BT Song 1331
Bhakti never denies the need for proper understanding. However, mere comprehension of scripture (including theology) will never lead one to attain Bhakti. While Bhakti without understanding is impossible, understanding without Bhakti is a reality in the religious world. As I contemplated this, I expressed my thoughts through this poem.
BT Song 1331 The Aim of Bhakti – Simple English Version
To know you
Is not that easy
But it is very
Easy to reach you 1
Not knowing the answer
To the question:
To reach or to know first
I am confused 2
Reaching without knowing
Is not right
I say this
Only after I reached you 3
I saw the danger
Of reaching
Without proper understanding
From the lives of many 4
They were well-versed
In the Vedas
They explained
Philosophy clearly 5
But they argued
Refusing to understand
The simple way
Of bhakti 6
They said bhakti
Is just emotion
It doesn’t match
With intellect 7
They also said
It’s a shortcut
For those who
Can’t think well 8
We don’t need such intellect
That doesn’t understand
The true nature
Of emotion 9
There’s no humanity
Without emotion
And we don’t need
Teachings that miss this 10
Understanding after reaching
Is the mark of bhakti
It’s their duty
To understand this 11
Growing in you
After reaching and understanding
Is the only
Aim of bhakti 12
Gurukulam, 27-1-2022, 11.00 p.m.
BT Song 1331 The Aim of Bhakti – Classical English Version
To understand thee
Is not so easy
Yet it is very
Easy to reach thee 1
Knowing not the answer
To the question posed:
To reach or to understand first
I am bewildered 2
Reaching without knowing
Is not proper
I declare this
Only after I reached thee 3
I saw the peril
Of reaching
Without due understanding
From the lives of many 4
They were well-versed
In the Vedas
They did expound
Philosophy with clarity 5
Yet they argued
Refusing to comprehend
The simple path
Of bhakti 6
They proclaimed bhakti
As mere emotion’s peak
Incompatible
With intellect 7
They also deemed it
A mere shortcut
For those unfit
To think profoundly 8
Such intellect we need not
That fails to grasp
The true essence
Of emotion 9
There is no humanity
Devoid of emotion
And such teachings
We need not heed 10
Understanding after reaching
Is the hallmark of bhakti
It is their duty
To comprehend this 11
To grow in thee
After reaching and understanding
Is the sole
Aim of bhakti 12
Gurukulam, 27-1-2022, 11.00 p.m.
BT Song 1332
Although God knows everything, there are certain human experiences He cannot fully grasp. One such area is our shortcomings. Since grace abandons where there is a shortcoming, if God wishes to remove these, He must take the initiative by providing not merely more grace but even well in advance. This may seem strange, but in Bhakti theology, there is room for all kinds of expressions of Bhakti, even those that go beyond the traditional understanding of grace and shortcomings.
BT Song 1332 Shortcoming is Good – Simple English Version
Why this
Unnecessary tussle between us
When we live
Together without any friction 1
There will be
Differences in relationship
It is better you
Understand this well 2
You might say that
As I remain
Merely a God
I cannot understand this 3
How to believe this
As you came as human
And know
My condition 4
Okay, let it be
And let the shortcoming be mine
How are you going to understand
The benefit in this 5
One can understand the
Value of the shadow only in sun
Similarly, grace will
Increase in my shortcomings 6
I alone am qualified
To receive it
Therefore, there is
Profit in shortcomings 7
No shortage will come
When you bestow grace
If I tell this
Why do you become upset 8
When there is a
Need for your grace
Shortcoming also
Comes on its own 9
It is better for you
To give grace
Before there comes
Any need for it 10
Don’t make any mistake
And then
Don’t become upset
With me 11
Therefore, I told you
The way
Which does not
Bring any friction in our relationship 12
Do whatever you think
Is best for me
What else is there
For me to say further 13
Gurukulam, 28-1-2022, 11.00 p.m.
BT Song 1332 Shortcoming is Good – Classical English Version
Why this
Unnecessary strife betwixt us
When we dwell
Together without discord 1
There will be
Differences in relationship
‘Tis better thou
Understand this well 2
Thou might say that
As I remain
Merely a God
I cannot comprehend this 3
How to believe this
As thou didst come as human
And know
My condition 4
Let it be so
And let the shortcoming be mine
How wilt thou understand
The benefit therein 5
One can understand the
Value of the shadow only in sun
Similarly, grace will
Increase in my shortcomings 6
I alone am qualified
To receive it
Therefore, there is
Profit in shortcomings 7
No shortage will arise
When thou bestoweth grace
If I declare this
Why dost thou become wroth 8
When there is a
Need for thy grace
Shortcoming also
Cometh on its own 9
‘Tis better for thee
To give grace
Before there cometh
Any need for it 10
Commit no error
And thereafter
Do not become wroth
With me 11
Therefore, I did tell thee
The way
Which bringeth no
Friction in our relationship 12
Do what thou thinkest
Is best for me
What else is there
For me to further say 13
Gurukulam, 28-1-2022, 11.00 p.m.
BT Song 1333
Another contention arose between me and the Lord. I wanted to make one thing clear to Him: He should not expect anything from me based on His perspective as God, but should instead understand my position as a human. This song is the result of that contemplation.
BT Song 1333 Unnecessary Expectations in Simple English
I have an expectation for you,
And you have one for me too.
But tell me, is your expectation
As justified as mine?
Do I need to tell
The gap between the mountain and the valley,
Should I explain
The distance between human and divine?
Who put this difference in creation?
Better you tell that to me.
Will this gap ever close,
As you created us in your image?
Therefore, don’t have expectations
From your point of view.
Don’t forget the trials
You faced as a human being.
Your expectations force me
To remind you often,
But how far is it correct
For you to become upset with me?
Your expectation should be
Only from the standpoint of human.
Understanding the reason in my expectation,
You should expect anything from me.
BT Song 1333 Unnecessary Expectations in Classical English
I have an expectation for thee,
And thou hast one for me too.
But tell me, is thy expectation
As justified as mine?
Must I expound the gap
‘Twixt the mountain and the valley,
Shall I elucidate the distance
‘Twixt human and divine?
Who hath wrought this difference in creation?
Better thou tell that to me.
Will this gap ever close,
As thou created us in thine image?
Therefore, harbor not expectations
From thine own perspective.
Forget not the trials
Thou faced as a mortal being.
Thy expectations compel me
To remind thee oft,
But how just is it
For thee to become vexed with me?
Thy expectation should be
Only from the mortal standpoint.
Understanding the reason in mine expectation,
Thou shouldst expect aught from me.
Gurukulam, 29-1-2022, 10.15 p.m.
BT Song 1334
“We have to wait for God’s Time” is a phrase we often hear. However, for a bhakta of the Lord, even this so-called TIME is under the control of the Lord. Generally, in the Indian worldview, Time is considered an independent entity that controls the life of every individual. Thus, whatever happens, happens, and one has to accept and move forward. For me, this is not the case, as God has sovereign control over all our human concepts, including Time. So when I think it is the proper time for God to intervene and provide what is needed at that moment, He should do so and not tell me to wait for His Time or allow Time to control my life. After writing these comments, I reviewed some of the points I have collected on this topic [Time], and I would like to share a few from them:
Time ripens and cooks all beings,
time absorbs all creatures,
time is awake when all are asleep,
for no one can fight against time.{Yashodhara on the Kamasutra 1.2.29}— Wendy Doniger, The Mare’s trap: Nature and Culture in the Kamasutra, New Delhi, Speaking Tiger Publishing Pvt. Ltd. 2015. p. 79
…I think, that there are three main questions to which the religious interest in the problem of time is directed: (1) Ought we to think of God as above time in the sense that for Him there is no movement from past to present, no after or before? (2) The time process of which we experience a little bit, what are we to think of it as a whole? Is it ordained and guided by God to realize a Purpose whose full meaning can be understood only when the Purpose reaches its completion? (3) We are concerned to know how far finite human spirits, if the life of God Himself is timeless, ought to, and can, transcend time, and experience timeless eternity, and this question would have two application: (p.83) it may be asked with regard to men still in this life, how far men can rise in spirit into the sphere of the timeless, or it may be asked with regard to the existence of men beyond death, how far it is to be thought of as timeless.
To attempt, in the time at our disposal, to grapple with all the problems raised for metaphysics by our experience of time in general would be absurd. All I can hope to do is to throw out a few observations which may bear more directly on our special problem, how far we are to regard all temporal language applied to the being of God or the life of finite beings in the spiritual world as symbols of a Reality which is timeless. The problem of Time, we are told, is both the most central problem of metaphysics and also one of the most baffling. My impression is that the attempt to define Time, or explain Time, or understand Time, is one doomed necessarily to eternal frustration. Time can only be known and pointed to, but never defined or explained or understood. And the reason of this is that time is something wholly unique, unlike anything else we know. For immediate experience time is no problem at all. When St. Augustine said: “If nobody asks me what Time is, I know; if I want to explain it to anyone who asks me, I am at a loss,” he was stating what is an elementary truth. When we actually witness any event, we know quite well the difference between “before” and “after,” and everyone to whom we speak of something happening before or after something else knows quite well what we mean. But if we try to define or explain time we have to do so in terms of other things, and because time is something unique, unlike anything else, every such attempt must misrepresent the reality. If you keep terms of temporal significance out of your explanation, it is wide of the mark: if you admit them, your definition, or explanation, is circular, (p.84) presupposing a knowledge of the very thing to be defined or explained.— Edwyn Bevan, Symbolism and Belief, London, George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1938, pp. 83-85
But theology is not particularly interested in the “how” and “what”, but in the “why” of time. Whatever our position in the universe, time is always the measure of movement and change against the still centre of our self-consciousness. We “rise above” movement and change, including the movement and change of our own bodies, in order to be conscious of time. Time is not just astronomical, mechanical or electrical; time is personal. In an immensely profound sense, time is a measure of the tragic existence of self-conscious spirits in this present universe.– Bruce Wilson; The Human Journey; p.213
The man who would know God must give time to Him.–Tozer; Divine Conquest.
…since God aims at quality in His chosen instruments, time is no object with Him. We are always in a hurry, but He is not.–J.Oswald Sanders; Paul the Leader.
BT Song 1334 This is Time to Give
in Simple English
I thought that
You could provide whenever you want,
But I also told you
To give immediately.
Though there is
Contradiction in this,
As you know my situation,
You know this well.
Though you know
The time to give,
And even if I lack
Something to receive,
You should change
According to the situation,
Or you should
Grant me the qualification to receive.
It may be correct
For others,
Who observe
The importance of proper timing.
But where does such necessity
Exist for you,
As you have overcome
Time forever?
Therefore, don’t
Decide alone
The time to
Provide for me.
Don’t deny
The urgency
If I say that
I need something immediately.
Cold porridge
Becomes old,
And if heated again,
It will lose its taste.
When food is
Unavailable when one is hungry,
It will lose its taste
If it comes later.
A mother will
Keep the food ready
Even before the child
Gets hungry.
Like that,
You too keep it ready
Before I come
To ask you.
The time for me
To receive
Is the time that
You provide for me.
If you leave this,
And decide
To calculate time,
Then you are very adamant.
Gurukulam, 29-1-2022, 11.00 p.m.
BT Song 1334 This is Time to Give
in Classical English
I thought that
Thou couldst provide whenever thou will,
But I also told thee
To give forthwith.
Though there is
Contradiction in this,
As thou knowest my plight,
Thou knowest it well.
Though thou knowest
The time to give,
And even if I lack
The worthiness to receive,
Thou shouldst change
According to the circumstance,
Or bestow upon me
The qualification to receive.
It may be apt
For others,
Who observe
The importance of proper timing.
But where lies such necessity
For thee,
As thou hast transcended
Time eternal?
Therefore, thou alone
Should not decide
The time to
Provide unto me.
Deny not
The urgency
If I proclaim that
I need it immediately.
Cold porridge
Becometh old,
And if reheated,
It loseth its taste.
When food is
Unavailable when hunger strikes,
It loseth its savor
If delayed.
A mother shall
Keep the food ready
Even before the child
Hungers.
Likewise,
Thou too shouldst keep it ready
Before I come
To ask of thee.
The time for me
To receive
Is the time that
Thou provideth.
If thou leavest this,
And dost decide
To measure time,
Then thou art obstinate.
Gurukulam, 29-1-2022, 11.00 p.m.
BT Song 1335
After my regular reading from the Muktiveda, I sat quietly and realized the blessed life I have, not only to have fellowship with the Lord but also to enjoy a calm and quiet life, which is a rare privilege. It may be wrong for me to compare my life with others and think I have a better life, but despite the challenges, especially caring for my mother, I enjoy my life as a recluse in a relatively peaceful place on my own terms. What more could I need? Reflecting on this, I set aside my books and sat quietly, savoring the tranquility around me. Although I didn’t want to end this blissful time, my body demanded rest. Longing for this kind of eternal bliss without interruption, I wrote this song.
BT Song 1335 What a Blessing
in Simple English
Will this kind of life
Come again?
Can others understand
The glory in it?
The blessed status of
Having privacy with you—
How many would
Get this kind of life?
Forgetting the
Circumstances completely,
Giving up worldly life
To some extent,
Going beyond the
Calculation of time,
I waited for you,
Mingling with you.
I don’t want to
Come out of it.
Indeed, life in this body
Is troublesome.
If this feeling [of bliss]
Becomes permanent,
There is no greater
Status than it.
All movements
Come to a standstill.
Even the wavering heart
Mingles with you.
As the body’s needs
Disappear automatically,
I understood myself
As I mingled with you.
Without feeling
Satisfied enough,
Longing for this
Opportunity to come again,
Remembering my relationship
With you,
I immersed myself,
Only seeking you.
If this life
Leaves at this time
And mingles with you,
That will be good for me.
But to have this experience
Continue longer,
I said that
Living again is good.
Gurukulam, 29-1-2022, 11.15 p.m.
BT Song 1335 What a Blessing
in Classical English
Will this kind of life
Come again?
Can others comprehend
The glory within?
The blessed status of
Private communion with thee—
How many would
Attain this kind of life?
Forgetting all
Circumstances wholly,
Renouncing worldly life
To some extent,
Transcending the
Calculation of time,
I waited for thee,
Mingling with thee.
I desire not
To leave this state.
Verily, life in this body
Is a troublesome lot.
If this feeling [of bliss]
Becometh permanent,
No status is greater
Than this.
All movements
Cease entirely.
Even the wavering heart
Mingleth with thee.
As the body’s needs
Vanish automatically,
I found myself
As I mingled with thee.
Without ever
Feeling satisfied,
Yearning for this
Opportunity to recur,
Remembering my bond
With thee,
I immersed myself,
Seeking only thee.
If this life
Departeth at this time
And mingles with thee,
It would be good for me.
But to prolong
This experience,
I proclaimed that
Living again is good.
Gurukulam, 29-1-2022, 11.15 p.m.
BT Song 1331 பக்தியின் இலட்சியம்
உன்னை அறிவது
எளிதல்ல அறிந்தேன்
உன்னை அடைவது
எளிதென உணர்ந்தேன் 1
அறிவதா அடைவதா
என்கின்ற கேள்விக்கு
விடைகான இயலாமல்
குழம்பியே நின்றேன் 2
அறியாமல் அடைவது
சரியில்லை என்பதை
அடைந்தபின் அறிந்ததால்
நானுமே சொன்னேன் 3
அடையாமல் அறிவதில்
உள்ள ஆபத்தைப்
பலரின் வாழ்வைப்
பார்த்து உணர்ந்தேன் 4
வேதத்தை நன்கு
கரைத்து குடித்தார்
தத்துவம் தன்னைத்
தெளிவாய் உரைத்தார் 5
ஆனால் எளிய
பக்தியின் வழியை
அறிய மறுத்து
வாதம் செய்தார் 6
உணர்ச்சியின் உச்சம்
பக்தி என்றார்
அறிவுக்குப் பொருந்தா
வழியது என்றார் 7
சிந்திக்கும் திறமை
தகுதி அற்றோர்
தேடிடும் குறுக்கு
வழியது என்றார் 8
உணர்ச்சியின் உண்மைத்
தன்மை அறியாது
பிதற்றும் அவரின்
புலமை வேண்டாம் 9
உணர்ச்சி அன்றி
மானுடம் இல்லை
இது புரியாதோர்
வழியும் வேண்டாம் 10
அடைந்து அறிவது
பக்திக்கு இலக்கணம்
இதனைப் புரிவது
அவரின் கடமை 11
அடைந்து அறிந்து
உன்னில் வளர்வது
ஒன்றே பக்திக்கு
உள்ள இலட்சியம் 12
குருகுலம், 27-1-2022, இரவு, 11.00
BT Song 1332 குறைவும் நல்லது
இணை பிரியாது
இருக்கும் நமக்கு
எதற்கு வீணில்
இந்தப் பிணக்கு 1
குறை நிறையென்பது
உறவில் உண்டு
நீயும் இதனைப்
புரிவாய் நன்று 2
இறைவனாய் மட்டும்
நீயும் இருந்தால்
இது புரியாதென
நீயும் சொல்லலாம் 3
மனிதனாய் வந்து
எந்நிலை புரிந்த
உனக்குத் தெரியாதெனில்
எப்படி நம்பலாம் 4
சரிவிடு போகட்டும்
குறை எனதாகட்டும்
இதிலுள்ள நன்மை
உனக்கெங்கு புரியும் 5
நிழலின் அருமை
வெய்யிலில் புரியும்
கிருபையும் அதுபோல்
குறையில் பெருகும் 6
அதைப்பெறும் தகுதி
எனக்குத்தான் இருக்கு
ஆகவே குறையிலும்
நன்மை இருக்கு 7
கொடுப்பதால் கிருபை
குறைவு படாது
சொன்னால் கோபம்
உனக்கேன் வருது 8
கிருபையின் தேவை
வந்திடும் போது
குறையும் தன்போல்
தானாய் வருது 9
எனவே தேவை
வந்திடும் முன்னே
வலியத் தந்தால்
உனக்கு நல்லது 10
வீணாய்த் தவறு
செய்யவும் வேண்டாம்
பிறகு நீயும்
முனியவும் வேண்டாம் 11
ஆகவே உறவில்
விரிசல் வராது
காத்திடும் வழியை
நானும் சொன்னேன் 12
சரியென உனக்குப்
படுவதைச் செய்வாய்
இதற்கு மேலே
நான்என்ன சொல்வேன் 13
குருகுலம், 28-1-2022, இரவு, 11.00
BT Song 1333 வீண் எதிர்பார்ப்பு
எனக்கொரு எதிர்பார்ப்பு
உன்னிடம் உண்டு
அதுபோல் உனக்கும்
என்னிடம் உண்டு
என் எதிர்பார்ப்பில்
உள்ள நியாயம்
உன் எதிர்பார்ப்பில்
உள்ளதா சொல்லு 1
மடுவுக்கும் மலைக்கும்
உள்ள தூரம்
எத்தனை எனநான்
சொல்ல வேண்டுமோ
மனிதர்க்கும் உனக்கும்
உள்ள இடைவெளி
எதுவென நானும்
கூற வேண்டுமோ 2
படைக்கும் போதே
இந்தப் பேதம்
வைத்தது யாரு
அதைமட்டும் சொல்லு
உன்சாயல் தன்னில்
படைத்ததினாலே
இந்த இடைவெளி
நீங்குமா கூறு 3
ஆகவே நீயும்
உனது நிலையில்
இருந்து என்னிடம்
எதிர்பாராதே
மனிதனாய் வந்து
பட்ட பாடினை
ஒருபோதும்நீயும்
மறந்து விடாதே 4
அடிக்கடி அதையும்
நினைவு படுத்த
என்னையும் ஏவுது
உன் எதிர்பார்ப்பு
ஆகவே அதற்காக
என்னை முனிவது
எத்தனை தூரம்
சரியெனச் சொல்லு 5
மனிதனாய் வந்த
நிலையிலே நின்று
உன் எதிர்பார்ப்பு
இருந்திட வேண்டும்
என் எதிர்பார்ப்பில்
உள்ள நியாயத்தை
புரிந்து இனிமேல்
எதிர்பார்க்க வேண்டும் 6
குருகுலம், 29-1-2022, இரவு 10.15
BT Song 1334 தரும் நேரம்
தரும்போது தரட்டும்
எனநான் எண்ணினேன்
ஆனாலும் உடனே
தரவேண்டும் என்றேன் 1
என்னதான் முரண்பாடு
இதில் இருந்தாலும்
என்னிலை அறிந்த
உனக்கது புரியும் 2
தரும்நேரம் எதுவென
நீ அறிந்தாலும்
பெருவதில் என்னிடம்
குறை இருந்தாலும் 3
நிலமைக்கு ஏற்ப
நீயும் மாறணும்
அல்லது நான்பெறும்
தகுதியைத் தரணும் 4
நேரம் காலம்
பார்ப்பது எல்லாம்
பிறருக்கு ஒருவேளை
சரியாக இருக்கட்டும் 5
காலத்தை வென்று
நேரத்தைக் கடந்து
வாழும் உனக்கு
இவையெங்கு உண்டு 6
ஆகவே எப்போது
தரவேண்டும் என்பதை
நீமட்டும் தனியாக
முடிவு செய்யாதே 7
இப்போதே தேவை
எனநான் சொன்னால்
அதிலுள்ள அவசரம்
நீ மறுக்காதே 8
ஆறினால் கஞ்ஜி
பழங்கஞ்ஜி ஆயிடும்
மீண்டும் சுடவைத்தால்
அதன்சுவை போயிடும் 9
பசியுள்ள போது
கிடைக்காத உணவு
பிறகுக் கிடைத்தால்
ருசிக்காது போயிடும் 10
பசியெனப் பிள்ளையும்
வந்திடும் முன்னே
ருசியாகத் தாயும்
சமைத்து வைப்பாள் 11
அதுபோல நானும்
கேட்டு வருமுன்னே
ஆயத்தம் ஆகி
எடுத்து வைப்பாய் 12
தேவை எனக்கு
வருகின்ற நேரம்
எனக்காக நீயும்
தருகின்ற நேரம் 13
இதனை விடுத்து
கணக்குப் பார்த்துத்
தருவேன் என்பது
வீண் பிடிவாதம் 14
குருகுலம், 29-1-2022
BT Song 1335 என்ன பேறு
இதுபோல வருமோ
இனியொரு வாழ்வு
பிறர் அறிவாரோ
இதிலுள்ள உயர்வு
தனிமையில் உன்னுடன்
இருந்திடும் பேறு
எத்தனை பேர்க்குக்
கிடைக்கும் இவ்வாழ்வு 1
சூழ்நிலை தன்னை
முற்றிலும் மறந்து
மேதினி வாழ்வை
சற்றுமே துறந்து
கால நேரத்தின்
கணக்கினைக் கடந்து
கலந்திருந்தேன் நான்
உன்னுடன் இணைந்து 2
மீண்டு வந்திட
விருப்பமே இல்லை
மேனியின் வாழ்வு
மாபெரும் தொல்லை
இந்த உணர்வு
நிரந்தரமானால்
அதனினும் பேறு
வேறேதும் இல்லை 3
அசையும் அசைவுகள்
அனைத்தும் நின்றிட
அலையும் மனமும்
உன்னில் கலந்திட
தேகத்தின் தேவையும்
தன்போல் மறைந்திட
நானெனை அறிந்தேன்
உன்னுடன் இணைந்திட 4
போதும் என்கிற
நிறைவும் இன்றி
மீண்டும் வருமா
என்று ஏங்கி
ஏதும் பிரிக்கா
உறவினை எண்ணி
மூழ்கித் திளைத்தேன்
உன்னையே நாடி 5
அசையும் அசைவுகள்
அனைத்தும் நின்றிட
அலையும் மனமும்
உன்னில் கலந்திட
தேகத்தின் தேவையும்
தன்போல் மறைந்திட
நானெனை அறிந்தேன்
உன்னுடன் இணந்திட
குருகுலம், 30-1-2022, பகல் 11.45
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