Though PI has a reputation of being an irrational number (a number that can’t be expressed as a ratio of two integers), I did a small check to see which vulgar fraction within denominator <1000 comes closest to PI
Fraction Value % error
pi() 3.141592654
22/7 3.142857143 0.040249943
355/113 3.14159292 0.000008491
1043/332 3.141566265 -0.000839973
1753/558 3.141577061 -0.00049633
2152/685 3.141605839 0.000419718
Then a woman said, “Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow.”And he answered: Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
Some of you say, “Joy is greater than sorrow,” and others say, “Nay, sorrow is the greater.”
But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.
Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.
When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.
I perhaps didn’t sing enough of this song when I was taught it at seven. As a little boy I just wondered what Hosanna meant. I didnt like the song because it was so full of Hosanna anyway.
I still don’t know what Hosanna means, there are no authoritative meanings assigned to it as much as I could find from the internet. Possible origins are as varied as Old english, Late Latin and ofcourse Hebrew.
But as I grew up this song took a different meaning. I began to like the simple words that make powerful expressions.
I dont know when I will ever get to sing this song again, or perhaps if I will sing it out loud at all.
But here goes.
Give me oil in my lamp
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning. Give me oil in my lamp, I pray.
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning. Keep me burning ’til the break of day.
Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, to the King of Kings.
Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, to the King of Kings.
Give me joy in my heart, keep me singing. Give me joy in my heart, I pray.
Give me joy in my heart, keep me singing. Keep me singing ’til the break of day.
Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, to the King of Kings.
Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, to the King of Kings.
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving. Give me love in my heart, I pray.
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving. Keep me serving ’til the break of day.
Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, to the King of Kings.
Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, to the King of Kings.
Give me peace in my soul, keep me praising. Give me peace in my soul, I pray.
Give me peace in my soul, keep me praising. Keep me praising ’til the break of day.
Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, to the King of Kings.
Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, to the King of Kings.
Year 1993.
One of my close friends, who helped me through a surgery just a few months back suggested that I spend a week end in a Christian camp with him. I agreed, though I am not a Christian by birth, and was present there for two full days, praying, worshipping and singing the glory of Jesus. I learn’t many new hymns and this one was particularly close to my heart.
My friend has moved on with life now. Some where we even pick-up disagreements and we are no longer in touch. But all said and done, he was a good Christian and I regret that I didn’t use him to learn more about Christianity, despite his repeated offerings to help me learn.
I suddenly remember this song today and decided to check if it is available for download. There are only 135 listings even of the Lyrics. I will be pleased if some one is willing to share an mp3 version of this song with me.
There Shall be showers of Blessing
There shall be showers of blessing
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.
(Chorus)
Showers of blessings,
Showers of blessings we need;
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead
There shall be showers of blessing
Precious, reviving again,
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
(Chorus)
Showers of blessings,
Showers of blessings we need;
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead
There shall be showers of blessing
Send them upon us, O Lord!
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come and now honor Thy Word!
(Chorus)
Showers of blessings,
Showers of blessings we need;
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead
There shall be showers of blessing
O that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!
(Chorus)
Showers of blessings,
Showers of blessings we need;
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead
There shall be showers of blessing
If we but trust and obey
There shall be seasons refreshing
If we let God have His way
(Chorus)
Showers of blessings,
Showers of blessings we need;
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead
When I first saw Rabbi Shergill’s video for the song Bulla ki jaana main kaun, I knew instantly that I would be spending more time on it.
After researching the lyrics for 8 hours and listening to it several times to firm up the lyrics, I found my own translation to be the most convincing. Come on folks, I’m not even Punjabi. I even found the guitar tabs here
Baba Bulleh Shah (1680-1758), has surely been an excellent writer of songs. No other song in an unknown langauage would have impressed me more. Though he lived during the time before the printing press, most of what we know about him has come to us through unreliable anecdotes and folklore. The limited authentic historical record, based on sporadic references to events of his life in his poetry and in the writings of his contemporaries, is barely enough for a brief sketch of his life.
I’ll read more – if only I find time. Anyways, here is my translation of the song:
Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Na main moman vich maseetan Neither am I believer in a Mosque Na main vich kufar dian reetan Nor a pagan practising false rites Na main pakan vich paleetan Nor am I the Pure amongst impure Na main andar bed kitaban Neither am I in any Holy Books (Vedas) Na main rehnda phaang sharaban Nor high on any drugs or alochol Na main rehnda mast kharaban Nor am I an idle delinquent Na main shadi na ghamnaki I am neither happy union nor lonely misery Na main vich paleetan pakeen Nor am I pure or impure Na main aaabi na main khaki Nor am I water or earth Na main aatish na main paun Nor am I fire or air Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Na main arabi na lahori I am neither an Arab or a Lahori (Pakistani) Na main hindi shehar Nagauri Nor am I from the (Indian) town of Nagaur Na hindu na turk pashauri Nor am I a Hindu or a Peshawari Turk Na main bhet mazhab de paya I did not create any differences in faiths Na main aadam hawwa jaya Nor do I know of any Adam or Eve Na koi apna naam dharaya I did not name myself Avval aakhar aap nu jana I know only of the Self Na koi dooja hor pacchana and recognise no Other Mai ton na koi hor syana There is nobody wiser than I Bulle shah kharha hai kaun? Bulleshah, who is standing (in your place)? Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Na main moosa na pharaoh Neither am I Moses nor the Pharoah Na main jagan na vich saun Neither am I awake nor asleep Na main aatish na main paun Neither am I am fire nor wind Na main rahnda vich Nadaun Nor do I live in Nadaun Na main baitthan na vich bhaun Neither am I at rest nor in a storm Bulle shah kharha hai kaun? Bulleshah, who is standing (in your place)? Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I
