Guest guest Posted June 3, 1999 Report Share Posted June 3, 1999 Greetings Advaitins: In his recent posting, Jyothi Vijaykumar included his article as an attached file. Please note that mailing lists do not handle the attachements well and archives remove them while storing. Consequently members who chose 'Digest' option will not receive the postings that contain attachments! Several members have send me Email that the Digest did not contain Jyothi's article. I suggest members to send postings in ascii format (text files). If you have files in other format such as WordPerfect or Word then open them and use cut & past into the mail. Please send your future postings without attachments (detachment is always a good idea!). Thanks for your cooperation and understanding and have a nice day! Ram Chandran List Moderator. Note: Jyothi's article is reposted below for the benefit of those who didn't get it! ======================================================================= Reposting "Jyothi Vijayakumar" <nandini ' Article on Sthitaprajna Lakshanah Namaste list members, A couple of years ago, Swami Chidananda of Chinmaya Mission San Jose had asked me to translate the 18 verses (from 54 to 72) in Ch 2. Here is a copy of the translation I had done for him. However, I must say it is no match for the excellent descriptive passages that were written on the topic by Shri Ramachandran and Shree Gummuluru Murthy. My hope is to provide a taste of the poetry to those who cannot get the flavor of the original sanskrit verses. "The Wise Man" (From Chapter 2 of Bhagavadgita) In the battleground of right and wrong Where ‘us’ and ‘them’ have fought for long How does the wise man make his mark? How shall he deal with a steady hand ? How does he talk? How will he walk ? Listen to me, my friend, say, let us talk About this wise man - Nothing in this world will shake him off his ground For he’s the wise man He can revel in himself, for he knows his true self He is the wise man Times be tough, no agitation, good times came, no jubilation That’s our wise man. No passion, no fear, no anger Even tempered like a saint, he is a wise man Goes anywhere without selfish lust, no arrogance nor disgust Firm is he in wisdom, he is the wise man. Senses held back with firm restraint As a tortoise would curl up his feet at will His wisdom stands firm when senses thrill. Unfueled, the fires of temptations die away Yet, the taste may remain in a smoldering way When the vision is fixed on the supreme high Even the taste will have to say goodbye. Even those with greatest resolve Organs of sense will knock them off Sit down, restrain, focus on the truth Senses under check, wisdom springs forth. Pleasures of body, when dwelt upon Sure, an attachment is quickly born From attachment comes a certain desire By thwarted desire is anger fired. Anger leads to a break of calm A lack of judgment creeps therein When judgment goes, mind follows A lost mind is soul’s ruin. With senses quelled by self control No likes or dislikes when objects pull May you be amid a world of lures Can keep your cool and peace endures. In a peaceful mind, no sorrow is known In a peaceful mind, steady thoughts have grown. Without such skill, there is no clear thought With no clear thought, there is no insight With no insight, mind knows no peace With no peace, whither a state of ease? To roving senses, when mind does bow A sailboat adrift in high winds and low Secure the mind from temptations now And the mind’s boat will sail steadily through. The wise man seems as if asleep To the petty stuff that most run after But awake is he and focused deep When most sleep to the truth of matter. (But make no mistake, his mind’s not dead) Rivers and streams run far and wide To the calming bosoms of oceans deep So does he, in peace, let the world inside Not a feeble mind, who would clamor and weep. To him there is no want nor need He goes about with no hate or greed Neither does he cling to a selfish thing He lives in peace with everything. This is the state of Brahman, my friend This is where you want to be! Never shall you waver, either now or later. When end comes nigh, your spirits stay high Because this is the State, this is the Zone! This is Nirvana! This is peace for everyone! Om Shantih, Om shantih, Om shantih! praNAms vijayakumar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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