Mahatma” means Great Soul. Yet, you also share the same qualities that these great beings possessed.

While you may or may not want a label such as these spiritual leaders have, you deserve one. Why? Because, in short, you are divine. You’re created in God’s image and likeness … you posses the vastness of life within you … all creation lives in your being … life’s ultimate gift, love, is present throughout your person … and infinite essence is at your core and center.

Yet, the important question is not, “What is your sacred name?” Rather, the question for each of us is, “How much or deeply are we celebrating the sacredness of life, the divinity of self and the wonder of existence that lives within and as us?” You in fact embody life’s wonder, elegance, beauty, grandeur and magnificence. My invitation to you is that you let yourself know it more deeply, embrace it more fully, and surrender into it more totally.

Let us gather together now in a sacred space, where all life lives as one and where our divine nature simply takes over. In this space of being and blessing, the miracle of life can enter fully into us, breathe us, live us and embody us.

I offer you a final blessing, prayer and song:

May the Buddha of life awaken within you the awareness of your own luminous light!

May the Christ within you anoint you to fully participate in your divine heritage!

May the Mahatma of your core lead you to the greatness that lives within you!

May the Confucius of your mind initiate you into the full master-hood of your life!

May the Krishna of your soul remind you always of your immanent divine nature!

May the Abraham of your being bring alive within you the power of life that you share!

May the Lao-tzu of your inner knowing help you find the Way, the Truth and the Life!

May the Mohammad of your heart move you to a deep and soulful surrender into all life!

May the Yogananda of your nature inspire you to the purity and perfection of your person!

May the Babaji of life’s simplicity stir within you the simple presence of the divine!

May the Maharishi of your self spread the truth of you throughout your consciousness!

May the Moses of your depths lead you to the Promised Land of your awesome Self!

May the Ramana Maharshi of your essence inspire within you the fullest peace possible!

May the Pakal Votan of the Mayan tradition and of your ancient self rekindle within you your timelessness and wonder!

May the god or gods of all traditions, the essence of whom lives in you, create you anew on this sacred day and lead you to your created beauty!

May the sacred that is alive everywhere and in your core fill your body, awaken your energy, and inspire your spirit like never before!

May the divine, in its essence and in all its forms, find no distinction between itself and you! … and

May the you, who are equally divine and sacred as all those above, bless you, sing to you, and celebrate yourself anew, on this and every sacred day!