The Pure Heart

When the heart is purified with sincerity
Then even enemies become friends.
Tigers may come near but will never attack one.
Poison offered to such a one will turn into nectar,
Any harm directed towards him will result into good,
Harsh words will sound polite.
Any pain afflicted will become the source of happiness.
The flames of fire will turn cool.
For God All Merciful is pleased.
If one’s heart is full of compassion,
If one loves others more than oneself,
God will look upon such a one with an eye of mercy
And bless his heart with His presence.

Tukaram (1608-1660)

(Photograph: dabase.org)

3 comments April 10th, 2008

Now – Conversations with William Blake

I remember
This grey-haired
English elder
Who sweetly greeted me
On the green hills
Near Chalfont Saint Peter.
I was not able to refrain
From blurting out
All the troubles
I had gone through
Before I met him.
He silently kept
Looking at my feet
And when I paused,
He just smiled and said:
“Yes, but now
You are here…”

Mihai Dobrescu

Add comment March 14th, 2008

Say I Am You

“Say I Am You” is a beautiful poem written by Rumi, a Sufi poet who was born in Takistan (now Afghanistan) in 1207. With his family, he travelled extensively in Moslem countries, finally settling in Anatolia (now Turkey).

An accomplished scholar, he was introduced to Sufism by a wandering dervish, Shamshuddin. Shamshuddin’s death heralded an outpouring of Rumi’s poetry. The underlying theme of his poems is the absolute love of God.

The Youtube video (link below) shows Rumi’s poem, “Say I Am You”, illustrated by a beautiful collection of photographs and accompanied by wonderful music. Please enjoy them.

(photograph: loc.gov)

3 comments February 22nd, 2008

Pure Chaitanya

I sit; head bowed and enjoy the shower of pure chaitanya,
Golden, cooling and pure.
It washes every impurity in my being
As powerfully as the Ganges rushes from the Himalayas,
Yet as gently as a mother cleanses her child.
A witness to this event, I enjoy.

I raise my head and see Your face, Our Holy Mother.
One glance and all the cares and tensions are dissolved.
Yet this is not the miracle, Holy Mother.

I sit amongst thousands all over the world,
All who are being cleansed and cared for by You
As if they, not me, are the only one.
All are Your children.
All You care for, as You do me.
Yet this is not the miracle.

The miracle is You, Our Holy Mother
Who chose to come to us now in these days where we are at our worst.
You came to bless us and to bring us all home.

Lisa Barron

(Photograph: tripadvisor.com)

2 comments February 14th, 2008