BT Song 1321
Allotting separate time to be with the Lord is one of the spiritual disciplines in bhakti. I do this many times. However, I often find that I cannot use this special time as intended, and my mind wanders with various preoccupations. During these moments, I realize that even in this concept of giving separate time to the Lord, there is an element of selfishness. As I meditated on this, I came to understand that since I possess nothing personally, even the concept of allocating special time is false. This song reflects on that meditation. I’ve also written another song with the same theme, highlighting that for a bhakta, once everything belongs to God, giving priority to God, particularly allocating Him time in the so-called ‘early morning,’ seems odd. Sometimes, normal activities are ritualized and spiritualized beyond what they deserve.
BT Song 1321 Nothing belongs to me
Simple English Version:
Verse 1:
Many things can be lost,
But there’s one thing,
That we should never lose,
It’s precious and true.
Verse 2:
It’s good for me,
To come unto you,
By setting aside,
A special time.
Verse 3:
So when I,
Came to you,
By setting aside,
A time for me.
Verse 4:
I realized that,
There’s selfishness in it,
And I asked you,
About this feeling.
Verse 5:
When I thought about,
What belongs to me,
Personally, I found,
Nothing is truly mine.
Verse 6:
I realized that,
Even an empty vessel,
Is not mine,
It doesn’t belong to me.
Verse 7:
Before I came here,
I belonged to you,
Once I came to this world,
I belonged to others.
Verse 8:
After I live my life,
And leave this world,
I will still be,
Connected with you and others.
Verse 9:
There’s nothing for me,
To lose in this life,
When nothing belongs,
Truly to me.
Verse 10:
So I don’t need,
A separate time for myself,
I’ve realized this truth,
Now I understand.
Gurukulam, 2-1-2022, 4.45 a.m.
BT Song 1321 Nothing belongs to me
Classical English Version:
Verse 1:
Many a thing may be lost,
Yet one must ever stay,
One precious, sacred truth,
We must not let away.
Verse 2:
‘Tis good that I should come,
Unto thy side, to be,
By setting time apart,
For sacred harmony.
Verse 3:
Thus when I came to thee,
And set aside my time,
I found within my heart,
A selfishness to climb.
Verse 4:
I pondered deep within,
What truly is my own,
And asked of thee to guide,
In thoughts I should have known.
Verse 5:
When deep in thought I mused,
On what is truly mine,
I saw that naught belonged,
To me in life’s design.
Verse 6:
I realized then and there,
An empty vessel’s state,
Is not for me to claim,
It too, belongs to fate.
Verse 7:
Before my life began,
To thee I did belong,
Once born into this world,
To others I was drawn.
Verse 8:
And when my life is spent,
And from this earth I part,
In bonds of love and truth,
I’ll stay within thy heart.
[I’ll stay with you and others]
Verse 9:
For nothing here is mine,
In life, nor in demise,
When nothing’s truly owned,
There’s naught to realize.
Verse 10:
Thus time for self I need,
No longer to set free,
I’ve learned this sacred truth,
And now it’s clear to me.
Gurukulam, 2-1-2022, 4.45 a.m.
BT Song 1322
After writing the previous song and continuing to meditate on the subject, I wrote this song. In my dialogue with the Lord, I expressed that we live a shared life every day, making it unnecessary for Him to have any specific time apart from having me as His bhakta.
BT Song 1322 Nothing belongs to me
Simple English Version:
Verse 1:
When I don’t have,
Anything of my own,
I don’t have anything,
To give separately to you.
Verse 2:
When you don’t,
Have any need of your own,
There is no need,
For me to give specifically to you.
Verse 3:
When we are,
Living in this state,
I cannot understand,
Who to give and who to receive?
Verse 4:
When you and I,
Are living together,
There is no separate,
Need for us.
Verse 5:
Once we are used,
To living together,
By eating, sleeping,
And waking to work.
Verse 6:
In this life,
Which is common to both of us,
There is no thought like,
“I” and “You” are separate.
Verse 7:
Once I understood,
This secret,
There is no need,
For me to think any other thing.
Verse 8:
Whoever might accept this,
Or reject it,
There is no time,
To respond to them.
Verse 9:
As today’s life,
Is calling us both,
Living in it is,
Our only job now.
Gurukulam, 2-01-2022, 5.30 a.m.
BT Song 1322 Nothing belongs to me
Classical English Version:
Verse 1:
When naught is mine,
To hold or to bestow,
I’ve naught to give,
Separately to thee.
Verse 2:
When thou dost need,
No singular thing alone,
No need have I,
To give specifically.
Verse 3:
When we do dwell,
In such a state as this,
Who gives and who receives,
Cannot be known.
Verse 4:
When thou and I,
Do live in unity,
No separate needs,
For us do now exist.
Verse 5:
Once we are used,
To living side by side,
With eating, sleeping,
And awaking thus.
Verse 6:
In this our life,
Which both of us do share,
No thought remains,
Of “I” and “Thou” apart.
Verse 7:
Once this deep secret,
Is within me known,
No further thought,
Need occupy my mind.
Verse 8:
Whoe’er may take,
Or turn away from this,
No time have I,
To answer their dispute.
Verse 9:
For life today,
Doth call us both to live,
In this our task,
And thus we must engage.
Gurukulam, 2-01-2022, 5.30 a.m.
BT Song 1323
As I got up very early in the morning to take care of my mother, I began my kitchen work. While cooking, I thought about the few songs I wrote that morning. During this time, I told the Lord that whatever happens in my life, we both share equal responsibility. Inspiration struck, and despite being in the middle of cooking, I stopped, took some paper, and wrote this song within a few minutes.
BT Song 1323 Why become upset
Simple English Version:
Verse 1:
We both have,
Equal share,
When I tell this,
Why do you become upset?
Verse 2:
If I have to tell,
The truth,
You have more,
Responsibility than me.
Verse 3:
Though we have,
An un-separable relationship,
And continue to,
Live together.
Verse 4:
You have more responsibility,
As you remain,
As a mother, father,
Master, and friend.
Verse 5:
When I come,
Unto you as a child,
Becoming a mother,
You should pamper me.
Verse 6:
When I come,
As your son,
You should encourage me,
By becoming a father.
Verse 7:
When I come,
As your friend,
You should treat me,
With clear understanding.
Verse 8:
When I become,
As a slave to you,
You should guide me,
Remaining as my Master.
Verse 9:
I feel shy to tell,
About one greater relationship,
That I have,
With you.
Verse 10:
Realizing that,
Quenching my viraha [love in separation],
Hugging me,
You should abide with me.
Verse 11:
To whichever,
Relationship I change,
I have only,
One responsibility.
Verse 12:
Becoming a bhakta,
Singing and dancing,
Alone is my,
Only responsibility.
Verse 13:
The rest of them are,
Your share,
When I tell this,
Why do you become upset?
Gurukulam, 2-1-2022, 6.30 a.m.
BT Song 1323 Why become upset
Classical English Version:
Verse 1:
We both possess,
An equal share,
When this I say,
Why dost thou become upset?
Verse 2:
If truth be told,
With candor pure,
Thy burden’s weight,
Exceeds mine own by far.
Verse 3:
Though bonded tight,
Our ties unbreakable,
We live as one,
In harmony and peace.
Verse 4:
Thy duties vast,
As mother, father dear,
As master, friend,
Are greater far than mine.
Verse 5:
When as a child,
I come unto thy side,
Thou shouldst become,
A mother, kind and warm.
Verse 6:
When as thy son,
I seek thy guiding light,
Thou shouldst become,
A father, strong and true.
Verse 7:
When as a friend,
I come with heart so pure,
Thou shouldst with care,
Receive me, understanding clear.
Verse 8:
When as a slave,
I bow before thy will,
Thou shouldst as master,
Guide my every step.
Verse 9:
There is a bond,
Of which I shy to speak,
More deep and strong,
Than all the rest combined.
Verse 10:
In knowing this,
And quenching my deep love,
Embrace me close,
And never from me part.
Verse 11:
In any role,
To which I may transform,
One duty binds,
And claims my heart alone.
Verse 12:
As bhakta true,
In song and dance divine,
This single task,
Defines my earthly role.
Verse 13:
The rest, my friend,
Doth fall upon thyself,
When this I speak,
Why dost thou become upset?
Gurukulam, 2-1-2022, 6.30 a.m.
BT Song 1324
In the present scenario, I have to live one day at a time, though I always try to uphold this principle. Understanding the reason for God giving me several responsibilities encourages me to live according to this principle. I never serve my mother thinking that by this act, she and others can see the Love of the Lord in and through my life—God forbid it. For me, no amount of work will add to the grace of God. However, when we serve according to the concept of loving fellow human beings as serving God, then our service and bhakti in the Lord become blessings rather than burdens—not responsibilities but opportunities.
BT Song 1324 Your Call
Simple English Version:
Verse 1:
If I live even for a single day,
Let it remain yours,
Let my heart and body,
Think only about you.
Verse 2:
However many responsibilities,
You might give,
Let the actions and strength,
Be yours.
Verse 3:
You never called me,
Without any reason,
You never gave me responsibilities,
In vain.
Verse 4:
Knowing me well,
Even before calling me,
You gave me the responsibility,
I never deny this.
Verse 5:
I know well that,
By keeping me,
Amidst those,
Who do not follow you.
Verse 6:
You are doing this,
Clearly, I know this,
Therefore I won’t ask,
The reason for this.
Verse 7:
I understood that,
This is a way,
For them to understand,
Your Love.
Verse 8:
Once I received,
Your Love,
I won’t deny the responsibility,
Given by you.
Verse 9:
Once we began to,
Love those whom we see,
They will see,
The unseen God.
Verse 10:
What more responsibility,
Could Bhakti have,
And what kind of,
Merit have I earned?
Verse 11:
Completing the responsibility,
That you give me each day,
I will receive,
My crown.
Gurukulam, 6-1-2022, 11.00 p.m.
BT Song 1324 Your Call
Classical English Version:
Verse 1:
If I should live for but a single day,
Let it remain as thine,
Let heart and body both,
In thoughts of thee entwine.
Verse 2:
However many duties thou bestow,
May strength and action too,
Be thine alone, O Lord,
In everything I do.
Verse 3:
Thou callest me with purpose, ever clear,
No task in vain dost give,
Thy wisdom guides each call,
That in thy name I live.
Verse 4:
Thou knowest well my heart,
Before thou callest me,
The duty given thus,
Is thine, eternally.
Verse 5:
Amidst those who stray,
Thou keepest me in place,
To guide them with thy love,
To show them thy pure grace.
Verse 6:
I see thy purpose clear,
In all thou dost command,
I will not question why,
Nor fail to understand.
Verse 7:
This path thou givest me,
Is for them to discern,
The depth of thy great love,
And thus thy ways to learn.
Verse 8:
Thy love, once felt, I know,
No task can be denied,
For what thou givest me,
I bear with humble pride.
Verse 9:
As love for those we see,
Blooms within our heart,
They’ll glimpse the unseen God,
Through love that we impart.
Verse 10:
What duty greater still,
Could Bhakti ever claim?
What merit have I earned,
To bear thy sacred name?
Verse 11:
Each day, thy task complete,
I seek no earthly crown,
For in thy service true,
Thy grace shall be my own.
Gurukulam, 6-1-2022, 11.00 p.m.
BT Song 1325
After another reading about Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, I reflected on the concept of renunciation. Despite the views of critics and apologists about their lives, particularly about renunciation, the concept often eludes my mind. Long ago, in 1997, I met a monk who left the Ramakrishna Mission in Gangotri. He mentioned he was not satisfied with the Mission, which he felt had become like another NGO, despite promoting Practical Vedanta. He left to search for his personal sadhana and wandered across India. Though his comments may not be gospel truth, his longing for a complete life of a sannyasi who renounces everything was evident. Each sannyasi has their own ideal and view about sannyasa, as each journey is independent. For me, renouncing the need to ask further questions about the true nature of sannyasa is beneficial for both the sannyasi and sannyasa. See my recent article ‘Sivam and Sannyasi.’
BT Song 1325 Should Renounce the Question
Simple English Version:
Verse 1:
I cannot understand,
What actually is ‘sannyasa’,
And I don’t know,
Which one I should renounce.
Verse 2:
After I have thought,
And written much about this,
Till this time,
I didn’t receive a proper answer.
Verse 3:
Though I say that,
Renouncing even the,
Concept of renunciation,
Is the true renunciation.
Verse 4:
I don’t know,
What to say about the life,
In which we have to,
Renounce even the renunciation.
Verse 5:
There is a fundamental,
Need for this body,
Similarly, there is,
A need for the heart/mind.
Verse 6:
Surely there is a,
Need for that atman,
That stands,
Beyond body and mind.
Verse 7:
As long as there is,
Life in this body,
We cannot give up,
Any of them.
Verse 8:
Once this became,
The truth,
Where is renunciation,
In this?
Verse 9:
Still there is,
An answer for this,
Knowing that alone,
Is good for a sannyasi.
Verse 10:
Giving up even,
Asking these kinds of questions,
Is good for both,
Renunciation and a sannyasi.
Gurukulam, 11-1-2022, 11.30 p.m.
BT Song 1325 Should Renounce the Question
Classical English Version:
Verse 1:
I cannot comprehend,
What ‘sannyasa’ means,
Nor do I know,
What to renounce it seems.
Verse 2:
Though much I’ve pondered,
And written on this thought,
No clear answer,
Has yet been brought.
Verse 3:
I often declare,
Renouncing renunciation,
Is the truest,
Form of this vocation.
Verse 4:
Yet I am puzzled,
By this life’s decree,
That renouncing renunciation,
Is a mystery to me.
Verse 5:
There are needs,
This body must fulfill,
And so too, the heart,
Requires its will.
Verse 6:
The atman too,
Beyond body and mind,
Has needs that,
We cannot bind.
Verse 7:
As long as life,
In this body remains,
We cannot forsake,
These essential chains.
Verse 8:
When this truth,
Is understood,
Where is renunciation,
In this, if we could?
Verse 9:
Yet an answer,
Still persists,
Knowing this alone,
A sannyasi’s bliss.
Verse 10:
To renounce the question,
And such inquiry,
Is the path,
For both renunciation and sannyasi.
Gurukulam, 11-1-2022, 11.30 p.m.
BT Song 1321 எனதென இல்லை
இழப்பதற் கென்று
ஆயிரம் உண்டு
இழக்கக் கூடாத
செயலொன்று உண்டு 1
எனக்கென நேரம்
ஒதுக்கி நானும்
உன்னிடம் வருவதே
என்றும் நன்று 2
ஆகவே நானும்
எனக்கென நேரம்
ஒதுக்கி உன்னிடம்
வந்த போது 3
அதிலும் சுயநலம்
இருப்பதை அறிந்து
அதுபற்றி உன்னிடம்
கேட்டு நின்றேன் 4
எனக்கெனத் தனியாக
இருப்பது என்ன
என்று நானும்
எண்ணிய போது 5
காலிக் குடமாய்
இருப்பது கூட
எனதில்லை என்று
நானும் உணர்ந்தேன் 6
வரும்முன்னே நானும்
உனதாய் இருந்தேன்
வந்தபின் உலகில்
பிறர்க்காய் ஆனேன் 7
வாழ்ந்து முடித்து
மறைந்த பின்னே
உனக்காய்ப் பிறர்க்காய்
உறவாய் இருப்பேன் 8
இழக்க இதிலே
ஏதும் இல்லை
ஏதும் எனதாய்
இல்லாத போது 9
ஆகவே எனக்கெனத்
தனியான நேரம்
தேவையே இல்லை
அறிந்தேன் இப்போது 10
குருகுலம், 2-1-2022, காலை 4.45
BT Song 1322 ஏதுமே இல்லை
எனக்கெனத் தனியாக
இலாத போது
உனக்கெனத் தந்திட
ஏதுமே இல்லை 1
உனக்கெனத் தேவை
இல்லாத போது
நானும் தந்திடத்
தேவையும் இல்லை 2
இதுபோன்ற நிலையில்
இருவரும் இருக்க
யார்தந்து யார்பெற
புரியவும் இல்லை 3
நீயும் நானும்
ஒன்றாக வாழத்
தனியான தேவை
நமக்குமே இல்லை 4
உண்டு உறங்கி
விழித்து எழுந்து
இருவரும் வாழ்ந்து
பழகிய பின்னே 5
இருவர்க்கும் பொதுவான
நம்மிந்த வாழ்வில்
நான்-நீ என்ற
எண்ணமும் இல்லை 6
இந்த இரகசியம்
புரிந்த பின்னே
எதையும் எண்ணத்
தேவையும் இல்லை 7
ஏற்பவர் மறுப்பவர்
எவராக இருந்தாலும்
அவருக்கு பதில்தர
நேரமே இல்லை 8
இந்நாளின் வாழ்வும்
நம்மையும் அழைக்க
அதிலே வாழ்வதே
நமக்குள்ள வேலை 9
குருகுலம், காலை, 5.30
BT Song 1323 உனக்கேன் பிணக்கு
இருவர்க்கும் உள்ளது
சமமான பங்கு
அதையே சொன்னால்
உனக்கென்ன பிணக்கு 1
உண்மையை நானும்
சொல்லிடப் போனால்
உனக்கான பொறுப்பு
அதிகமே இருக்கு 2
இணை பிரியாத
உறவிருந்தாலும்
இருவரும் ஒன்றாய்
வாழ்ந்திருந்தாலும் 3
தாயாய் தந்தையாய்
தலைவனாய் நண்பனாய்
இருந்திடும் உனக்கு
பொறுப்பு இருக்கு 4
சேயாக மாறி
நான்வரும் போது
தாயாக மாறிச்
சீராட்டவேண்டும் 5
மகனாய் மாறி
நானும் வந்தால்
தந்தையாய் என்னை
தோள்தட்டித் தரணும் 6
நண்பனாய் மாறி
வந்திடும் போது
என்னைப் புரிந்து
நீயும் நடக்கணும் 7
அடிமையாய் மாறி
நானும் வந்திட
தலைவனாய் இருந்து
வழியும் நடத்தணும் 8
இதற்கும் மேலாய்
உள்ள உறவை
சொல்ல எனக்கு
வெட்கமாய் இருக்கு 9
அதனை உணர்ந்து
விரகம் தணித்து
என்னை அணைத்து
இருந்திட வேண்டும் 10
எந்த உறவாய்
நானும் மாறினும்
எனக்குப் பொறுப்பு
ஒன்றுதான் இருக்கு 11
பக்தனாய் மாறி
பாடி ஆடி
வாழ்வது ஒன்றே
எனக்குள்ள பங்கு 12
மற்றவை எல்லாம்
உனக்குள்ள பொறுப்பு
அதையே சொன்னால்
உனக்கேன் பிணக்கு 13
குருகுலம், 2-1-2022, காலை 6.30
BT Song 1324 உனது அழைப்பு
ஒருநாள் வாழ்ந்தாலும்
உனதாக இருக்கட்டும்
உடலும் மனமும்
உனைமட்டும் நினைக்கட்டும் 1
பொறுப்புகள் எத்தனை
நீதந்த போதும்
செயலும் பெலனும்
உனதாக இருக்கட்டும் 2
காரணம் இன்றி
அழைக்கவும் இல்லை
காரியம் வீணாகக்
கொடுக்கவும் இல்லை 3
அழைக்கும் முன்பே
என்னை அறிந்து
தந்தாய் பொறுப்பை
மறுக்கவும் இல்லை 4
உன்னை அறியா
மனிதர் இடையே
என்னை வைத்து
நீயும் நடத்தும் 5
காரியம் இதுவென
நானும் அறிவேனே
காரணம் அதனை
நானும் கேட்கேனே 6
உனது அன்பை
அவரும் அறிய
இதுஉன் வழியென
நானும் உணர்ந்தேனே 7
அந்த அன்பை
அடைந்த பின்னாலே
நீதரும் பொறுப்பை
நான் மறுக்கேனே 8
கண்ணில் காணும்
மனிதரை நேசிக்க
காணா இறைவனை
அவரும் காண்பாரே 9
இதனினும் பொறுப்பு
பக்திக்கு ஏது
என்ன புண்ணியம்
நானும் செய்தேனே 10
ஓவ்வொரு நாளும்
நீதரும் பொறுப்பை
ஏற்று முடித்துப்
பரிசை அடைவேனே 11
குருகுலம், 6-1-2022, இரவு, 11.00
BT Song 1325 கேள்வியைத் துறக்கணும்
துறவறம் எதுவெனப்
புரியவும் இல்லை
துறப்பது எதையெனத்
தெரியவும் இல்லை 1
இதுபற்றி எண்ணி
படித்து எழுதியும்
இதுவரை விடையேதும்
கிடைக்கவே இல்லை 2
துறவையும் துறந்து
வாழ்வது மட்டுமே
உண்மைத் துறவறம்
எனநான் சொல்லிணும் 3
துறவையும் துறந்து
வாழ்ந்திடும் வாழ்வை
எதுவெனச் சொல்லப்
புரியவும் இல்லை 4
அடிப்படைத் தேவை
உடலுக்கு உள்ளது
அதுபோல் மனதுக்கும்
அவசியம் உள்ளது 5
உடல்மனம் இரண்டையும்
கடந்து நின்றிடும்
உயிரின் தேவை
நிச்சயம் உள்ளது 6
உடலில் உயிரும்
உள்ள வரையில்
இவைகள் எதையும்
விட முடியாது 7
இதுவே உண்மை
எனவான பின்னே
இதிலே துறவறம்
எங்கே உள்ளது 8
ஆயினும் இதற்கொரு
விடையும் உள்ளது
அதனை அறிவதே
துறவிக்கு நல்லது 9
இதுபோல் கேள்விகள்
கேட்பதைத் துறப்பதே
துறவிக்கும் துறவுக்கும்
மிகமிக நல்லது 10
குருகுலம், 11-1-2022, இரவு 11.30
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