This too shall pass [Was] From Sister Jayanti - Sri Sarada Society

[Guest guest]

Here are the words of Abraham Lincoln:

" It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men

to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which

should be true and appropriate in all times and situations.

They presented him the words: 'And this, too, shall pass

away.' How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour

of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction! "

 

To find that these few but simple words have travelled so

far and wide from home, touched so many, and have given so

much consolation to so many on the one hand and a stern

note of warning to all those who glut in sense-pleasures

on the other !

 

I came across it long time back but they have never lessend

their intensity inspite of coming across them repeatedly.

These simple words express so well the illusory nature

of the world - and brings us face to face with reality as

it were, isn't it ? God thank them a million who share these

balming words far and wide !

 

Ramakrishna, " Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda@b...>

wrote:

> When the king read it, he was so delighted that he spared

> them all. And the inscription? " THIS TOO SHALL PASS. "

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

The complete poem is by Theodore Tilton [1835-1907]:

 

Even This Shall Pass Away

Theodore Tilton

 

 

 

Once in Persia reigned a King

Who upon his signet ring

Graved a maxim true and wise,

Which, if held before the eyes,

Gave him counsel at a glance,

Fit for every change and chance.

Solemn words, and these are they:

" Even this shall pass away. "

 

Trains of camels through the sand

Brought his gems from Samarcand;

Fleets of galleys through the seas

Brought him pearls to match with these.

But he counted not his gain

Treasures of the mine or main;

" What is wealth? " the king would say;

" Even this shall pass away. "

 

In the revels of his court

At the zenith of the sport,

When the palms of all his guests

Burned with clapping at his jests;

He amid his figs and wine,

Cried: " Oh loving friends of mine!

Pleasure comes but not to stay;

Even this shall pass away. "

 

Fighting on a furious field,

Once a javelin pierced his shield;

Soldiers with a loud lament

Bore him bleeding to his tent;

Groaning from his tortured side,

" Pain is hard to bear, " he cried,

" But with patience, day by day,

Even this shall pass away. "

 

Towering in the public square,

Twenty cubits in the air,

Rose his statue, carved in stone,

Then, the king, disguised, unknown,

Stood before his sculptured name

Musing meekly, " What is fame?

Fame is but a slow decay

Even this shall pass away. "

 

Struck with palsy, sere and old,

Waiting at the gates of gold,

Said he with his dying breath;

" Life is done, but what is death? "

Then, in answer to the King,

Fell a sunbeam on his ring,

Showing by a heavenly ray,

" Even this shall pass away. "

 

 

 

Regards,

 

Sunder

 

 

 

Ramakrishna, " srivrindavan " <srivrindavan> wrote:

> Here are the words of Abraham Lincoln:

> " It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men

> to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which

> should be true and appropriate in all times and situations.

> They presented him the words: 'And this, too, shall pass

> away.' How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour

> of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction! "

>

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

Perhaps this mantra from Shvetashvatara Upanishad expresses the

same : [6:1]

 

svabhaavameke kavayo vadanti

kaala.n tathaanye parimuhyamaanaaH .

devasyaishha mahimaa tu loke

yenedaM bhraamyate brahmachakram.h ..

 

" Some wise men speak of inherent nature, others likewise, of time (as

the first cause), being deluded. But it is the greatness of God in

the world, by which this Brahma-wheel is made to turn. "

[tr. S. Radhakrishnan]

 

Maitri Upanishad 6:15 -

 

kaalaH pachati bhuutaani sarvaaNyeva mahaatmani .

yasmin tu pachyate kaalo yasta.n veda sa vedavit.h ..

 

" Time cooks (ripens) all things, indeed, in the great self. He who

knows in what time is cooked , he is the knower of the Veda. "

[tr. S. Radhakrishnan]

 

 

Regards,

 

Sunder

 

 

Ramakrishna, " srivrindavan " <srivrindavan> wrote:

 

>

> I came across it long time back but they have never lessend

> their intensity inspite of coming across them repeatedly.

> These simple words express so well the illusory nature

> of the world - and brings us face to face with reality as

> it were, isn't it ? God thank them a million who share these

> balming words far and wide !

>

> Ramakrishna, " Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda@b...>

> wrote:

> > When the king read it, he was so delighted that he spared

> > them all. And the inscription? " THIS TOO SHALL PASS. "