Tattva-viveka
Poems to Support our Journey
Karnamrita Das - July 26, 2015 11:20 pm
I am continuing to share those activities and perspectives that have helped me stay the course throughout the years. Here are the best of my free verse poems--perhaps that isn't saying much, but they are inspiring for me. This is one of my favorites, as prayer is my favorite activity, as it lets me feel connected to our Deities and my gurus, and line of teachers. I talk and cry out to the Lord, and pray for all I am worth to improve myself and inspire the devotees in their lives and service. For most of my life in bhakti, I never prayed to make spiritual advancement, and this was very unfortunate. IMO, we must constantly prayer to progress in our affection and service attitude toward our guru(s) and the Lord's of our heart--Shri Shri Radha Krishna, and Gaura Nitai, etc. I can tell you that I feel reciprocation from doing this. We have to remind ourselves of our highest ideals by constantly calling out. It gradually overcomes our other desires as we eventually are always praying and chanting. Prayer is Life
Prayer is my life
it always sustains me
through the day and night,
either in pain or joy
reverses or successes,
I go to bed with prayer,
awakening, I bow down
remembering my gurus
in gratitude for service
amazed at my good fortune.
I pray to offer my day
to beautiful, flower clad, Krishna,
folding my bedding with prayer
drinking Prasad (blessed) water
my necessities all provided
thus the body endures
the soul begins to flourish
each breathe, heartbeat, & step
continue only by mercy,
as everything is His grace & kindness.
Prayer reminds me
I’m always a servant
a tiny, covered spiritual spark,
but my ego inflates my smugness
forgetful of God for eons
and still I’m proud
of my feeble, religious attempt
at waking and rising up—
when selfishness rules me
I return to the holy name.
By prayer I remember Krishna
chanting and hearing His glories,
though stubborn, I’m still blessed
in spite of myself, I call out,
kind and generous Krishna smiles
as I share my life with Him,
I’m saved even by poor prayers
making thousands of attempts
some with heart, other officially
acknowledging Krishna’s love.
Daily intensified prayer
before Radha Krishna Deities
the core of my life
I sit before Them
petitioning through Hare Krishna
praying to be emptied out
freed from sensual demands,
ignorance, illusion, forgetfulness—
waking up to my true nature
cheering others to stay the course.
Lord, please accept me—
more, let me accept you
fully, completely, absolutely,
here and now, now and forever,
let offences past, present, or future
or whatever hinders my progress
toward taking full shelter of you
in loving service, let that be finished
replaced by the constant serving mood
making pure devotion my only food.
I’m Krishna’s eternal part
serving Him and all beings
giving myself by love’s power
yet aspiring for humility like grass
tolerance like the trees
giving respect, not wanting it
knowing I’m always dependent
on His grace and facility—
by prayer, I’m aware, of
my shortcoming, and the Goal.
A glimpse of His mercy revealed
as I plead to chant purely,
hearing one mantra at a time
until I’m totally, unconditionally His
by living, feeling, acting in surrender
being one with bhakti in love,
every day moving closer by prayer
to the blue cowherd, Krishna
the love and sustainer of my life,
a lasting friend like no other!
Karnamrita Das - July 28, 2015 2:29 pm
I am going to post other poems as comments to this one, as I can't see having every poem as its own topic--unless our moderators have another idea? I see these free verse poems as a kind of shorthand to speak about a much deeper subject, though some of my poems are rather long when I was experimenting with the genre. It is my own style of course, though I am sure it can be classified as something or other. This poems gives the feeling I had when I took bhakti, in the middle of the counterculture. I am still in the theme of those thoughts and actions which can keep us on the path, and here, remembering how and why we took up the path, can be helpful in difficulty or life reverses. What was my life like before, and how did I find solace in the holy name and Vaishnava sanga?:
A Lotus in the Redwoods
[some persons caught up in the counter-culture of the late '60's and '70's felt that all materiel prospects were void and society's status quo, a miserable stagnation. Thus, as if in a life and death battle, they intensely felt compelled to search out meaning and happiness on the spiritual quest, appearing as their only hope. This free verse poem, inspired by the months I spent in the redwood forest in Muir Woods in Marin County (near San Francisco, California), condenses the background feelings of my spiritual search that culminated in Krishna bhakti and continues to unfold to this day, some 45 years later. While my mood is currently much softer than that expressed in this poem, the power of my original spiritual search still gives me energy and reminds me of what is required to make radical life changes for a higher purpose. I was so determined to find the real purpose of my life and to make sense of what appeared to be a mad, pointless, world, that I was willing to forgo everything else to be successful on that pilgrim's journey. Unfortunately I don't have the same level of focused and powerful determination that I had in my youth, though I'm inspired to remember the feeling and dynamism of that time of new beginnings. Fortunately, I still have momentum from the scent of the lotus flow I discovered in the redwoods. I continue walking up the bhakti mountain, step by step, guided by spiritual adepts. There is no question of returning the way I came, from the "Valley of the Shadow of Death," as that road is closed to me, due to some unimaginable good fortune.]
Pensive on a mountain top
looking through modern civilization
almost covered by smog
adrift in a sea of uncertainty
atomic threats and toxic chemicals--
no charted course appeals
provided answers are shallow
all paths appear pointless
unlimited choices dull the brain
walking among the living dead
complacency dressed as a virtue
the status quo bewilders me
worldly recommendations disappoint
sensual thoughts and desires frustrate
dogs chase their tail repeatedly
smashed dreams and vain hopes.
In the midst of random chaos
where calamities surround me
indifference threatens my survival
out of my bleeding heart
a lotus in the redwood forest
revealing a divine purpose
now covered by madness,
Nature’s order reveals The Law
a reason for doing and being
beyond the fast track to dying
yet death impels the wise
on the path of lasting Truth
the Secret of joyous living
awakening the mystic journey
finding meaning in misery
leading to the soul’s home.
Hidden force guides me
a script long ago decided
the spiritual path emerges
when all other doors close
Krishna’s holy name empowers
ten thousand lasers drill
cracking miles of concrete illusion
causing the soul to shine
blessed by gurus and sages
forced to surrender, then choosing
going forward or lost again
staying in Krishna’s embrace
He carries my lacks
preserves my progress
everything serves the goal
the quest of Divine love.
Karnamrita Das - July 30, 2015 4:48 pm
Not really a poem but an idea I came up with and then found this "Just Because" statement that went with it. In any case, I think there is some wisdom here, and it was enlivening and for me, "fun" to do. Just Because
Just because something is
doesn't mean it should be.
Just because a poem is written
doesn’t mean it’s good.
Just because I have a manuscript
doesn’t mean it should be published.
Just because I don’t like a universal law
doesn’t mean it isn’t good, or I can break it.
Just because I own something
doesn’t mean I should keep it.
Just because it’s a cool techno gadget
doesn’t mean I need to buy it.
Just because I want to be humble
doesn’t mean I don’t need appreciation.
Just because I have a thought
doesn’t mean it is, or isn’t, useful.
Just because I become infatuated
doesn’t mean I should act.
Just because I have a feeling
doesn’t mean it has to define me.
Just because I had a painful childhood
doesn’t mean I can’t rise above it.
Just because I have a habit
doesn’t mean I shouldn’t change.
Just because changing is difficult
doesn’t mean it isn’t worth trying.
Just because I don’t believe in myself
doesn’t mean I can’t, or shouldn’t.
Just because a goal seems lofty
doesn’t mean I shouldn’t endeavor.
Just because its’ always been done that way
doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done differently.
Just because I can’t see a way
doesn’t mean there isn’t one.
Just because I’m a “night person”
doesn’t mean I shouldn’t rise earlier.
Just because spiritual practice seems inconvenient
doesn’t mean it isn’t important for my soul.
Just because I have material desires
doesn’t mean I can’t make spiritual advancement.
Just because my heart seems like stone
doesn’t mean Krishna’s holy name can’t melt it!
Just because the Deity appears silent
doesn’t mean He doesn’t care and notice.
Just because my prayers aren’t answered
doesn’t mean praying isn’t good for me.
Just because I don’t know the answer
doesn’t mean there isn't someone who does.
Just because doing the right thing isn’t popular
doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing.
Just because watching TV is entertaining
doesn’t mean it’s a valuable use of time.
Just because my room is always messy
doesn’t mean cleaning it isn’t helpful.
Just because someone else is neglectful
doesn’t mean I should be.
Just because I see a fault in another
doesn’t mean I am better.
Just because I notice someone’s shortcomings
doesn’t mean I don’t have at least the potential for it.
Just because someone has blind spots
doesn’t mean they aren’t worthy of respect.
Just because I can do something easily
doesn’t mean it will be easy for another.
Just because I think in a certain way
doesn’t mean others are wrong who don’t.
Just because my kindness isn’t returned
doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be kind.
Just because my gift isn’t noticed
doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be charitable.
Just because my love isn’t understood
doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be loving.
Just because there is more to say
doesn't mean more should be said.
Just because I have written this list
doesn’t mean the list is finished.
