(September 10th is the world suicide prevention day)
it's not a question of right or wrong,
doesn't matter - effect or even the cause.
compulsion, revulsion or general angst
nothing justifies this act, persuasion or provocation.
can't you see, things don't change,
neighther do people or problems
what is that you want to change,
a change alas! you wont be around to see.
walk, walk again, stumble, rise, rise again
run, dance, weep, jump, shout, cry,
sleep, wake up, wake up again, do whatever,
it only matters till you are here.
ending life is no course, no option,
any other road is a road taken and taken well.
for a dead man reaches nor carries anyone
to any milestones or destinations.
this life, brutish and ugly, may seem to you,
but surely fills up a zig-saw puzzle
hung on a larger canvass of the world,
which loves you so much.
your life is not just yours alone !
Sunday 31 August 2008
Wednesday 27 August 2008
two poems
both the poems are by the Great Mystic poet Kabir (for more on Kabir and his works see on this blog http://maybemay.blogspot.com/2008/02/mysticism-of-kabir-great-sufi-saint-and.html )
first poem
Sadho Ye Murdon Ka Gaon
Peer Mare, Pygambar Mari Hain
Mari Hain Zinda Jogi
Raja Mari Hain, Parja Mari Hain
Mari Hain Baid Aur Rogi
This is the land of the dead !
Saints die, Messengers die,
Even the Yogis die too.
Kings die, Subjects die,
Healers and patients both die too.
Chanda Mari Hain, Suraj Mari Hain
Mari Hain Dharni Akasa
Chaudan Bhuvan Ke Chaudhry Mari Hain
In Hun Ki Ka Asa
The moon and sun both have an end,
Sky and Earth too will some day cease
The caretakers of the fourteen astral levels also die
Why in vain aspire for these.
Nauhun Mari Hain, Dus Hun Mari Hain
Mari Hain Sahaj Athasi
Tethis Koti Devata Mari Hain
Badi Kaal Ki Bazi
.The nines(may be a reference to planets) die, tens too die.
Die easily the eighty eight,
The thirty three crore gods die,
Such the Time's great might
Naam Anam Anant Rehat Hai
Duja Tatva Na Hoi
Kahe Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho
Bhatak Maro Mat Koi
Only the Name of the Lord remains,
Only this is truth: All else is lie.
Listen O Sadhu! says Kabir,
Don't Get lost and Die !!
second poem (makes an excellent reading after the first)
(i am working on the translation)
Sakhiya Wah Ghar Sabse Nyara,
Jaha Puran Purush Humara
Jaha Nahi Sukh Dukh
Sanch Jhuth Nahi
Pap Na Pun Pasara
Nahin Din Reyn Chand Nahi Suraj,
Bina Jyoti Ujyara
O friend ! That house is the dearest
Where dwells the fountainhead of vedas.
No joy, no sorrow there
Truth-unthruth none
Virtues and sins all one
Day and night the same, no moon no sun
Where there is illumination without light !
(what is the need of light from outside, when the inner light illuminates the path)
Nahin Tahan Gyan Dhyan
Nahin Jap Tap
Ved Kiteb Na Bani
Karni Dharni Rehni Gehni,
Yeh Sub Jahan Hirani
No use of knowledge or concerntration
Saying rosary, penitance
Holy book,word all superfluos
Karma, manners, rituals
Any matter of the world not there.
Ghar Nahin Aghar Na Bahar Bhitar,
Pind Brahmand Kachu Nahin
Panch Tatva Gun Tin Nahin Tahan,
Sakhi Shabd Na Tahin
No holy residing place there, nothing inside nor outside
No fire and no spark
Five elements melt, three nature's too
Vanish like the Word.
Mul Na Phul Beli Nahin Bija,
Bina Braksh Phal Sohe,
Oham Soham Ardh Urdh Nahin,
Swasa Lekhan Kou Hai
No flowers, fruits or seed
Where fruits ripe, without tree
Holy Om, Soham, This-that concept non-existant
The breath and its control too gone.
Jahan Purush Tahwan Kachu Nahin,
Kahe Kabir Hum Jana
Humri Sain Lakhe Jo Koi,
Pawe Pad Nirvana
There is none but our dearest
Kabir says I realise this
Who sees my Lord's sign,
Attains the goal of liberation.
first poem
Sadho Ye Murdon Ka Gaon
Peer Mare, Pygambar Mari Hain
Mari Hain Zinda Jogi
Raja Mari Hain, Parja Mari Hain
Mari Hain Baid Aur Rogi
This is the land of the dead !
Saints die, Messengers die,
Even the Yogis die too.
Kings die, Subjects die,
Healers and patients both die too.
Chanda Mari Hain, Suraj Mari Hain
Mari Hain Dharni Akasa
Chaudan Bhuvan Ke Chaudhry Mari Hain
In Hun Ki Ka Asa
The moon and sun both have an end,
Sky and Earth too will some day cease
The caretakers of the fourteen astral levels also die
Why in vain aspire for these.
Nauhun Mari Hain, Dus Hun Mari Hain
Mari Hain Sahaj Athasi
Tethis Koti Devata Mari Hain
Badi Kaal Ki Bazi
.The nines(may be a reference to planets) die, tens too die.
Die easily the eighty eight,
The thirty three crore gods die,
Such the Time's great might
Naam Anam Anant Rehat Hai
Duja Tatva Na Hoi
Kahe Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho
Bhatak Maro Mat Koi
Only the Name of the Lord remains,
Only this is truth: All else is lie.
Listen O Sadhu! says Kabir,
Don't Get lost and Die !!
second poem (makes an excellent reading after the first)
(i am working on the translation)
Sakhiya Wah Ghar Sabse Nyara,
Jaha Puran Purush Humara
Jaha Nahi Sukh Dukh
Sanch Jhuth Nahi
Pap Na Pun Pasara
Nahin Din Reyn Chand Nahi Suraj,
Bina Jyoti Ujyara
O friend ! That house is the dearest
Where dwells the fountainhead of vedas.
No joy, no sorrow there
Truth-unthruth none
Virtues and sins all one
Day and night the same, no moon no sun
Where there is illumination without light !
(what is the need of light from outside, when the inner light illuminates the path)
Nahin Tahan Gyan Dhyan
Nahin Jap Tap
Ved Kiteb Na Bani
Karni Dharni Rehni Gehni,
Yeh Sub Jahan Hirani
No use of knowledge or concerntration
Saying rosary, penitance
Holy book,word all superfluos
Karma, manners, rituals
Any matter of the world not there.
Ghar Nahin Aghar Na Bahar Bhitar,
Pind Brahmand Kachu Nahin
Panch Tatva Gun Tin Nahin Tahan,
Sakhi Shabd Na Tahin
No holy residing place there, nothing inside nor outside
No fire and no spark
Five elements melt, three nature's too
Vanish like the Word.
Mul Na Phul Beli Nahin Bija,
Bina Braksh Phal Sohe,
Oham Soham Ardh Urdh Nahin,
Swasa Lekhan Kou Hai
No flowers, fruits or seed
Where fruits ripe, without tree
Holy Om, Soham, This-that concept non-existant
The breath and its control too gone.
Jahan Purush Tahwan Kachu Nahin,
Kahe Kabir Hum Jana
Humri Sain Lakhe Jo Koi,
Pawe Pad Nirvana
There is none but our dearest
Kabir says I realise this
Who sees my Lord's sign,
Attains the goal of liberation.
Monday 25 August 2008
two stories
Under pressure to write, been more than a month.
Well the real reason for not writing since so long is not clear. I don't want to waste more time on that too.
Here are two stories - Not original. Recounted from hearing / reading.
Both the stories are allegorical in nature and as regards morale of the story - leave it as comment.
Story 1
This is the story about the monkey and GOD.
Once upon a time (qualifies as a story now), there was monkey. It was very curious and exitable. The monkey lost its tail due to some accident. He was very ashamed to face the other monkeys. A beautfiul and long tail was a matter of pride among the monkeys. Our dear monkey was also very proud of his long tail and used to ridicule other monkeys not so fortunate. Now, loosing his tail was very humiliating for the monkey. He began to think of plan.
He called a meeting of all the monkeys. They all came to the meeting, monkeys with small tails, long tails, hairly tails, bald tails, round tails, straight tails all other kinds of tails. They all took their respective seats in many rows. The social position, needless to say was decided on tails ! After all were seated, our monkey made its appearance. Face illuminated with glow, a beatific smile adorning it, walk to put elephants to shame, demenour unparalleled by any other than the king of the jungle.
"I have found GOD. I can see HIM !". These lines were spoken in such supreme confidence and firmity that there was a moment of absolute silence, followed by even more silence. Then, all the other monkeys looked at the monkey with one question written all over their minds "HOW???".
The monkey looked at all other and with a radiant smile broader than Julia Roberts', turned his back towards the audience. What followed was a silence, indescribable. Awe, Shock, Repulse, Joy all intermingled. "Yes, my children (He was one of the youngest of his folk!). You have to renounce your tails. Cut it off and thou shall see GOD and realise HIM".
"Are you nuts??", "What did you have for supper last night??", "Did you have a break-up??", "What the #@$K??", "You must be out of your mind?", "Dont try to trick us", "Whatever" and "A$$H()!%" were some of the audible reactions.
His smile got even broader. "All great people - Galelio, Socrates, Newton, Archemidics were called these names too. You must be patient, my children(again!!). This is a truth ahead of its time, but you can test it now. Can I have one volunteer?".
"Forget it" said all.
"Not one. Not one who believes in me. Not one who has the courage to see the truth."
Mock silence ruled the scene. "I am ready to experiement", said one monkey from behind. He had one of the tiniest tails in the whole community and was almost ashamed of it. Also, he was too fancied and taken away by the monkey-who-had-seen-GOD.
"Come here. Son" The monkey led the other monkey behind the screen.
" Aww !! Oh GOD! " the scream reverberated across the entire jungle.
"Do you see GOD now??" Asked the monkey after it had completely chopped off the tail of the other.
There was bloody horror on the face of the freshly-cut monkey. "What GOD?? I see no GOD. All I can see is you and the axe and my cut tail ! All this is a lie. A big lie. A farce. I am going to bust you in front of all"
"You dont see any God ? Really ? Well, I dont see any either. But now that you tail is cut and cannot be joined back, you better claim as me that you do see GOD! . "Your tail my son is cut anyway ! " saying this he threw the cut tail to the dustbin and placed the axe on the side.
The other monkey took a hard look at his cut tail lying in the dustbin and then looked through the screen at the huge mass of monkeys whispering in utter confusion, waiting for the verdict of THE EXPERIMENT ! He could see they were very eager, looking for a moment at the closed curtains and at their prized taile at the other. Finally, the curtains parted our moneky came out first followed by the freshly-cut monkey.
"WE CAN SEE GOD !!" both of them proclaimed at the top of their voices.
Story 2
The story of the cat and the sparrow.
There was a sparrow on the banyan tree. A cat lived below it. The cat had made innumerable attempts to catch the sparrow but never succeded. One day though she got lucky. The sparrow had lowered its guard and the cat had grown wiser by the attempts.
The cat was very happy and was whistling and thinking about the various spices and ingredients she would put to the sparrow-dish she was about to devour upon. The sparrow was terrified but not without hope. It was thinking and thinking.
It finally managed to get its head out of the claws of the cat, and speak.
" Are you going to eat me right away?"
"Well, what do you think? It's lunch time anyway !"
"Right now?"
"Ah? Yeah. Why ? Is there any problem?"
" No, no problem"
" Then why do you ask?"
"Well. I was thinking, should you not wash off you claws and mouth before you eat me ?"
" Oh, yeah. What a civilized sparrow ! That would be a MAN-thing to do. Wait for a while here. I will go to the stream and wash my claws and mouth real neat!"
By the time the cat came back (nearly 15 minutes later). It could not see the sparrow. It looked around here and there.
" Hi ! there" said the sparrow from the top of the banyan tree.
" Come down. I have washed my claws and mouth. I am ready to eat now."
"You should have eaten me first and then washed your claws and mouth!!"
"From the next time..." said the cat.
Well the real reason for not writing since so long is not clear. I don't want to waste more time on that too.
Here are two stories - Not original. Recounted from hearing / reading.
Both the stories are allegorical in nature and as regards morale of the story - leave it as comment.
Story 1
This is the story about the monkey and GOD.
Once upon a time (qualifies as a story now), there was monkey. It was very curious and exitable. The monkey lost its tail due to some accident. He was very ashamed to face the other monkeys. A beautfiul and long tail was a matter of pride among the monkeys. Our dear monkey was also very proud of his long tail and used to ridicule other monkeys not so fortunate. Now, loosing his tail was very humiliating for the monkey. He began to think of plan.
He called a meeting of all the monkeys. They all came to the meeting, monkeys with small tails, long tails, hairly tails, bald tails, round tails, straight tails all other kinds of tails. They all took their respective seats in many rows. The social position, needless to say was decided on tails ! After all were seated, our monkey made its appearance. Face illuminated with glow, a beatific smile adorning it, walk to put elephants to shame, demenour unparalleled by any other than the king of the jungle.
"I have found GOD. I can see HIM !". These lines were spoken in such supreme confidence and firmity that there was a moment of absolute silence, followed by even more silence. Then, all the other monkeys looked at the monkey with one question written all over their minds "HOW???".
The monkey looked at all other and with a radiant smile broader than Julia Roberts', turned his back towards the audience. What followed was a silence, indescribable. Awe, Shock, Repulse, Joy all intermingled. "Yes, my children (He was one of the youngest of his folk!). You have to renounce your tails. Cut it off and thou shall see GOD and realise HIM".
"Are you nuts??", "What did you have for supper last night??", "Did you have a break-up??", "What the #@$K??", "You must be out of your mind?", "Dont try to trick us", "Whatever" and "A$$H()!%" were some of the audible reactions.
His smile got even broader. "All great people - Galelio, Socrates, Newton, Archemidics were called these names too. You must be patient, my children(again!!). This is a truth ahead of its time, but you can test it now. Can I have one volunteer?".
"Forget it" said all.
"Not one. Not one who believes in me. Not one who has the courage to see the truth."
Mock silence ruled the scene. "I am ready to experiement", said one monkey from behind. He had one of the tiniest tails in the whole community and was almost ashamed of it. Also, he was too fancied and taken away by the monkey-who-had-seen-GOD.
"Come here. Son" The monkey led the other monkey behind the screen.
" Aww !! Oh GOD! " the scream reverberated across the entire jungle.
"Do you see GOD now??" Asked the monkey after it had completely chopped off the tail of the other.
There was bloody horror on the face of the freshly-cut monkey. "What GOD?? I see no GOD. All I can see is you and the axe and my cut tail ! All this is a lie. A big lie. A farce. I am going to bust you in front of all"
"You dont see any God ? Really ? Well, I dont see any either. But now that you tail is cut and cannot be joined back, you better claim as me that you do see GOD! . "Your tail my son is cut anyway ! " saying this he threw the cut tail to the dustbin and placed the axe on the side.
The other monkey took a hard look at his cut tail lying in the dustbin and then looked through the screen at the huge mass of monkeys whispering in utter confusion, waiting for the verdict of THE EXPERIMENT ! He could see they were very eager, looking for a moment at the closed curtains and at their prized taile at the other. Finally, the curtains parted our moneky came out first followed by the freshly-cut monkey.
"WE CAN SEE GOD !!" both of them proclaimed at the top of their voices.
Story 2
The story of the cat and the sparrow.
There was a sparrow on the banyan tree. A cat lived below it. The cat had made innumerable attempts to catch the sparrow but never succeded. One day though she got lucky. The sparrow had lowered its guard and the cat had grown wiser by the attempts.
The cat was very happy and was whistling and thinking about the various spices and ingredients she would put to the sparrow-dish she was about to devour upon. The sparrow was terrified but not without hope. It was thinking and thinking.
It finally managed to get its head out of the claws of the cat, and speak.
" Are you going to eat me right away?"
"Well, what do you think? It's lunch time anyway !"
"Right now?"
"Ah? Yeah. Why ? Is there any problem?"
" No, no problem"
" Then why do you ask?"
"Well. I was thinking, should you not wash off you claws and mouth before you eat me ?"
" Oh, yeah. What a civilized sparrow ! That would be a MAN-thing to do. Wait for a while here. I will go to the stream and wash my claws and mouth real neat!"
By the time the cat came back (nearly 15 minutes later). It could not see the sparrow. It looked around here and there.
" Hi ! there" said the sparrow from the top of the banyan tree.
" Come down. I have washed my claws and mouth. I am ready to eat now."
"You should have eaten me first and then washed your claws and mouth!!"
"From the next time..." said the cat.
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