BT Song 1301
I know one of my shortcomings—lack of patience. I realized this even as a teenage boy. Though I tried my best to overcome this nature, I miserably failed. Several of my hasty actions and decisions not only affected me but also caused others to pay a cost. Though I later regretted my actions and decisions, I remain helpless. I can only question God and beg Him to change this nature. At least I know one thing: as I remain patient in waiting for answers from the Lord to many questions He never addressed, He knows that I have made some attempt to learn patience, which only He can ultimately instill in my life.
BT Song 1301 The Importance of Patience
Simple English Version
1.
Patience is needed by all,
But I need it even more.
More than others, I must learn
To keep my patience strong.
2.
I need to be calm,
Not rushing into things.
Avoiding haste and hurry
Is essential for me.
3.
This nature of mine
Is born with me and never leaves.
There’s no use in hurrying,
It brings no good.
4.
Things done in haste
Will often fail.
This saying is true,
It never fails.
5.
I tried to change it
Many times in life.
I kept waiting, hoping
That change would come.
6.
All my efforts
Didn’t bring any result.
The change I waited for
Never came.
7.
How much I was hurt
Because of this.
Others also suffered
Because of me.
8.
When I thought of the price
They had to pay,
I felt troubled
Deep inside.
9.
How long should I
Live like this?
Who will bring
Change in me?
10.
Who else can answer
This question
Other than you,
My creator?
11.
Think about it,
I can only
Ask you
This question.
12.
I am waiting
For your answer.
Show the result
For my patience.
Gurukulam, 18-11-2021, 10.10 p.m.
BT Song 1301 The Importance of Patience
Classical English Version
1.
Patience is a virtue needed by all,
Yet I require it more than the rest.
More than others, I must strive
To hold my patience steadfast.
2.
In all my doings,
I must remain composed,
Avoiding hasty actions,
For calm is essential.
3.
This inherent trait of mine,
Born with me and never parting,
Brings no benefit from haste,
For swift actions bear no fruit.
4.
In haste, endeavors fall apart,
As the old adage confirms.
This wisdom stands true,
Unwavering through time.
5.
I endeavored to alter
This nature many times.
Patiently I awaited,
Hoping for transformation.
6.
Yet my efforts were in vain,
For no results did they yield.
The anticipated change
Never graced my life.
7.
This predicament caused me
Great suffering,
And others too,
Endured pain from my plight.
8.
Reflecting on the toll
They had to bear,
My heart grew heavy
With inner turmoil.
9.
How long must I
Persist in this manner?
Who will bring about
The change I seek?
10.
Who but you, my Creator,
Can provide an answer
To this burning question
That dwells within?
11.
Ponder this, I pray,
For I can only
Present this inquiry
Unto you alone.
12.
I await your response,
For the patience I display.
Grant me the reward
Of enduring patience.
Gurukulam, 18-11-2021, 10.10 p.m.
BT Song 1302
Though God is independent and sovereign, when it comes to His relationship with a bhakta, there is also a need for Him. This is the fellowship and relationship between Bhagavan and bhakta, always emphasized by our bhakti tradition in India. Coming from this tradition, I share the conviction that without a bhakta, Bhagavan is never complete. This is a voluntary limitation He accepted when He created us and gave us this right as part of His creation in His Image. This concept is part of mysticism, and no theology can explain it. Unless a bhakta has a similar experience, she cannot understand or accept this concept:
…The fourth Alwar, Tirumalisai, added yet another dimension, of reciprocity, between man and god—as in much of Sufi poetry later, from Shah Latif and Bulle Shah to Amir Khusrau—bringing the divine and human realms closer to each other: ‘Narayana, I know, as I do not exist without you, so you too cannot live without me’ (Das Sisir Kumar. A History of Indian Literature, 500-BT Song 99: From the Courtly to the Popular, New Delhi: Sahitay Akademi, 2005: 50).— Kavita Panjabi, Sufism and Bhakti as Cultural Resources of Modernity in South Asia, Introduction, pp. 1-52, in, p. 9
BT Song 1302 The Right of Bhakti
Simple English Version
1.
I will wait
For you
To give to me
Willingly.
2.
When I came
Seeking you,
If you refused,
I would feel sad.
3.
We built our bond
By giving and receiving.
We both have shared
Gifts and love.
4.
What was given,
What was received?
Forgetting all that,
We live together.
5.
Others do not know
This secret.
Even if told,
None would understand.
6.
Others won’t understand
Until they too
Live with
This experience.
7.
For me, a devotee,
You gave yourself.
I gave myself
To you, my God.
8.
Our needs were met
In this way.
We rejoiced
With satisfaction.
9.
Who would accept
That you too have needs,
Even though you are
The creator of all?
10.
Unless a devotee
Performs devotion,
Who will understand
Your need?
11.
If you have
A separate world,
I too
Have a place in it.
12.
Without me,
Who else is there
To fill
That place?
13.
You alone gave
This right
When you
Created us.
14.
Though we lost
Many things,
We will not miss
This right.
15.
I came again
To receive
What you gave
Willingly to us.
Gurukulam, 18-11-2021, 11.30 p.m.
BT Song 1302 The Right of Bhakti
Classical English Version
1.
I shall wait
For you
To bestow upon me
Freely and willingly.
2.
When I sought you out,
If you turned away,
Despair would be
My only companion.
3.
Our bond was forged
Through mutual giving and receiving.
Both of us have
Shared our gifts and love.
4.
What was given,
What was received?
We shall forget,
And live in unity.
5.
Others know not
This secret.
Even if shared,
None would comprehend.
6.
They will not grasp
Until they too
Have lived with
This sacred experience.
7.
To me, your devotee,
You gave yourself.
I gave myself
To you, O my God.
8.
In this fulfillment,
We found joy
And contentment,
Rejoicing together.
9.
Who would accept
That you, too, have needs,
Even as the creator
Of all existence?
10.
Unless a devotee
Engages in devotion,
Who will understand
Your divine need?
11.
If you possess
A separate realm,
I, too,
Have my place within it.
12.
Without me,
Who else could fill
That space
Meant for me alone?
13.
You granted this right
When you
Brought us
Into being.
14.
Though many things
Were lost along the way,
We shall never forfeit
This inherent right.
15.
I return once more
To claim
What you gave
Freely to us.
Gurukulam, 18-11-2021, 11.30 p.m.
BT Song 1303
There is a Tamil saying that “errors (thavaru) are done by oversight, but mistakes (thappu) are done wantonly.” It is difficult to translate these Tamil words as they are generally rendered as “mistake” and “error” in English. God might forgive us all our errors done unknowingly, but when I repeat them again and again knowingly, instead of punishing me multiple times, He continues to forgive because of His grace. Therefore, I have to request Him either to punish me or to give me a heart of remorse.
BT Song 1303 Take the Stick
Simple English Version
1.
I remained ignorant,
You saved me by accepting me.
I acted unintentionally,
You forgave and took me in.
2.
Knowingly and intentionally,
I repeated my mistakes.
Still, you
Bestowed your grace.
3.
When I thought about it,
It pained my heart.
Oh my Lord,
I felt ashamed to face you.
4.
Some kind of shyness
Prevented me.
My heart
Refused to look at you.
5.
Still, taking
Pity on me,
Showing your love,
You called me again.
6.
Knowing my
Nature completely,
Without hesitation,
You came close and hugged me.
7.
Tell me,
When will the change come
Within me
That you are expecting?
8.
Unless you punish me,
Forgetting my mistake again,
There is no way
To change me, you know this well.
9.
It is true
That as you took the punishment
I deserved,
There is no need for another.
10.
But tell me,
What will happen to my life
If you refuse
To take the stick?
11.
Giving both
A broken heart
And a remorseful spirit,
Redeem me again.
Gurukulam, 20-11-2021, 11.30 p.m.
BT Song 1303 Take the Stick
Classical English Version
1.
In ignorance I stayed,
Yet you redeemed me by your grace.
My actions were unintentional,
But you forgave and received me.
2.
With full knowledge and intent,
I repeated my transgressions.
Still, you
Granted your grace.
3.
Reflecting upon this,
My heart filled with pain.
Oh my Lord,
I could not bear to come before you.
4.
A certain shyness
Held me back.
My heart
Refused to look upon you.
5.
Yet, taking pity
Upon me,
With love,
You called me once more.
6.
Knowing fully
My nature,
Without hesitation,
You drew close and embraced me.
7.
Pray, tell me,
When shall the change come
Within me
That you so desire?
8.
Unless you chastise me,
Forgetting my errors once more,
There is no remedy,
As you well know.
9.
It is true,
Having borne the punishment
I merited,
There is no need for another.
10.
But tell me,
What shall become of my life
If you refuse
To wield the stick?
11.
Grant me
A contrite heart
And a remorseful spirit,
And redeem me once again.
Gurukulam, 20-11-2021, 11.30 p.m.
BT Song 1304
Fear is a natural instinct for all of us. But as a bhakta of the Lord, though I managed to overcome certain fears (about death, about others’ opinions of me, etc.), I am still afraid of my own fallen nature, which often threatens to rob me of several personal gifts given by God. At the same time, I think that God uses this fear to keep me under His control, like a mahout (elephant trainer) who uses an ‘ankus’ (a small sharp instrument) to control the elephant he rides.
BT Song 1304 I am Afraid
Simple English Version
1.
I don’t have
The habit of
Living with
Any fear.
2.
As your bhakta,
There is no need
For me to fear
While I live.
3.
Nothing in life
Has come so far
That could
Separate us.
4.
You will make me live,
Not allowing it to happen,
And I have
No worry about it.
5.
All the sufferings
That come to the body
Will go away
One day in life.
6.
All the depression
That comes to the heart
Will disappear
By your grace.
7.
My spirit,
Which you have redeemed
By giving your life,
Is in your hands.
8.
As your will
Is guiding me,
I will proceed further,
With no confusion in this.
9.
Each day,
With your
Protection around me,
I feel safe.
10.
Nothing will
Stand against me,
Therefore I
Have no fear at all.
11.
But I still
Do not trust
My nature
That came with my birth.
12.
I still
Have fear about it,
And that fear
Is not going away.
13.
For some reason,
You kept it
As a messenger
That strikes me.
14.
You try to
Control me,
Like the goad
In a mammoth’s hand.
15.
With that fear alone,
This slave will
Live with much
Obedience.
Gurukulam, 25-11-2021, 11.00 p.m.
BT Song 1304 I am Afraid
Classical English Version
1.
I have not
The habit of
Living with
Any fear.
2.
As thy devotee,
There is no need
For me to fear
Whilst I live.
3.
Nothing in life
Hath come thus far
That could
Part us.
4.
Thou shalt
Make me to live,
Not allowing it to be,
And I have no worry.
5.
All the sufferings
That come to the body
Shall vanish
One day in life.
6.
All the depression
That comes to the heart
Shall disappear
By thy grace.
7.
My spirit,
Which thou hast redeemed
By giving thy life,
Is in thy hands.
8.
As thy will
Guideth me,
I shall proceed further,
Without confusion.
9.
Each day,
With thy
Protection around me,
I am secure.
10.
Nothing shall
Stand against me,
Therefore I
Have no fear at all.
11.
But still,
I do not trust
My nature
That came with my birth.
12.
I still
Have fear of it,
And that fear
Will not depart.
13.
For some reason,
Thou kept it
As a messenger
That strikes me.
14.
Thou try to
Control me,
Like the goad
In a mammoth’s hand.
15.
With that fear alone,
This servant shall
Live with much
Obedience.
Gurukulam, 25-11-2021, 11.00 p.m.
BT Song 1305
In general, I lack patience. Though a few people marvel at the patience I have shown in taking care of my mother for over 20 years and in doing large cross-stitch works, I tell them, “Come and live with me for a few days, then you will change your view.” This lack of patience often brought misery not only to me but also to several other people, including my mother, who have to live with me. Tonight, after reading my regular part from the Muktiveda, as I was reflecting on my impatience, I wrote this song. But I know for sure that certain virtues, like patience, will remain with us only if given as a gift by God. I don’t believe that one could develop these noble virtues through personal effort alone. Even if one manages to develop them, they cannot be maintained until the end of life without the grace of God.
BT Song 1305 The Greatness of Patience
Simple English Version
1.
Patience has
The strength
To overcome
Everything.
2.
It has
The simplicity
To give oneself
And become humble.
3.
It will
Easily win others
By having
The nobleness of love.
4.
Humility, peace,
And straightforwardness,
As they join together,
Will take others along.
5.
Charity, mercy,
Simplicity, and sacrifice
Add more strength
To it.
6.
It will help
The depressed one
To get up
And make them live.
7.
It also
Will have a heart
To see
Others as oneself.
8.
It will
Wait to serve others
By keeping them
Higher than oneself.
9.
But patience
Won’t come easily to us,
Which has
So many noble qualities.
10.
It won’t go
And even stand by mistake
Where there is
Arrogance and anger.
11.
There won’t
Be any means
For us to get it
By our own efforts.
12.
There is no
Way for us to receive it
Unless bestowed
By God.
Gurukulam, 25-11-2021, 11.30 p.m.
BT Song 1305 The Greatness of Patience
Classical English Version
1.
Patience hath
The strength
To overcome
All things.
2.
It hath
The simplicity
To give itself
And become humble.
3.
It shall
Easily win others
By the nobleness
Of love.
4.
Humility, peace,
And straightforwardness,
As they join,
Shall lead others along.
5.
Charity, mercy,
Simplicity, and sacrifice
Add greater strength
To it.
6.
It shall help
The downtrodden
To rise
And live.
7.
It also
Shall have a heart
To see
Others as itself.
8.
It shall
Wait to serve others,
Placing them
Above itself.
9.
But patience
Cometh not easily,
Which possesseth
So many noble virtues.
10.
It shall not go,
Nor stand by mistake,
Where there is
Arrogance and wrath.
11.
There shall be
No means
For us to gain it
By our own efforts.
12.
There is no
Way for us to receive it,
Unless it be
Bestowed by God.
Gurukulam, 25-11-2021, 11.30 p.m.
BT Song 1301 பொறுமையின் அவசியம்
எவருக்கும் பொறுமை
அவசியம் வேண்டும்
எனக்குப் பிறரினும்
அதிகமே வேண்டும் 1
எடுத்தோம் கவிழ்த்தோம்
என்று இல்லாமல்
எதிலும் நிதானம்
அவசியம் வேண்டும் 2
பிறவிக் குணமிது
போவதும் இல்லை
பதறிச் செய்தால்
பயனும் இல்லை 3
பதறிய காரியம்
சிதறிடும் என்ற
பழமொழி ஒருபோதும்
பொய்த்ததும் இல்லை 4
மாற்றிடப் பலமுறை
முயன்று பார்த்தேன்
மாற்றம் வருமெனக்
காத்து கிடந்தேன் 5
முயற்சிகள் எதுவும்
பயன்தர வில்லை
மாற்றமும் தன்போல்
வந்திட வில்லை 6
இதனால் எத்தனை
பாதிப்பு வந்தது
என்னால் பிறர்க்கும்
துன்பம் வந்தது 7
என்னுடன் சேர்ந்து
அவர்தந்த விலையை
எண்ணிட என்னுள்
துயரம் வந்தது 8
எதுவரை நானும்
இதுபோல் வாழ்வது
எனக்குள் மாற்றம்
தரவது யாரு 9
என்னைப் படைத்த
நீயன்றி இதற்கு
விடையைத் தருவது
வேறு யாரு? 10
இந்தக் கேள்வி
மட்டுமே கேட்க
என்னால் முடியும்
என்பதை எண்ணு 11
பதிலுக்கு நானும்
காத்து கிடந்தேன்
அந்தப் பொறுமைக்கு
பலனையும் காட்டு 12
குருகுலம், 18-11-2021, இரவு, 10.10
BT Song 1302 பக்தியின் உரிமை
நீயாகப் பார்த்துத்
தருவதற்காக
நான் எதிர்பார்த்துக்
காத்திருப் பேனே 1
நானாகத் தேடி
வந்திடும் போது
நீதர மறுத்தால்
வாடிடுவேனே 2
தந்து பெற்று
உறவை வளர்த்தோம்
தருவதைப் பெறுவதை
இருவரும் செய்தோம் 3
தந்தது பெற்றது
எதுவென மறந்து
ஒருவரில் ஒருவர்
இணைந்து வாழ்ந்தோம் 4
இதிலுள்ள இரகசியம்
பிறர் அறியாரே
எடுத்துக் கூறினும்
அவர் புரியாரே 5
அந்த நிலையில்
வாழ்வது அன்றி
அதனின் அனுபவம்
பிறர் உணராரே 6
பக்தன் எனக்காய்
உன்னையே தந்தாய்
பரமன் உனக்காய்
என்னையே தந்தேன் 7
இதிலே இருவரின்
தேவையும் நிறைய
அந்த நிறைவில்
மகிழ்ந்து இருந்தோம் 8
அனைத்தையும் படைத்த
உனக்கொரு தேவை
இருக்குது என்றால்
எவர்தான் ஏற்பார் 9
பக்தி செய்யும்
பக்தன் அன்றி
அந்தத் தேவையை
எவரும் புரியார் 10
உனக்கொரு உலகம்
இருக்குது என்றால்
அதிலொரு இடம்
எனக்கு உண்டு 11
என்னை விட்டால்
அந்த இடத்தை
நிரப்ப வேறு
எவர்தான் உண்டு 12
பக்திக்கு உள்ள
இந்த உரிமை
படைக்கும் போதே
நீயும் தந்தாய் 13
இடையில் தவறி
பல இழந்தாலும்
இந்த உரிமை
என்றும் இழக்கோம் 14
நீயாகப் பார்த்துத்
தந்த ஒன்றை
மட்டும் எதிர்பார்த்து
மீண்டும் வந்தேன் 15
குருகுலம், 18-11-2021, இரவு, 11.30
BT Song 1303 பிரம்பை எடுப்பாய்
அறியாது இருந்தேன்
ஆட்கொண்டு ஏற்றாய்
தெரியாது செய்தேன்
மன்னித்துக் காத்தாய் 1
அறிந்தும் தெரிந்தும்
மீண்டும் செய்தேன்
அப்போதும் அருளை
அlளி கொடுத்தாய்
அதை எண்ணும்போது
நெஞ்சம் வலித்தது
ஐயனே உன்முன்னே
வந்திட மறுத்தது 3
ஒருவித நாணம்
என்னைத் தடுத்தது
ஏறிட்டுப் பார்க்க
மனதும் மறுத்தது 4
ஆயினும் என்மீது
நீயும் இரங்கி
அன்பினைக் காட்டி
மீண்டும் அழைத்தாய் 5
முற்றாக என்குணம்
அறிந்த நீயும்
சற்றுமே தயங்காமல்
கிட்டி அணைத்தாய் 6
நீ எதிர்பார்க்கும்
மாற்றம் என்னில்
எப்போது வந்திடும்
நீயதைச் சொல்வாய் 7
தவறினை மறந்து
தண்டிக்க மறுத்தால்
திருந்திட வாய்ப்பில்லை
நீயதை அறிவாய் 8
எனக்கான தண்டனை
நீயேற்ற பின்னாலே
தனியொரு தண்டனை
தேவை இல்லைதான் 9
ஆனாலும் பிரம்பை
எடுக்க மறுத்தால்
என்வாழ்வு என்னாகும்
நீயதைச் சொல்வாய் 10
நறுங்குண்ட ஆவி
நொறுங்குண்ட மனது
இரண்டையும் தந்து
என்னையே மீட்பாய் 11
குருகுலம், 20-11-2021, இரவு, 11.30
BT Song 1304 அஞ்சுகிறேன்
பயந்து நடுங்கி
ஒடுங்கிக் கிடக்கும்
பழக்கம் மட்டும்
எனக்கு இல்லை 1
உன் பக்தனாக
வாழும் போது
அச்சம் கொள்ளத்
தேவை இல்லை 2
உன்னை என்னை
பிரிக்கும் ஏதும்
வாழ்வில் இதுவரை
வந்ததே இல்லை 3
அதற்கு இடமும்
தந்து விடாமல்
வாழ வைப்பாய்
கவலை இல்லை 4
தேகம் தன்னில்
வந்து சேரும்
துன்பம் யாவும்
நீங்கும் ஒருநாள் 5
மனதில் தோன்றும்
மடிவு யாதும்
மறைந்து போகும்
உனது அருளால் 6
உன்னைத் தந்து
என்னை மீட்ட
எனது ஆவி
உனது கையில் 7
உனது சித்தம்
வழியும் நடத்த
தொடர்ந்து செல்வேன்
குழப்பம் இல்லை 8
அனு தினம்
உனது காவல்
என்னைச் சூழ
இருக்கும் போது 9
எதிர்த்து நிற்ப
தேதும் இல்லை
எனவே அச்சம்
துளியும் இல்லை 10
ஆனால் எனது
பிறவிக் குணம்
அதனை மட்டும்
நம்ப வில்லை 11
அதற்கு மட்டும்
அஞ்சுகிறேன்
அந்த பயமோ
நீங்க வில்லை 12
என்னைக் கொட்டும்
தூதனாக
அதனை ஏனோ
நீயும் வைத்தாய் 13
பாகன் கையின்
அங்குசம் போல்
அதனைக் கொண்டு
ஆட்டு கின்றாய் 14
அந்த அச்சம்
கொண்டு மட்டும்
கீழ்ப்படிந்து
அடிமை வாழ்வேன் 15
குருகுலம், 25-11-2021, இரவு, 11.00
BT Song 1305 பொறுமையின் பெருமை
எதையும் வெல்லும்
வலிமை மட்டும்
பொறுமை அதற்கு
அதிகம் உண்டு 1
தன்னைத் தந்து
தாழ வைக்கும்
எளிமை அதற்கு
நிறைய உண்டு 2
அன்பு என்னும்
பண்பு கொண்டு
பிறரை எளிதில்
வசப்படுத்தும் 3
அடக்கம் அமைதி
நேர்மை சேர
பிறரைத் துணைக்கு
அழைத்துச் செல்லும் 4
ஈவு இரக்கம்
எளிமை தியாகம்
மேலும் அதற்கு
வலிமை சேர்க்க 5
சோர்ந்து கிடக்கும்
மனிதர் தன்னைத்
தூக்கி நிறுத்தி
வாழ வைக்கும் 6
தன்னைப் போல
பிறரை எண்ணும்
மனதும் கூட
அதற்கு இருக்கும் 7
தனக்கும் மேலாய்ப்
பிறரை வைத்துச்
சேவை செய்யக்
காத்துக் கிடைக்கும் 8
இந்த நல்ல
குணங்கள் கொண்ட
பொறுமை எளிதில்
வசப்படாது 9
மூர்க்கம் கோபம்
உள்ள இடத்தில்
தவறிக் கூட
ஒதுங்கிடாது
நம் முயற்சி
கொண்டு அதனை
அடையும் வழி
இருந்திடாது
இறைவன் பார்த்துத்
தந்திடாமல்
நாமதைப் பெற
வழி கிடையது
குருகுலம், 25-11-2021, இரவு, 11.30
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