Converted by Chatgpt followed by my translation in Tanglish
BT Song 966: Religious Differences
The famous saying ‘doctrine divides but love unites’ is evident when we observe the conflicts among various religions on earth. Though I cannot escape my identity as a Hindu and however I tried to readjust by saying that it is a way of life, not a religion, the reality is that it also became a religion. However, my bhakti in the Lord helps me to break free from that fetter and experience in my spirit that I need not follow any religion to follow the Lord. This is part of mukti for me.
BT Song 966: The Ditch Called Religion
When God is common to all,
Why do we create divisions so tall?
Though we claim He’s the Creator,
Why do we shape Him in forms greater?
Though we proclaim ‘God is one,’
Why do we create many a son?
Though we say humans are one caste,
Why do divisions forever last?
Is religion alone the source?
No, it’s man-made, of course.
What can a foolish mind contrive?
Like a fool, on a branch, not alive.
God never crafted religion’s art,
He set no law for it to start.
But humans, in their own plight,
Confined poor God within their sight.
Thankfully, unlike us,
He too is free,
Untrapped by nets we weave,
In hearts of worshippers, He’ll cleave.
He who finds God within,
Won’t be caught in religion’s din.
Walking in truth’s light,
He guides others to what’s right.
Mathigiri, 14-9-2018, 11.30 p.m.
BT Song 966: Ditch Called Religion
When God is
Common to all,
Why should He be
Divided among men?
Though we claim that
He is the Creator,
Why should He be made
In so many forms?
Though we proclaim that
‘God is one,’
Why should we create
So many gods?
Though we say that
All humans belong to the same caste (group or community),
Why should there be
So many divisions among us?
Is religion alone
The reason for this?
We should acknowledge that
It is the creation of humans.
What can the foolish
Mind do other than this,
Like the fool who cuts
The very branch on which he sits?
God never
Created religion.
He never set it
As the law of nature.
But human beings,
Creating it,
Put the poor God
In it.
Fortunately, like us,
He too does not
Get trapped
In that net.
He came and
Dwelt in the hearts of men
Who sought after Him
To worship.
The man who
Realized God there
Won’t get trapped
In the ditch called religion.
Walking in the
Path of truth,
He called others
To do like him.
Mathigiri, 14-9-2018, 11.30 p.m.
BT Song 967: Like a Mother
When I become tired and unable to sleep properly at night, after giving morning coffee, I tell my mother that I am going back to bed and not to disturb me until 8:30 a.m. So, though she goes back to bed again (she does this every day—very blessed woman who can sleep after having her morning coffee. I won’t drink coffee if I have decided to go to bed). Before going to bed, as she places the vessels back in their places, which were washed by me, my mother does it very gently so that she won’t make any noise. Similarly, if she needs to use the bathroom, which we both share (which is between our rooms), she opens the door very gently and won’t run the water forcefully as she knows that even a slight sound or disturbance will wake me up. She won’t even take a bath until I wake up so that I won’t be disturbed.
As this happened again this morning, I recalled it and realized that the Lord is doing the same with me. To enjoy the comfort of the Lord, you should become sick or weak. Otherwise, you cannot experience it. Mere intellectual relationship with the Lord based on Muktiveda alone is not enough in enjoying bhakti with the Lord. It should be expressed and experienced in human terms and relationships. If you never had it, become weak and enjoy it. I am fortunate to have my mother with me in my old age (however old she becomes) to care for me like a baby. I am more fortunate to have my Lord do the same for me like a mother.
BT Song 967: He Will Hold Like a Mother
You bring good things seeking me,
Knowing my needs, you set me free.
Rushing even before my call,
Pitying my condition, you give your all.
Why such compassion, I wondered aloud,
‘Why do you care?’ I asked, unbowed.
‘You never understood your state,
No point talking about it,’ you relate.
You continued with no more said,
While I, like a sick child, stayed in bed.
Understanding my needs in time,
Carrying me, your care sublime.
Till I healed, you held me tight,
Caring like a mother through the night.
I called others to this comfort rare,
To Him, come in sickness, share.
Personal experience is the only way,
No simpler method, I must say.
Put aside your pride, so vast,
Come with a simple heart, at last.
Mathigiri, 16-9-2018, 11.30 p.m.
BT Song 967: He Will Uphold Like a Mother
You are providing good things
By seeking after me.
You come and give needed things,
Knowing my needs.
You rush to come
Even before I call,
And you take much pity
Seeing my condition.
Why this much compassion,
I thought.
‘Why do you do this?’
I asked you.
‘You never
Understood your condition.
There is no point
Talking about it with you.’
By saying this,
He continued his errands
And refused to give
Further explanation.
I remained like a
Sick child.
I never understood
The condition of my sickness.
Knowing what is
My requirement,
He did everything
In proper time.
Till I recover and
Completely heal,
He carried me on his lap
And cared like a mother.
As I experienced
That comfort,
For others to
Receive it,
I called you
To come to experience it.
After becoming sick,
To Him.
[Come to Him
By becoming a sick person.]
Unless realizing it
By personal experience,
There is no
Other simple means for that.
Set aside the
Greatness of your buddhi.
Come today
With a simple heart.
Mathigiri, 16-9-2018, 11.30 p.m.
BT Song 968: Living One Day at a Time
As I often do, at the end of the day, I recall the day’s events. This helps me plan the next day and other tasks that need to be done. Only when I recall the day’s work do I sometimes remember that I forgot to complete some small kitchen task, and then I go back to do it and return to continue my meditation. If I don’t do it and continue with my meditation, that task might remain incomplete and cause problems the next day.
But for me, this is part of my life in the Lord, which I need to enjoy each day. I strongly believe in living one day at a time—though I won’t deny that I don’t have anxiety about tomorrow or won’t remember the past completely. As I sat again to recall this day, I suddenly remembered what Tom Wright says about this in his commentary on Revelation: ‘Heaven,’ God’s sphere of reality, is right here, close beside us, intersecting with our ordinary reality. It is not like a door opening high up in the sky, far away. It is more like a door opening right in front of us where before we could only see this room, this field, this street…—Revelation for Everyone, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2015, p. 42 (4.1-6a). Then I wrote this song as my prayer for this day.
BT Song 968: It Should Be Like This
My heart melts thinking of you,
Bowing at your feet, praises ensue.
Longing to live each day by your grace,
Rejoicing, your love I embrace.
If I forget you even one day,
My soul and heart seek you always.
Without your fellowship, I tire,
Body and spirit both expire.
At your feet, reflecting the day,
Grace with me, tears find their way.
Routine life, blessed by you,
Unlike others, your grace I view.
You are always with me, true,
Fullness comes when I sit with you.
No satisfaction in life complete,
Till I come and sit at your feet.
Sharing the day, fellowship sweet,
My heart longs for this seat,
To live each day in your light,
My heart’s desire, every night.
Mathigiri, 17-9-2018, 11.30 p.m.
BT Song 968: Should Be Like This
My heart is melting within me thinking of you.
It bows at your feet to sing your praises.
It longs to live every day with you.
It rejoices in your grace.
If I forget to remember you even for a single day,
Along with my atman, the heart only seeks you.
Unless I rejoice in having fellowship with you,
Along with the body, it becomes tired.
When I sit at your feet,
Thinking how this day went,
Thinking about the grace which was with me,
Both my eyes are shedding tears.
Though it was routine life,
You helped me to live it with much blessing.
Unlike others who live on this earth,
You made me see your grace in it.
However, you remain with me always.
Until I come to your feet like this,
I cannot find fullness in anything,
And there is no satisfaction in living a complete life.
Coming like this and sitting along with you,
When I think about the fellowship in which
I share what all happened this day,
My heart is longing to live like this.
Mathigiri, 17-9-2018, 11.30 p.m.
BT Song 969: A Smile in Silence
In the past few days, I have been very busy with many tasks. Particularly, proofreading the revised edition of Understanding Hinduism (which has been delayed by the publisher for the past four years). I didn’t even have time for my regular sadhana. Keeping other activities aside and only reading Muktiveda as per my regular sadhana, I missed my regular time with the Lord and meditation. After sending the manuscript (the publisher only sent four chapters, and when the other chapters come, the same will be repeated again), as I returned to my normal life, this night, after my regular reading, when I closed my book and sat for a few minutes in silence, the first line alone came to my mind as a prayer. As I continued to meditate on it, inspiration came, and I wrote this song, except for the last stanza. After writing the song and reading it as my prayer, I closed my meditation time and was about to take another book to read. Then I thought, when I said that I wouldn’t write such songs further, which will disturb our silence, I laughed. Then I thought that I should close this poem with the same note of teasing and added the final stanza. Whether you believe it or not, I think that the Lord too laughed when He lived with His family, friends, and disciples.
BT Song 969: You Laughed Suddenly
You come near, with words to say,
Yet silence falls, nothing conveyed.
I wait, in silence too,
Wondering what’s inside of you.
Perplexed, not knowing why,
Your silence leaves me high and dry.
I know I cannot understand,
Until you reveal your hand.
Should I think you’re upset with me?
Or tired, like me, could it be?
When I’m sure neither is true,
Is it my imagination, all askew?
Whatever it is, it seems right,
Less talk, less plight.
When we understand well,
Why speak more, what’s to tell?
I’ll meet your silence, calm and still,
No more songs my silence will fill.
Listening to this, you laughed out loud,
Joining you, I felt proud.
Mathigiri, 20-09-2018, 11.05 p.m.
BT Song 969: You Laughed Suddenly
You come near to me
To say something,
But you keep silent,
Not saying anything.
I also waited,
Keeping silent,
Thinking
What could it be?
I am perplexed,
Not knowing
The secret
Behind your silence.
But I know that
There is no chance
For me to know
Unless you reveal it first.
Should I think that
You are upset with me?
Or should I consider that
You too have become tired like me?
Once I know for sure that
None of them is true,
Then should I think that
This is my own imagination?
Whatever it might be,
In one way this also is good,
As our talking also
Becomes less.
Once we
Understand each other well,
Why should we even
Talk unnecessarily?
Therefore, as I too
Have decided to
Come before you
In silence,
I won’t spoil
Our silence anymore
By writing more
Songs like this.
By listening to this,
As you laughed suddenly,
Joining you,
I too laughed.
Mathigiri, 20-09-2018, 11.05 p.m.
BT Song 970: Compassion Needed
When we feel sad, it not only affects our spirit and mind but also our body becomes very tired. Tonight, due to some unknown reason, I felt a kind of sadness that made my body very tired. Sometimes it is the opposite. When my body becomes very tired due to lack of proper sleep at night or overwork during the day, I feel its effect on my spirit and mind. Tonight, unable to concentrate on anything, I became very tired in body, mind, and spirit. So silently, when I began to pour my heart to the Lord, unable to tell what my problem was—physical tiredness or some sadness—I began to sob. After that, as I sat silently, inspiration came, and I wrote this song as my prayer for this day before retiring to bed.
BT Song 970: If One Wants Mercy
Thinking of your mercy, tears flow,
Life’s burdens melt like morning snow.
When sorrow weighs the heart,
The soul disturbed, falls apart.
The intellect confused, can’t see,
The body tires, weary like me.
My spirit calls, cries for aid,
Your mercy comes, the burden laid.
You carry me, comfort, and care,
Body, soul, mind, in repair.
Only I know this redemption sweet,
If others seek, to you they’ll fleet.
No hesitation, they’ll find their way,
To experience your mercy today.
Mathigiri, 22-09-2018, 11.30 p.m.
BT Song 970: If One Wants Mercy
When I think about your mercy,
Tears will flow as the heart melts.
The burden of life on earth
Will disappear like fog.
When sorrow becomes a burden,
There will be sadness in the heart.
The atma will also be disturbed,
Unable to unload that burden.
As the intellect also cannot
Understand the trouble that came,
As it gets confused,
The body also will become tired.
At that time,
My spirit calls upon you.
When it cries for your help,
Your mercy will understand it.
By carrying me in your hands
And putting me on your shoulder,
As you comfort me,
The body, soul, and mind will be revived.
No one will understand this redemption
Other than me, who experienced it.
If they too want to experience it,
They should reach you without any hesitation.
Mathigiri, 22-09-2018, 11.30 p.m.
BT Song 966: சமயச் சகதி
எல்லோருக்கும் பொதுவாக
இறைவனும் இருக்கையில்
எதற்காய்ப் பிரிக்கணும்
மனிதர்கள் நடுவினில்?
படைத்தது அவனெனப்
பலவிதம் சொல்லியும்
எதற்காய்ப் படைக்கணும்
விதவித வடிவில்?
கடவுள் ஒருவனே
என்றே முழங்கினும்
எதற்காக இத்தனை
கடவுளைப் படைக்கணும்?
எல்லோரும் ஓர்குலம்
என்றுமே சொல்லியும்
எதற்காக இத்தனை
பிரிவினை இருக்கணும்?
மதமென்ற ஒன்றே
இதற்குமே காரணம்
மதிகெட்ட மனிதனின்
செயலெனச் சொல்லணும்.
நுனிமரம் அமர்ந்து
அடிமரம் வெட்டும்
மூடரின் மதியுமே
வேறென்ன செய்திடும்?
இறைவனும் மதத்தைப்
படைக்கவும் இல்லை
இயற்கையின் நியதியாய்
வைக்கவும் இல்லை.
ஆயினும் மனிதனோ
அதனையும் படைத்து
அதற்குள் பாவம்
இறைவனை வைத்தான்.
நல்ல வேளை
நம்போல் அன்றி
அந்த வலைக்குள்
அகப்பட்டுக் கொள்ளாது.
தேடிய மனிதன்
உள்ளத்தில் வந்தே
நாடிநாம் பணியக்
கோயிலும் கொண்டான்.
அங்குள்ள கடவுளை
அறிந்த மனிதனே
சமயம் என்கின்ற
சகதியில் மாட்டாமல்.
சன்மார்க்க வழியில்
தானுமே சென்று
தன்போல் பிறரை
வரும்படி அழைத்தான்.
மத்திகிரி, 14-9-2018, இரவு 11.30
BT Song 967: தாய்போல் தாங்குவான்
நாடித்தான் தருகிறாய்
நன்மைகள் நாளுமே
தேடித்தான் தருகிறாய்
தேவைகள் அறிந்துமே.
ஓடித்தான் வருகிறாய்
கூப்பிடும் முன்னமே
உருகித்தான் போகிறாய்
என்நிலை கண்டுமே.
இத்தனை இரக்கம்
எதற்கென எண்ணினேன்
ஏனிதைச் செய்கிறாய்
என்றுமே கேட்டேன்.
உன்நிலை நீயும்
உணரவே இல்லை
உனக்கதைச் சொல்லிப்
பயனுமே இல்லை.
என்றவன் சொல்லி
ஏவலைத் தொடர்ந்தான்
எவ்வித விளக்கமும்
மேல்தர மறுத்தான்.
நோயுற்ற சேயின்
நிலையில் இருந்தேன்
நோயின் தன்மையை
அறியா திருந்தேன்.
எதுஎன் தேவை
என்பதை அறிந்து
ஏற்ற நேரத்தில்
எல்லாம் செய்தான்.
தேறுதல் அடைந்து
சுகம்பெறும் வரையில்
தாய்போல் தாங்கி
மடிமேல் வளர்த்தான்.
அந்த ஆறுதல்
அறிந்ததினாலே
அதனைப் பிறரும்
பெற்றிட வேண்டி.
ஒருமுறையேனும்
நோயுற்று வந்து
உணர்ந்திட உங்களை
நானும் அழைத்தேன்.
அனுபவம் மூலம்
அறிவது அன்றி
அதனைப் பெறுவது
எளிதே அல்ல.
மதியின் மேன்மையைச்
சற்றே ஒதுக்கி
எளிய மனதுடன்
இன்றே வருவீர்.
மத்திகிரி, 16-9-2018, இரவு 11.30
BT Song 968: இதுபோல் வாழணும்
உனையெண்ணி உள்ளாக உருகுது மனது
உன்புகழ பாடி உன்னடி பணியுது
உன்னுடன் வாழ்ந்திட நாளுமே விழையுது
உன்னருள் தன்னிலே உவந்தே களிக்குது.
ஒருநாளேனும் நினையாது போனால்
உயிரொடு மனதும் உன்னையே தேடுது
உன்னோடு உறவாடி மகிழாது போனால்
உடலும் கூடச் சோர்ந்தே போகுது.
எவ்விதம் போனது இந்நாள் என்று
எண்ணியே உன்னடி அமர்ந்திடும் போது
என்னுடன் இருந்த உன்னருள் எண்ணி
என்னிரு கண்களும் நீரைச் சொறியுது.
வழக்கமாய் வாழ்ந்த வாழ்வே ஆயினும்
வளமுடன் வாழ வழிவகை செய்தாய்
உலகில் வாழும் பிறர்போலன்றி
உன்னருள் அதனுள் கண்டிடச் செய்தாய்.
என்னதான் என்னுடன் நீயிருந்தாலும்
இதுபோல் உன்னடி வந்திடும் வரையும்
முழுமை எதிலும் காணவே இல்லை
முழுதாய் வாழ்ந்த நிறைவும் இல்லை.
இதுபோல் வந்து உன்னுடன் அமர்ந்து
இந்நாள் நடந்ததை உன்னுடன் பகிரும்
இந்த உறவை எண்ணிடும் போது
என்னுளம் விழையும் இதுபோல் வாழ.
மத்திகிரி, 17-9-2018, இரவு 11.30
BT Song 969: சட்டெனச் சிரித்தாய்
என்னவோ சொல்லிட
என்னிடம் வருகிறாய்
ஏதுமே சொல்லாமல்
மவுனமும் காக்கிறாய்.
என்னவாக இருக்கும்
என்றுமே எண்ணியே
ஏதுமே கேட்காமல்
காத்துமே நின்றேன்.
உன்னிந்த மவுனத்தின்
பின்னுள்ள இரகசியம்
உணரவும் முடியாமல்
தவித்துத்தான் போகிறேன்.
ஆயினும் நீயாகச்
சொல்லிடும் வரையிலும்
நானதை அறிந்திட
வழியில்லை உணர்ந்தேன்.
என்மீது கோபமா
என்றுநான் எண்ணவா
என்போல் சோர்வுற்றாய்
என்றுமே கொள்வதா.
இவையேதும் இல்லை
என்றான பின்னே
என்மனக் கற்பனை
என்றுதான் சொல்வதா.
எதுவான போதிலும்
இதுகூட நல்லது
அதனாலே வீண்பேச்சு
நம்மிடை குறைந்தது.
ஒருவரை ஒருவர்
நன்றாகப் புரிந்தபின்
எதற்காகப் பேசணும்
என்பதும் புரிந்தது.
அதனாலே நானுமே
உன்போல மவுனமாய்
உன்முன்னே வந்திட
முடிவுமே செய்ததால்.
இதுபோல பாடல்கள்
இனிமேலும் எழுதியே
இருவரின் மவுனத்தை
ஒருபோதும் கலைக்கேனே.
இதைக்கேட்டு நீயுமே
சட்டென சிரித்ததால்
உன்னோடு சேர்ந்துதான்
நானுமே சிரிக்கிறேன்.
மத்திகிரி, 20-09-2018, இரவு 11.05
BT Song 970: இரக்கம் வேண்டின்
உன்னிரக்கம் அதனை எண்ணும்போது
இதயம் நெகிழ கண்ணீர் பெருகும்
புவியின் வாழ்வின் பாரமெல்லாம்
பனியைப் போல நீங்கிப் போகும்.
துன்பம் பாரம் நெஞ்சை அழுத்த
துவண்டு போகும் மனதும் கூட
இறக்கி வைக்க வழியுமின்றி
ஏங்கித் தவிக்கும் உயிரும் கூட.
வந்த துன்பம் என்னவென்று
அறிவும் கூடப் புரிந்திடாமல்
குழம்பித் தவித்துத் திகைக்கும்போது
உடலும் கூடச் சோர்ந்து கிடக்கும்.
அந்த நேரம் எந்தன் ஆவி
உன்னை நோக்கி அபயம் இட்டு
உதவி வேண்டிக் கதறும்போது
உனது இரக்கம் அதனைப் புரியும்.
தாங்கி ஏந்தி சுமந்து நீயும்
தோளில் போட்டுத் தட்டிக் கொடுக்க
உயிரும் மனமும் உடலும் சேர்ந்து
உயிர்த்து மீண்டு நிமிர்ந்து நடக்கும்.
இதனை உணர்ந்த என்னை அன்றி
எவரும் புரியார் இந்த மீட்பை
அதனை உணரவேண்டின் பிறரும்கூட
அண்டனும் உன்னைத் தயக்க மின்றி.
மத்திகிரி, 22-09-2018, இரவு 11.30
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