Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Bhagavad Gita Rubaiyat, Part XXIX

3:10
From the Divine seek all that you desire,
And offer up your energy entire
Into that Source from which all power comes,
To find there all your heart will e’er require.

3:14-15
All creatures live by food, by rain, by sun,
And so since the Beginning they have done.
Trace back this power of Life within yourself!
Complete the ring that makes Creation one!

3:36
Arjuna asked: What is that fearsome power
That plagues mankind from birth to final hour,
Impels us to do wrong against our will,
And all our good intentions does devour?

3:37
Desire it is, the Lord Krishna replied,
And anger at desire unsatisfied—
Desire and anger, those twin enemies,
Keep mankind’s will unto delusion tied.

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Bhagavad Gita Rubaiyat, Part XXVIII

1:20
Arjuna, who has tamed the monkey mind,
Whose spine straight as an arrow is aligned,
Then called upon his Divine charioteer,
A call of love uplifted and refined.

1:21-23
O Changeless Krishna! come and ride with me
Between the armies, where we thus may see
What foes these are with whom I must contend,
Who take sides with delusion willingly.

1:26-27
And there upon the battlefield appeared
Before their eyes a host of soldiers tiered,
Of cousins, uncles, brothers, teachers, friends,
Who with familial love had been revered.

1:33-34
For even so are each of us at war
Within ourselves, with conflicts by the score,
The light and dark opposing qualities
Entangled in our egos heretofore.

1:47
At this Arjuna set aside his bow,
His head and heart awhirl with doubt and woe.
My Lord, You know I cannot fight my kin,
No matter if whole worlds they overthrow!

2:2-3
Krishna replied: Is this how courage dies?
What warrior’s words are these that agonize!
Cast off such weakness! Lift your heart in strength!
Arjuna, Scorcher of All Foes, arise!

Sunday, July 23, 2023

Bhagavad Gita Rubaiyat, Part XXVII

1:1
The blind mind called: Sanjaya, come to me,
So that through introspection I may see
What on the battlefield of righteousness
This day befell, and what the outcome be.

1:10
Sanjaya told of countless troops arrayed,
Delusions endless, ready to invade.
Against them all, the forces of the Light,
Though few in number, stand up unafraid.

1:12-14
Then both the armies let their conches sing,
Their soldiers all to courage summoning.
On one side all the clamors of the world,
The other inner strength inspiring.

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Bhagavad Gita Rubaiyat, part XXVI

18:46-47
Perfection is attained when, from the heart,
One offers up his own especial art—
O, better death in dharma of one’s own,
Than playing with success another’s part!

18:49
Each one I will in victory enthrone
Who, unattached, knows nothing as his own,
Who reigns triumphant from his highest Self,
From whom all lesser, base desires have flown.

18:63
And now that Wisdom, sacred, secret, true,
My devotee, has been revealed to you,
Reflect on it, absorb it in your soul,
And, going forth, do as you feel to do.

Saturday, April 29, 2023

Bhagavad Gita Rubaiyat, part XXV

18:37
What seems like poison first, yet proves to be
The sweetest nectar of the Living Tree,
Is sattwic happiness and leads to Bliss
Through clear perception of the Self in Me.

18:38
Rajasic are those pleasures which arise
Through senses and the objects that they prize.
Like nectar first, like poison in the end,
These traitors are avoided by the wise.

18:39
That “happiness,” so called, which most offends
Is that which all the fire of Life expends.
Unconscious, drunk, unkempt—in such
Tamasic stupor it begins and ends.

Friday, April 28, 2023

Bhagavad Gita Rubaiyat, part XXIV

17:1
Arjuna asked: Of those who set aside
Those rules and laws by scripture codified,
Yet with devotion make their sacrifice,
What is their worship—false, or sanctified?

17:2
The Blessed Lord said: Here the only test
Is in the quality of faith expressed,
Rajasic, sattwic or tamasic rites
Are to their own degrees both judged and blessed.

17:11
A sacrifice to God is ne’er in vain
If done without desire for private gain,
But offered up with love and firm belief—
This one from Me all blessings shall obtain.

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Bhagavad Gita Rubaiyat, part XXIII

16:21
From these three: anger, lust and greed for gain,
Man in his own self-interest should abstain.
Destroying happiness of soul in all,
These certain paths to hell are paved with pain.

16:23
That one who, by desires ego-driven,
Ignores the holy texts to all men given,
Finds neither happiness nor peace of mind,
And from his sacred Goal is fully riven.

16:24
So take true scriptures, therefore, as your guide,
And with them keep your consciousness allied.
Intuitively understand their laws,
And find your life with wisdom fortified.