Tag: Life

Where is the unity, the meaning, of nature’s highest creation?

“Because children grow up, we think a child’s purpose is to grow up. But a child’s purpose is to be a child. Nature doesn’t disdain what lives only for a day. It pours the whole of itself into the each moment. We don’t value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life’s bounty is in its flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it’s been sung? The dance when it’s been danced? It’s only we humans who want to own the future, too. We persuade ourselves that the universe is modestly employed in unfolding our destination. We note the haphazard chaos of history by the day, by the hour, but there is something wrong with the picture. Where is the unity, the meaning, of nature’s highest creation? Surely those millions of little streams of accident and wilfulness have their correction in the vast underground river which, without a doubt, is carrying us to the place where we’re expected! But there is no such place, that’s why it’s called utopia. The death of a child has no more meaning than the death of armies, of nations. Was the child happy while he lived? That is a proper question, the only question. If we can’t arrange our own happiness, it’s a conceit beyond vulgarity to arrange the happiness of those who come after us.”

Tom Stoppard, The Coast of Utopia

Chadariya jheeni re jheeni

chadariya jheeni re jheeni, raam naam ras bheeni;

The fabric (body) is subtle, very subtle, indeed; it is woven with the essence of God’s name;

asht kamal ka charkha banaya, panch tatwa ki pooni;

The eight lotuses (chakras) made the spinning wheel which spun the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether) to make the fabric;

nau das mas bunan ko lage, murakh maili keeni.

It took nine months (ten lunar months) for its weaving, and foolish people defile it;

jab mori chadar ban ghar ai, rangrez ko deeni;

Once the fabric was made and brought home, it was given to the dyer (guru) for colouring;

aisa rang ranga rangrez ne, lalo laal kar deeni.

The dyer coloured it with such skill that it became brilliantly red (illumined);

chadar ode sanka mat kariye, ye do din tumko deeni;

As you wear this fabric, do not have doubts; it is a gift to you for two days only;

murakh log bhed nahi jaane, din din maili keeni.

Foolish people do not know the secret of this fabric, and day after day they pollute it;

dhruv prahalad sudama ne odhi, shukdev ne nirmal keeni;

Dhruv, Prahalad, Sudama and Shukdev wore this fabric and purified it;

das kabir ne aisi odhi, jyon ki tyon dhari deeni.

The servant Kabir wore it in such a way, that he returned it in the condition in which he received it.