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Showing posts from February, 2010

Dohas (Couplets) I (with translation) by Kabir at Old Poetry

Chalti Chakki Dekh Kar, Diya Kabira Roye Dui Paatan Ke Beech Mein,Sabit Bacha Na [Looking at the grinding stones, Kabir laments In the duel of wheels, nothing stays intact.] ** Bura Jo Dekhan Main Chala, Bura Naa Milya Koye Jo Munn Khoja Apnaa, To Mujhse Bura Naa Koye [I searched for the crooked man, met not a single one Then searched myself, "I" found the crooked one] ** Kaal Kare So Aaj Kar, Aaj Kare So Ub Pal Mein Pralaya Hoyegi, Bahuri Karoge Kub [Tomorrow's work do today, today's work now if the moment is lost, the work be done how] ** Aisee Vani Boliye, Mun Ka Aapa Khoye Apna Tan Sheetal Kare, Auran Ko Sukh Hoye [Speak such words, sans ego's ploy Body remains composed, giving the listener joy] ** Dheere Dheere Re Mana, Dheere Sub Kutch Hoye Mali Seenche So Ghara, Ritu Aaye Phal Hoye [Slowly slowly O mind, everything in own pace happens The gardiner may water with a hundred buckets, fruit arrives only in its season] ** Sayeen Itna De

CLUELESS, NOT

In a boat, in the middle of the sea Without a compass, without a key. Night is dark, clouds are thick Afraid of something, don’t know which. Many clues tell me life is fake, Just hope not, for my sanity’s sake. She said she loved me Until he got a BMer and ‘twas a new game To the babe I was a hero, true and strong Until he found true love, alas not for long. For dad, I could do no wrong Until picked up a guitar and did some bhang. I worked so hard, aced all the tests Valedictorian,  top of the class. Couldn’t find a job To even cover my ass. Towed the company party line Had it tattoed on my behind. Until one day my mentor was fired New party line I could not find. Looked in the mirror  What was bitter sweet. That I couldn’t recognize self If found in the street. What is this place, Whose are the faces I think I know, clueless I am not. (c) Copyright Protected by Author, 2010

OLD HINDI FABLES

Shikari Ayega, Jal bithayega, Dana Dalega Jaal men fusnan mutt. (The trapper will come, lay down his net will sprinkle some seeds. O parrots, don't just sing these verses But don't go near the net.) Bhains ke age been bajaye Bhains kare pagurai (Play the sitar in front of the buffalo she continues to chew the cud.) Pothi padh padh padh jag mua Pandit bhaiya na koi Dhai akshar prem ka padhe so pandit hoi. (Kabir) (World studied the books well but no one became a Pundit One who really studied a two and a half letter word "love" did become the Pundit.) Dukh men sumiran sub karei Sukh men kare na koi Jo sukh men sumiran karei Dukh kahe ko hoi. (Kabir) (When in trouble you recall God In happy times no one does One who recalls God in good times Why would trouble fall on him?)

SEARCHING FOR LOVE

Walking tip toe on the grounds Covered in egg shells Running wildly around the track Like streaming bats out of hell. Something is missing But no one is missing Somehow is missing But no where is missing. The spark of the first touch Euphoria of the rush Smell of the flowers Breeze through the gentle bush. So, touch and feel harder Run around faster Visit bigger gardens Drive on to woods larger. Still there is no action Nerves have deadened Nothing seems new Heart has hardened. First love was easily defined For there was nothing to compare Love you was easier spoken For there was nothing to fear. Was it love or flesh Can’t tell the difference What it felt like was good Even if it was utter nonsense. Is there such a love The answer alas is no, no and no What one seeks is not of this world All here will one day go. (c) Copyright Protected by Author, 2010

WAKE UP

"WAKE UP (The scream I can not hear)" Since time immemorial, I am trying to wake you up but you don’t. Not complaining, for such is not my nature; mine is to wake you up. Not frustrated for I can’t be, just know that I have to wake you up. I put melody in bird’s chirping, coolness in the summer breeze, Burning heat in midday sun and deafening noise in monsoon thunder To just do one thing, wake you up. Spark in your first kiss, comfort in mother’s embrace, Rush in your home run and the musky flavor in lobster bisque, I did it all to do just one thing, wake you up. Desire to own, taste, destroy, love and hate, I placed so you’d WANT to wake up. Also put the fear in you So you’d keep on desiring all and to wake up. I made life beautiful, So you can love the beauty and wake up. I made it miserable So you will hate the misery and wake up. Now I think it is time you woke up. Don’t argue about genetics, Darwin , evolution and creation. I made them so, d

Bhakti Yoga

My thoughts are infinite, they range from the mundane to the entire universe including all known, imagined and unimagined. The only difference between what I immediately see, feel, touch or hear and all I can think about is that this feels “real” (although I am not sure what reality is, it has to be more than a convention) and the others are in my head, so to speak, although that too is conjecture. Someone told me or I read it somewhere that the thoughts are in my head, they could be in thin air but they are not material things. If for the moment I dwell in my thoughts and assume that I am not what I can physically sense but all I can think of, then really there is no difference between You and I and Him. For I can think all You can and if I can’t You will tell me and then I can. So in other words, if we can make the world of thoughts real, we are all one. We can even extend this to all beings, all matter and everything in the cosmos. I feel constrained and presumptuous in claiming