Words of Wisdom

Since the world’s wise inhabitants are far too busy with QOVID-19,I’m borrowing selected quotes by Dalai Lama.

The purpose of religion is to strengthen the caring side of the heart. Compassion is a genuine and unbiased sense of love and concern for others. Compassion can heal not only inner anger, but the world’s violence. Compassion also means loving enemies as well as friends, which isn’t easy. In order to achieve genuine, lasting world peace based on compassion, we need a sense of universal responsibility. First, we have to try inner disarmament- reducing our own anger and hatred while increasing mutual trust and human affection.

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Daily Prompt : Mercy

In response to prompt : Mercy

He screamed and begged for mercy

His Dad looked, tried to say something

It was too painful, he  could not speak

It was time to go, death does not believe

in compassion!

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Daily Prompt: Sympathy

In response to prompt : Sympathy

I always think of the days when my father passed away, how people came to our house to take away things without asking us. They didn’t show any compassion for how we are dealing with the loss. This is one side of human nature.

When we landed at Dhaka airport, my mother’s cousins who came in droves when my father was alive, after his passing the scenario changed completely. The cousins did not come to offer their Sympathy or support, we were considered  a burden, therefore we were treated like strangers. Of all the cousins my mom had, only one showed up. He genuinely felt sorry for us.

This is the fact of life, we found out soon enough  we were on our own and must not expect anything from our relatives.

Among all the people we knew, I felt the only one who was caring was our milkmaid who delivered milk daily. According to our custom when a woman’s husband dies, she takes off all her jewelry, wears white saris and leads a very simple life.

One day the milkmaid noticed my mom had taken off her jewelry including the bangles on her wrist. This is what she said,  ‘Begum Sahib, please wear the bangles, you’ll serve food to your children, if you do not wear them, it will shorten the lives of your children.’

Mom did not know, with tears in her eyes, she took out the bangles and wore them. I know others would think it’s a superstition. But I was overwhelmed with emotion, the very fact the milkmaid was thinking about us, made me feel, at least there is someone who loves us!

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Tagore song-lyrics and translation by Tagore posted by Ranu

This world of happiness

This world of well-being

Grace it with your presence

You who are the ultimate truth

You who are the ever beauteous

Your majesty manifests

Across the vast firmament

Like an anklet studded with

Precious stones and Prized jewels

Lies the cosmos at Your feet

The sun moon stars and planets

With eagerly anxious haste

Bask in your iridescence

Soak Your boundless radiance

Cascades of Your soft sweet grace

Gush forth and deluge the earth

In a kaleidoscope of

Flowers and leaves,songs and sonnets

Life flows on ever anew

Your compassion caressing

Our lives from cradle to grave

Love,affection and mercy

Piety,hope,faith untold

Mellow and soften our souls

A downpour of sweet solace

You rain to pacify pain

What festivities and joy

Reign forever in Your realm

The world sings Your glory great

In fearless refuge at Your feet

You who are our treasure and wealth

You who enclose all of this earth

“Nirjharer Shopno Bhango” Poem by Tagore translation and posted by Ranu

The Heart (Photo credit: petalouda62)

“The broken dream of a stream” By Tagore

How did the sun’s rays

penetrate my heart this morning,

how did the song of the bird

penetrate the dark cave!

I don’t know how

my heart awakened after

such a long time!

heart is awake,

the water is swelling up,

I cannot stop my heart’s

wish and emotion.

The mountains are trembling,

hailstones are sliding down,

the water is beating up

into froth

it is thundering in anger.

Here and there almost mad

it is turning and turning

and roaming around__

it wants to come out,

cannot find the prison door.

Why is the creator so cruel,

why is there trap all around,

break the heart,break the tie,

have the desire today,

lift the layers of waves

continue striking it.

When the heart is excited

what is dark,what is cruel!

When the yearning is increasing

why fear the world!

I will pour compassion,

I will break the cruel prison,

I will sing all around the world

anxious crazy water.

I will untie my hair, pick up flowers,

fly my rain-bow painted fan,

I will spread laughter

on the rays of the sun.

I will run from peak to peak,

I will conquer hill after hill,

I will giggle and sing rhythmically.

I have so much to say,

so much to sing,

so much vitality,

so much happiness,so much desire.

I know not what happened ,

my heart is awake__

from the distance I can hear

the song of the ocean.

All around me

what is this frightful prison__

break break break  the prison,

strike strike it.

O what a song the bird sang,

here comes the rays of the sun.

Shaadhona Worship by Tagore Translation By Ranu

Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel prize for literature. It is the first Nobel prize won by Asia. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Goddess, devotees have come to you

with many offerings;

I, the unfortunate, have brought my tears

and  my ineffective prayer.

You know my hearts desire,

I had the longing but not the ability,

even then I carried the desire day and night.

I tried to string together what was in my heart,

it continuously fell to pieces,

the good, the bad, dark and light is mixed up.

Still, O pious one ,

I bring my heart and soul to you

my life’s greatest wealth___

my fruitless prayer.

O,my useless adoration

all the successful devotees are mocking me.

If only you ,Goddess could for an instant

change leer into affection__

shed one tear-drop with compassion

my useless prayer would be successful.

Goddess, many have come to sing

with numerous instruments.

I have a soundless, severed

humble lute.

You know I did not neglect;

I practiced countless times,

Whatever tune I had in my heart,

I used my lute with hope,

unfortunately my attempt failed__it broke the strings.

Quietly I waited all along,

brought my humble song

my beloved instrument___

a torn lute.

All your gifted followers are laughing with hatred.

If you take it in your lap

the unsung songs will take a seat in my heart!___

What was hope will blossom into music, the torn lute.

Oh, goddess I sang many songs in my life,

there were many good results;

I donated all of them to the world,

filled the whole earth.

Whoever likes it can take it,

however long it lasts, let it,

let it pick up all the fame and disgrace.

I carried out whatever I said

it is not mine, it belongs to all___

it is roaming around in different form all over the world.

Whatever greatest wealth I have

I am leaving at your feet__

failure, unsaid message, unsung song,

fruitless hope.

O my dear fruitless hope

watching this everyone is laughing in contempt.

If you my goddess will take this petty___

garland in your hand,

a new day and night will emerge with sweet fragrance;

it will make my fruitless life successful.

Drishti Vision by Tagore translation by Ranu

English: Rabindranath Tagore Русский: Тагор, Рабиндранат (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I understand evening has taught those two eyes

compassion ,

shadow falls on your heart

and opens up the pupils

who knew before how much was hidden

secretly in your heart___

I see my own heart with

your vision.

You didn’t sing but quietly

you taught me___

with peaceful dreamy melody

you tied my soul.

I look up and sing the same tune

alone.

One  at a time all the melodies

disappear  into the sky.