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l ike a feather .. ..
What would I do without a mind?What would I do without a society to shape that mind?
To influence it?
To taint it?To glorify it?What would I do without the memories of such glory and such tache?
An orphan on a deserted island, with nothing from the outside world,save the produce of Nature which surrounds me...
I suppose I would be free....
sunday, november 07, 2010
Eighteen Verses - Prequel
Some readers might be aware of a bygone effort of
mine in capturing my thoughts and meditations into 18
verses. On my recent trip I felt the need to understand
when philosophical enquiry and spiritual pursuits
seem appealing or even relevant to an individual. I
also wished to understand what are the characteristics
of a realised soul and what is ava ilable to him which
infinite intellectual efforts (medha) cannot rein in. It is
this very subject in its foggy constitution that leaves
several amateur seekers (like myself) confused with the
words of the wise and irritated by the chanting
populace which resembles the mass incarnation of
parrots.
A b o u t M e
Eroteme
I am what I think...
View my complete
profile
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This post is an offering to the Divine Goddess
Saraswati who effortlessly milks Truth from the bovine
world in which we live. Were it not for Her, my life
would be sadly meaningless, as it happily is now. In
Her there is a union of mind and mindlessness. In Her
there is a union of beauty and the banal. In Her there is
peace. Om Shanti, shanti, shanti-hi.
This prequel discusses 3 matters vital to the reader
before s/he even feels inclined to read the 18 verses.
These verses (also numbering 18) are not questions but
statements. They have been composed as verses
adhering to the 5-7-5 count of a haiku though
resembling the haiku in no other manner. Some might
but most wouldn't as the subject is heavy and I am
La be l Clou d
Alvibest art BeingHuman conscious
living contemplatinglife Creative Culture
and Tradition educationEpicurean Delightsexternal links
fiction literatureMisc movies music
my contribution tosociety nonfiction
nostalgiaperspective
philosophyphotography
poetry quotes Sweet
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presently incompetent to douse such raging fires in a
light linen handkerchief.
The first few verses cover the characteristics of
individuals who would be inclined to philosophical
enquiry. The next few verses detail the characteristics
and circumstances which discourage one from
spiritual development. The last few verses detail the
traits a seeker must develop in order to effectively be
able to meditate on the 18 verses. The post closes with 2
verses which apply to all philosophical schools of
thought.
I will not elaborate on each of them as they are as
delicate as the 36 questions raised in the original post.
Poetry, unlike prose and laws, allow the fecundity of
the mind to dictate the import.
1.
All jump to pluck the
Blossoms from the laden tree -
The roots go deeper.
2 .
The monk wonders as
The fish gasp in the basket -
Which sutra they chant?
Nothings timepassTranslations travelling
zen koan
B log A rch iv e
2010 (71)
December (12)
November (6)
Louder, please
Interfering With
The Natural
Quizzing
Mixed Worlds
Eighteen Verses -
Prequel
A Tour Through
The Himalayas
October (13)
September (3)August (7)
July(7)
June (5)
May(2)
April (4)
March (10)
January(2)
2009 (100)
2008 (73)
2007 (116)
2006 (94)
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3 .
The merchant's nine locks
And three guards at his vault - Still
A charm hangs on his neck.
4 .
As he falls asleep
The buzzing bee near his ear
Begins or ends his sleep?
5.
A little orchid
Eddies past the praying monk
He smiles, bows once more.
6 .
The tree in a seed
In a soft fruit's belly -
He slowly nods his head.
7.
The Yang-tze flood razes -
He floats on a bamboo mat
2005 (146)
2004 (1)
Fin e Pla ces
t o S p en d a nEven ing
Atanu Dey
Meera's Blog (needs
some life)
Name of the Rose
Aardvarks Inc
Arts & Letters Daily
Arts JournalMahanandi
Fr iends ' S p a c e s
John's Ideas
I ain't in Ukraine
Sanny's Scribbles
Red Earth And
Pouring Rain
Musings
Sriram's Blog
Sookie
Rex
Kartik
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Eating from debris.
8 .
He sows seeds; it rains
Hundred sacks of golden wheat
He dusts his bed and sleeps.
9 .
When the nightingale
Departs, the li'l pup climbs the
Branch and barks. Confused.
10 .
Ten fingers count sheep
Till one jumps over the other
Count all over aga in.
11.
The Spring breeze through
The orchards of a pple blooms
Smells of apples.
12 .
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As I step into
The cold Ganges, I admire
My halcyon shadow.
13 .
Come cruel Autumn
All tree obey and shed - Even
One which bore just a leaf.
14 .
The mighty river
Too follows the plough's command
To water a rice field.
15.
Oh! Puissant hunter
Myriad arrows that left your bow
Rust on the wet grass.
16 .
The lion mauls the deer;
Cruel? So necessary?
Manjushri's sabre.
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17.
Sweet waters flow swift
Brine stands still gathering all -
One becoming another.
18 .
A vagabond strolls
Through forest, marsh and towns - Paths
Beckoning his feet.
Yadakshara padh brashtam maathra heenantu yad
bhaveth
Tat sarvam kshamyathaam deva, Naraya na
namostute
Visarga bindu maathraanee, padh
paadhaaksharaanee cha
Nyoonaani cha atirikthaanee, kshamsva
Purushottama.
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Pluck this @ 10:53 PM
Labels: philosophy, poetry
5 feathers drifted here:
Parvati said...
Yes.
Dualities and perception of distinct disparities that
are the mainstay of life lived with the aid of our
unregenerate human mental consciousness,
disappear steadily and eventually completely from
our light filled being.
These prequel verses are as beautiful but bear evengreater lightness than the past eighteen verses.
As I said about your photographs, these verses too
have found a deeper source in you from which they
can see the light of day it seems.
2:58 AM
Eroteme said...
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Dear P,
I would have assumed that you would be the only
one commenting on this! :-) I think they had to be
lighter for the sake of reach but demanding some
meditation as the subject is such. I am glad that they
are at least lighter than the main 18 verses. :-)
7:52 AM
Parvati said...
Many times the mountains
have turned from green to yellow.
So much for the capricious earth!
Dust in your eyes,
the triple world is narrow.
Nothing on your mind,
your chair is wide enough.
- Muso (1275 1351)
Enlightened,isnt he, this Muso person? Seems to
have a clarity regarding his priorities right.
9:46 AM
Summer Rain said...
I cannot comment on the philosophy/idea behind
these 18 Verses for spiritual journeys are best made
alone. But I really, really, really loved Verses 2, 10,
13, 14..
Beautiful!
1:55 PM
Eroteme said...
Dear P,
Indeed :-)
Dear SR,
All philosophy/realisation is indeed individual and all
words are nothing more than a shabby attempt at
capturing a personal feeling. The main 18 verses too
state that. Nevertheless, somethings can serve as a
seed in a willing recipient's soul. Glad you liked
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those verses. I read them again and enjoyed them.
Perhaps Parvati-ji's words do bear some truth.
9:25 PM