Once again, my fingers are tracing the Rig Veda and once more I draw close to the mystery brought forth by the text. In Hymn 10.121, the commentary I have points out that while the text later directed the heart's attention to the god Prajapati, the original text allows only mystery to envelop the listener. If the commentary is correct and the questioning part of the text, the "who?" is rhetorical, then truly we are back at the center of the mystery again. No human thought can truly sing the "who" of majesty (or as the Sufis would say, the "HU" of majesty). Even from a more secular standpoint--who can pinpoint in thought the majesty and mystery of the universe even if we should be able to say just how large it is and how many stars it has in it. Any compartmentalization succeeds at only destroying the intense scope of it all so we can pretend we truly grasp it.

(BTW I'm not totally happy with this translation but I could cut and paste it, so voila)

1. IN the beginning rose the Golden Embryo, born Only Lord of all created beings.
He fixed and holdeth up this earth and heaven. What God shall we adore with our oblation?
2 Giver of vital breath, of power and vigour, he whose commandments all the Gods acknowledge -.
The Lord of death, whose shade is life immortal. What God shall we adore with our oblation?
3 Who by his grandeur hath become Sole Ruler of all the moving world that breathes and slumbers;
He who is Lord of men and Lord of cattle. What God shall we adore with our oblation?
4 His, through his might, are these snow-covered mountains, and men call sea and Rasa his possession:
His arms are these, his are these heavenly regions. What God shall we adore with our oblation?
5 By him the heavens are strong and earth is stedfast, by him light's realm and sky-vault are supported:
By him the regions in mid-air were measured. What God shall we adore with our oblation?
6 To him, supported by his help, two armies embattled look while trembling in their spirit,
When over them the risen Sun is shining. What God shall we adore with our oblation?
7 What time the mighty waters came, containing the universal germ, producing Agni,
Thence sprang the Gods' one spirit into being. What God shall we adore with our oblation?
8 He in his might surveyed the floods containing productive force and generating Worship.
He is the God of gods, and none beside him. What God shall we adore with our oblation?
9 Neer may he harm us who is earth's Begetter, nor he whose laws are sure, the heavens' Creator,
He who brought forth the great and lucid waters. What God shall we adore with our oblation?

Links:

Some monastery web sites are fairly dull. Abbaye Saint-Benoit's site is a cool little trip into that sanctuary.

Great part two in a Daily Show series looking at the evil power that is Denmark.

Via Daily Kos, a new study finds "corporate markups and profiteering are responsible for spring price spikes, not rising crude costs or the national switchover to higher-cost ethanol, as the oil industry claims." Regular unleaded is upping near $3.00 in Phoenix.

One of my favorite music blogs, Chromewaves posts a new Dean Wareham/Britta Phillips instrumental cut from the film "The Squid and the Whale." Ah, to be married to Britta Phillips and making music like this....

I'm actually not that big a fan of Joan Baez post-60's, but I do like the song "Diamonds and Rust," about a post-relationship call to her from her ex-partner Bob Dylan. I like this version even better: