Saturday, August 5, 2017

Silentium !

Speak not, lie hidden, and conceal 
the way you dream, the things you feel. 
Deep in your spirit let them rise 
akin to stars in crystal skies 
that set before the night is blurred: 
delight in them and speak no word. 
How can a heart expression find? 
How should another know your mind? 
Will he discern what quickens you? 
A thought once uttered is untrue. 
Dimmed is the fountainhead when stirred: 
drink at the source and speak no word. 
Live in your inner self alone 
within your soul a world has grown, 
the magic of veiled thoughts that might 
be blinded by the outer light, 
drowned in the noise of day, unheard... 
take in their song and speak no word.


by Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev

Friday, August 4, 2017


Nasadiya Sukta (Hymn of non-Eternity, origin of universe):

There was neither non-existence nor existence then;
Neither the realm of space, nor the sky which is beyond;
What stirred? Where? In whose protection?
There was neither death nor immortality then;
No distinguishing sign of night nor of day;
That One breathed, windless, by its own impulse;
Other than that there was nothing beyond.
Darkness there was at first, by darkness hidden;
Without distinctive marks, this all was water;
That which, becoming, by the void was covered;
That One by force of heat came into being;
Who really knows? Who will here proclaim it?
Whence was it produced? Whence is this creation?
Gods came afterwards, with the creation of this universe.
Who then knows whence it has arisen?
Whether God's will created it, or whether He was mute;
Perhaps it formed itself, or perhaps it did not;
Only He who is its overseer in highest heaven knows,
Only He knows, or perhaps He does not know.
—Rigveda 10.129 

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Wonder



Wonder,
A garden among the flames!

My heart can take on any form:
A meadow for gazelles,
A cloister for monks,
For the idols, sacred ground,
Ka'ba for the circling pilgrim,
The tables of the Torah,
The scrolls of the Quran.

My creed is Love;
Wherever its caravan turns along the way,
That is my belief,
My faith.  

- by ibn arabi

Friday, July 13, 2012

Rumi 108


I was dead, became alive
Was tearful, laughingly thrive
With love survive, my only drive
    I have become eternal.


My eyes no longer seek
Am courageous, no more meek
Daring lion, far from weak
    Shine like Venus celestial.


Said, "madness is not thy code
You don’t deserve this abode."
With madness my life explode
    Chains before me break and fall.


"Intoxicated, thou art not
Art not from this divine cut."
I drank my senses out
    Joyously roamed in life’s hall.


"Thou art not yet slain
Joy runs not in thy vein."
Before life now I remain
    Slain, sacrificed and small.


"Thou art sly and cunning
Thy thoughts are wildly running."
My deception was stunning
    Then rejected the external.


Said, "Thou have been a candle light
Crowds focus upon thy sight."
Sight I am not, light without might
    Scattered smoke, wide and tall.


"Thou art guru and teacher
Thou art leader, head, preacher."
I am a mere creature
    Thy will is my only call.


"Thou have feathers, have taken wing
Feather and wing I did not bring."
In pursuit of flight of King
    Lost my feathers, now I crawl.


My beloved, old and fair
Said, "this story, me spare."
I agreed to not share
    Peaceful and eternal.


Thou art the sun’s source and spring
While to shade my body cling
Upon my head, hot rays sting
    I feel the heart infernal.


With light of my soul aglow
My heart opened with loving flow
Weaving a new cloth to show
    Against the tattered rags and all.


That divine face, at time of dawn
Many deceptions would spawn
Enslaved with a thorny crown
    Beloved upon throne install.


I, thy instrument, Thee praise
Thy infinite sweet phase
In my bosom came to raze
    And brought down my ignorant wall.


Praises Thee this drunken dust
Praise the stars and earth I must
Receive thy light with full trust
    From luminous orbiting ball.


The firmaments are in praise
Of lords, lands, angelic gaze
Gracefully love and amaze
    Compassionately, wisely, enthrall.


The wise praise the Lord well
Thus surpass all and excel
Upon the seven skies swell
    Give birth to light, maternal.


I am of Thee O famed moon,
Gazing at me do not swoon
Contagious joy in me bloom
    Laughs my every petal.


I was Venus, now am moon
Wallowing like a gloomy lune
Became Joseph very soon
    Pregnant with hope of renewal.


As if playing a game of chess
Make your call while speechless
King of the World my life will bless
    With a glance, existential.


From slavery to kingly might
From Venus to satellite
Was distant unknown point of light
    Am luminous orb of love, eternal!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Steadfastly Seek with Focus


Upon which path did I tread
So I return, all else I dread;
From Beloved being apart
In the creed of Love is being misled.
If I find another in the whole town
Ain’t but a sign pointing to the Beloved.
I said this is no easy path
In each step a thousand traps spread
O broken heart come not this way
Stay upon your own tender bed.
Seek that which increases the soul
Ask for the wine that lightens your head;
All else is shape and appearance
Fame and shame’s battle and wed.
Be silent, be seated, and be still
Drunken, with such wine break your bread.
O Pride of Spirit, Shams-e Tabriz
Enslaved to Thee my heart and soul instead.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Seeking Love and Grace


Lovers alas, lovers alas
Whoever sees that faceless face
Confusion in him amass
Desperation will embrace.

For beloved cross every pass
Worldly affairs slow their pace
A flowing brook amidst the grass
Flowing tears his face shall trace

His ego is shattered glass
Self-estranged, himself deface
Sense the Divine in spirit and mass
If he is truly seeking grace

Love can withstand molten brass
Gives his own soul in this chase
Through this trap lovingly pass
And find himself beside that face

With love himself will embarrass
Lost in time and in space
There’s no cure, potion, herb or grass
For one who’s lost his earthly base

And his prize, to reach that class
In this futile endless race
Until death too will come to pass
And move him to that place.

The love that hurts will never pass
It is a very special case
Transcendent love has its own class
The aching heart is wrapped in lace

Run out of sand many hourglass
Many a dream lost in space
If miracle shall come to pass
Every magic shall displace

There is no king and no palace
Facing that graceful faceless face
Brave lions cry out alas
Beside the dogs guarding that place.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

You are gone !!


Alas that now from our midst you are gone
In spite of the pain you resist, you are gone
Once the circle of friends you blissed
Now with the dust of ants and snakes blissed, you are gone.
What of all the knowledge you endlessly list
What of such mind, in the secret list you are gone.
What of the helping hand the once would assist
What of the feet that gardens assist, you are gone.
Gentle and kind, people you charmed and wist
Then earth’s dust your dust wist, you are gone.
Your sweet replies no more persist
No more tongue that can persist, you are gone.
Jealously repented, strove to desist
Pilgrim of death, from living itself desist, you are gone.
Whither to, can’t see your dust nor your mist
This bloody path, disappearing mist, you are gone.
Silent O heart, tongue shackles your soul’s wrist
What use the flames that turn and twist, you are gone.