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What is worship? Who are this man

Lalla, Lalla poetry, Yoga / Hindu, Yoga / Hindu poetry, Shaivite (Shiva) poetry, [TRADITION SUB2] poetry,  poetry by Lalla
(14th Century) Timeline

English version by
Coleman Barks

Original Language
Kashmiri

Yoga / Hindu : Shaivite (Shiva)
14th Century

What is worship? Who are this man
and this woman bringing flowers?

What kinds of flowers should be brought,
and what streamwater poured over the images?

Real worship is done by the mind
(Let that be a man) and by the desire
(Let that be a woman). And let those two
choose what to sacrifice.

There is a liquid that can be released
from under the mask of the face,
a nectar which when it rushes down
gives discipline and strength.

Let that be your sacred pouring,
Let your worship song be silence.

 

 

-- from Holy Fire: Nine Visionary Poets and the Quest for Enlightenment, Edited by Daniel Halpern

Amazon.com

 

Themes

  Garden
  Honey
  Lotus
  Rose
  Silence


Recommended Books


The Ascent of Self: A Reinterpretation of the Mystical Poetry of Lalla-Ded, by B. N. Paramoo
Holy Fire: Nine Visionary Poets and the Quest for Enlightenment, Edited by Daniel Halpern
I Lalla: The Poems of Lal Ded, Translated by Ranjit Hoskote
Lalla: Naked Song, Translated by Coleman Barks
Lalleshwari: Spiritual Poems by a Great Siddha Yogini, Translated by Swami Muktananda

More >>

 

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Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2011 by Ivan M. Granger.
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