Bhaktisandesam / Where are you, my Lord?

[Guest guest]

Hari-Om

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" Quest For God "

from Swami Vivekananda

 

O'ver hill and dale and mountain range,

In temple, church, and mosque,

In Vedas, Bible, Al Koran

I had searched for Thee in vain.

 

Like a child in the wildest forest lost

I have cried and cried alone,

" Where art Thou gone, my God, my love?

The echo answered, " gone. "

 

And days and nights and years then passed

A fire was in the brain,

I knew not when day changed in night

The heart seemed rent in twain.

I laid me down on Ganges's shore,

Exposed to sun and rain;

With burning tears I laid the dust

And wailed with waters' roar.

 

I called on all the holy names

Of every clime and creed.

" Show me the way, in mercy, ye

Great ones who have reached the goal. "

 

Years then passed in bitter cry,

Each moment seemed an age,

Till one day midst my cries and groans

Some one seemed calling me.

 

A gentle soft and soothing voice

That said 'my son' 'my son',

That seemed to thrill in unison

With all the chords of my soul.

 

I stood on my feet and tried to find

The place the voice came from;

I searched and searched and turned to see

Round me, before, behind,

Again, again it seemed to speak

The voice divine to me.

In rapture all my soul was hushed,

Entranced, enthralled in bliss.

 

A flash illumined all my soul;

The heart of my heart opened wide.

O joy, O bliss, what do I find!

My love, my love you are here

And you are here, my love, my all!

 

And I was searching thee -

From all eternity you were there

Enthroned in majesty!

From that day forth, wherever I roam,

I feel Him standing by

O'ver hill and dale, high mount and vale,

Far far away and high.

 

The moon's soft light, the stars so bright,

The glorious orb of day,

He shines in them; His beauty - might -

Reflected lights are they.

The majestic morn, the melting eve,

Teh boundless billowing sea,

In nature's beauty, songs of birds,

I see through them - it is He.

 

When dire calamity seizes me,

The heart seems weak and faint,

All natures seems to crush me down,

With laws that enver bend.

Meseems I hear Thee whispering sweet

My love, " I am near " , " I am near " .

My heart gets strong.

 

With thee, my love,

A thousand deaths no fear.

Thou speakest in the mother's lay

Thou shuts the babies eye,

When innocent children laugh and play,

I see Thee standing by.

When holy friendship shakes the hand,

He stands between them too;

He pours the nectar in mother's kiss

And the baby's sweet " mama " .

Thou wert my God with prophets old,

All creeds do come from Thee,

The Vedas, Bible, and Koran bold

Sing Thee in Harmony.

 

" Thou art, " Thou art " the Soul of souls

In the rushing stream of life.

" Om tat sat om. " Thou art my God,

My love, I am thine, I am thine.

 

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From a letter written by Vivekananda on September 4, 1893 to Prof.

J.H. Wright of Boston who introduced the Swami at the Parliament of

Religions

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Jai Shree Krishna !