-
The pleasures and riches of
worldly life are deceptive appearances.
Understanding that they are all but a
passing-show, be detached and dispassionate,
cultivate renunciation and seek Brahman.
-
Day and night, dawn and dusk,
winter and spring, all these are flitting across
the stage of the world. While time thus is
frolicking and befooling us, our life span is
also running out; yet we do not , even a little,
give up the clinging to our desires, nor do we
let the desires loosen their grip on us.
-
Crazy man ! Why do you worry so
much about your wife and property? why don't you
seek out the Truth ? Know that in these three
worlds it is only the association with the good
and holy that can help you in crossing safely
the ocean of life.
-
The ascetic with matted locks,
the man with the shaven head or one with hair
pulled out, or the man parading in the ochre
robes -- they all have eyes but yet do not see.
All these are but deceptions for cheating the
world, for filling their bellies. ( Renunciation
does not lie in external appearance, but in
inward thought, attitude and feeling).
-
The body has become decrepit,
the hair on the head has turned completely gray;
the mouth has become totally toothless; the back
is bent down and the old man cannot take even a
step witout the aid of his stick; yet he does
not loosen even a bit, his hold on the bundle of
desires.
-
Homeless he is; his back is bent
down with age. His body has lost its heat and he
has to warm himself before a fire or in the sun.
Tree is his only shelter; he lives by begging
and by the crumbs thrown into his palms by
others; in the night he sleeps by holding his
chin on his knee ( because the back is bent and
he cannot stretch himself and lie down). Yet, he
does not let and allow the grip of desires on
him loosen even a bit.
-
One may have bathed in the holy
Ganges or even in the Ganga Sagar; he may have
performed many charities and observed many vows;
yet unless one has glimpsed the Truth ( God), he
will not gain release even after a hundred
lives. (note: this is the warning of all the
religions).
-
Who can disturb the peace and
happiness of a man if he has the true spirit of
renunciation and has controlled his desires,
even if he be the poorest, sleeping only in the
temple halls and choultries or under trees or on
the bare ground and just with a deer skin to
cover.
-
Whether one is immersed in yoga
or is revelling in bhoga ( i.e, outward
enjoyment), whether he is enjoying himself in
social company or has retired into solitude,
true happiness certainly cannot be his; but who
alone is revelling inwardly in Brahman,
(wherever he be), he alone will be truly happy
and will verily enjoy.
-
Even a little study and
understanding of the Bhagawad Gita, or sipping
of even a tiny drop of the waters of the holy
Ganges or even a little worship of Murari --
these will surely save one from confrontation
with death !
Bhaja Govindam Songs 1-11,
Bhaja Govindam Songs 21-31
