adreamgodus

The Lady of Shalott by Lord Alfred Tennyson Part II There she weaves by night and day A magic web with colours gay. She has heard a whisper say, A curse is on her if she stay To look down to Camelot. She knows not what the curse may be, And so she weaveth steadily, And little other care hath she, The Lady of Shalott. And moving through a mirror clear That hangs before her all the year, Shadows of the world appear. There she sees the highway near Winding down to Camelot: There the river eddy whirls, And there the surly village-churls, And the red cloaks of market girls, Pass onward from Shalott. Sometimes a troop of damsels glad, An abbot on an ambling pad, Sometimes a curly shepherd-lad, Or long-haired page in crimson clad, Goes by to towered Camelot; And sometimes through the mirror blue The knights come riding two and two: She hath no loyal knight and true, The Lady of Shalott. But in her web she still delights To weave the mirror's magic sights, For often through the silent nights A funeral, with plumes and lights And music, went to Camelot: Or when the moon was overhead, Came two young lovers lately wed; "I am half sick of shadows," said The Lady of Shalott.

The Lady of Shalott by Lord Alfred Tennyson Part I On either side the river lie Long fields of barley and of rye, That clothe the wold and meet the sky; And through the field the road runs by To many-towered Camelot; And up and down the people go, Gazing where the lilies blow Round an island there below, The island of Shalott. Willows whiten, aspens quiver, Little breezes dusk and shiver Through the wave that runs for ever By the island in the river Flowing down to Camelot. Four grey walls, and four grey towers, Overlook a space of flowers, And the silent isle imbowers The Lady of Shalott. By the margin, willow-veiled, Slide the heavy barges trailed By slow horses; and unhailed The shallop flitteth silken-sailed Skimming down to Camelot: But who hath seen her wave her hand? Or at the casement seen her stand? Or is she known in all the land, The Lady of Shalott? Only reapers, reaping early In among the bearded barley, Hear a song that echoes cheerly From the river winding clearly, Down to towered Camelot: And by the moon the reaper weary, Piling sheaves in uplands airy, Listening, whispers "'Tis the fairy Lady of Shalott" continued...

Om Shanti... Here is a game we do every today caught in the wheels of Maya's play: If speaking of "another" as: They and Them, aleady "isms" have taken hold of the Mind's eye in a dance of othering the essence of who we truly are. If we point and think that this is what "they or them are like, then what does that say of us? There is an African proverb: If we point one finger there are three more are pointing back to ourselves... How can we see that which does not exist in our own world of experience? When we point to what we see in "others", we are also pointing to that which is a part of our won personal history. Shadows of the Soul are indeed difficult to embrace, but, it seems that this is the only way! To our birthright and total bliss. Purification of all of the little hates and seperations that keep us in the swamps of Maya! We are One, means just that! One without a second! It is my prayer that the Beloved open this world weary heart to the ruby light of total Love... May we dance together in this celestial harmony! In Joy, In Peace, and, dear heart in total surrender to pure Love. Om Shanti

Beloved Child of Divine light To join in your melody of the sacred song, here is a poem to Lord Krishna i wrote to a devotee when she was in distress: Now, i offer this translation of our Sri Radha 's heart to Thee: Lord Krishna, a honeyed light pours His sweetness into my life dripping, dripping His Majesty... Golden Light surrounding me. Light amber dreams of pure delight only Him, my life, my sight! Forgetting all, but, bliss and light to the God, to the Sun, to the Man surrounding, drowning, flying I am sacred bliss, happiness in His dream of togetherness Heartfelt moments forever bloom when Sri Krishna carries this Moon holding me gently, kissing my tears vanishing my pain, my earthly fears. Crying, crying in a swoon, Only Love, Only Love, Only Love with this Beloved Groom Never sadness, never fear when one holds Sri Krishna dear Beloved Music for all to hear Honey tunes in summer's heat Profoundly sacred, i kiss His feet! -shikha, 2000 Om Shanti

Om Shanti "The Diver sank through easeful azure. Flower creatures flashed and shimmered there-- lost images fadingly remembered. Swifly descended into a canyon of cold nightgreen emptiness. Free falling, weightless as in dreams of wingless flight, plunged through infra- space and came to the dead ship, carcass that swarmed with vocarious Life Anglefish, their lively blue and yellow prised form darkness by the flashlight's beam, thronged her portholes Moss of bryozoans blurred, obsured her metal. Snappers, gold groupers, exlpored her fearless of bubbling manfish. I entered the wreak, awed by silence, feeling more keenly the iron cold. With flashlight probing fogs of water saw the sad slow dance of the gilded chairs, the extoplasmic swril of garments, drowned instruments of buyancy, druken shoes. Then livid, gesterings, eldriteh hide and seek of laughing faces I yearned to find those hidden ones, to fling aside the mask and call them... yield to raptures Whisperings, have done with self and every diming vain complexity yet in languid freezing stove, as one freezing fights off sleep desiring sleep; cancelling arms that suddenly surrounded me, flew the numbing kisses that I craved reflex of life wish? Resperator is brittle belling? Swam from the ship somehow began the measured rise.". --Robert Hayden Om Shanti

Om Shanti "THE BLISS OF UNION WITH THE BELOVED The one I longed for has come home, The raging fire of separation is quenched; Now I rejoice with Him, I sing in bliss. The peacocks at the cloud's roar Dance with unbound joy; I rejoice in ecstasy At the sight of my Beloved. I am absorbed in His love; My misery of wandering In the world has ended. The lily bursts into bloom At the sight of the full moon; Seeing Him my heart blossoms in joy. Peace permeates this body of mine, His arrival has filled my home with bliss. That very Lord has become my own, Who is ever the redeemer of His devotees. Mira's heart, scorched by the blaze Of separation, Has become cool and refreshed; The pain of duality has vanished." --Mirabai -- "Mira - The Divine Lover," V. K. Sethi, RS Books Om

Om Shanti Dear Heart Shivaji, Yes, this does feel right and i am happy to have the clarification. When we view the mystial moments of our lives, we find, wonder, wonder, and more wonder. Wonder at the beauty and total and perfect synocopated Divine Wisdom. Please continue to explain more, this was enjoyed by your sister. Om Shanti

Om Shanti One with the Ocean I raised my eyes for just one look At Him, the bewitcher of all; His radiant beauty pierced my being, It lingers still within my heart. The moment I lifted the veil from my face, My tiny spark merged In the divine flame. What use in repenting, What avail brooding now When I have being caught in His love's snare? Mira's Beloved is almighty; The drop is now one With love's great ocean The Beloved Comes Home O friends, the Beloved has come home. He whom this separated one awaited, Whom day after day she longed to meet, The same loved one, O friends, has come. The word's rarest jewels I'll lay at His feet, I'll adore Him, adore Him, With all my heart and soul; I will even cherish the one Who first brought the news of His coming. My five friends have come together To sing auspicious songs of joy; They rejoice with me For my bliss of union- Bliss that I cannot contain Within the depths of my heart. I have become attached to Him The ocean of tenderness; My eyes remain spellbound By the charm of His love, And the courtyard of Mira's heart Is drenched with the shower of bliss. -- "Mira - The Divine Lover," V. K. Sethi, RS Books

Om Shanti... Dear Hearts and Devotee of Lord Krishna; Alas, i am very new here and know very little of this path and most of the knowledge and wisdom here is way over my head... But, when asking the question of Who is the Soul of Radha, there only seems to be one answer: "You"! After all if a Deovtee of the Precious Dark Lord, then what else can you be. Even in this light, i an also say, that the Beloved Radha's Soul is my own. Not to be a little out of my leage, here, but, i think when we define something too much, we lose the point. But, then, i may tend to use that "F" word to much, that is: Feelings! anyway, just my 5 rupies worth. yours in love,

Om Shanti **************************************** I am struck with longing to meet the Lord, To meet that dear One, and reach my true Home. Worldly entanglements and fear of slander, I'll give up in pursuit of true Knowledge. The door is unlocked, my soul shines bright, And longs for the mansion within the sky. A dazzling flame appears before me, Like a flash of lightening in days of rain. Mira yearns now to behold her dear Lord And sing His glory in blissful ecstasy. Mira Bai, "The Oxford Book of Prayer," Oxford University Press

Om Shanti ***************************************** I am thirsting for your love, my Beloved! I shall make this body a lamp, and my tender heart shall be its wick; I shall fill it with the scented oil of my young love and burn it night and day at Your shrine, O Beloved! For your love I shall sacrifice all the wealth of my youth; Your Name shall be the crown of my head. I am longing for You, O my Lord: for the season of the sowing has come; but You are not beside me. Clouds gather on my brows and my eyes shed heavy showers. My parents gave me to You, I have become Yours for ever; who but You can be my Lord? This separation troubles my breast, make me Your own; make me perfect like You, O Lord of Perfection. -- "Mira - The Divine Lover," V. K. Sethi, RS Books

Om Shanti... Mirabai's immortal poems to our Dark Lord are an inspiration for all devotees-no matter the Path! ****************************************** My heart is filled with joy; in an instant the dear one appeared before me. I met the beloved and through His grace the Lord revealed Himself to me. The Master joined me with the Shabd, my source, and I am absorbed in Its sweet Melody. Mira's Lord is ever loving and kind. The bliss of union has stilled her mind. The jewel of Naam I have found, a precious wealth have I obtained. A rare gift did my Master bestow; in His mercy he has made me his own. My original treasure I have regained, and am rid of all I had in the world. It can neither be stolen nor squandered. It keeps increasing from day to day. The boat of Truth I occupied, with the true Master at the helm. With ease I was ferried across the deadly ocean of the world. Mira in her joyful ecstasy sings the glory of her benign Lord. -- Mira Bai, "Mira Bai -- The Divine Lover," RS Books

Om Shanti... The first question to ask... 1. What and where do the seeds of racism develop? 2. Why is it important? 3. How does it relate to identity and personal power? Now, a thought, by the grace of the beloved i am multicultural and have seen race, nation, and a few other 'isms' from the vantage point of not truly belonging to any such group. yet, even with this perspective, the tentacles of maya-isms of many hues have been observed. From socialism, past hurts, failed expectations, limited vision and a host of issues in the growth process. One question to ask: From one aspect of our family life did the projection of "race-issues" get transferred? This is said, because when we truly ponder "isms' we oft find that the response is beyond the logic of the Mind-that emotional triggers are 'reacting' to some stimuli. This stimuli is often times not open to mental reprogramming -no matter how many work-shops, friends, or thought that an afflicted one may encourage. This suggest that the 'ism' marker was 'programmed' prior to cognitive thought, which, i believe, is prior to speech. If this is indeed correct, than, the memories are often established prior to rational thought and are therefore hard to address with rational thought to deprogram. Thus, the we may note the wisdom of the Masters in always reminding us to meditate. So, if many isms are derived before speech and thought, it may be suggested that most of our issues are related to that which was germinated in our vary families. That is, we may ponder, what aspect of our reaction to 'different' people have roots in our earliest experiences... After having been to scores of programs as both a committee member and facilitator for diversity workshops this has come to emerge as the best solution to such a pervasive problem for humanity. Instead of looking outward, it may be best to seek the inner domain of what ails us... Then, i believe, the true healing can begin. Om Shanti

Beloved Children of Light... We are blessed in the very thought that with One Guruji, we have All! Our Gurujis are not the body, nor the path...these are only the cups by which we partake of the Divine Amitabha... Maybe the great mystery is to learn that the jeweled cup, no matter how lovely, how golden, how pleasing, is only a cage of our own Mind which is indeed not the wine by which we become imbued. When we feel the Beloved, we feel the Light, not the tamas of this mortal clay. The life of a sadhaka, i belive, is to remember to forget memories. i said only 3 posts, and here, is one more! what a silly one to write about God. smile.

Om Shanti Dear Heart even that one sentence would be too long... maybe even the vibration of Om/AUm which is the creation of life [may is be so bold as to say life as Maya], would miss the mark. Life, depending on which life [or death], would be between the A..U..M- at least this is what the Sages say. What is between the vibration is truth...the sound, then, would be maya. So, what is the spritutal life? That which is not seen, not heard, and not done, perhaps? well dear, what do we say, in this case? Om Shanti

Om Shanti As we know, in Advaita, the Mind as a perception organ is that which creates duality or illusion as Maya. This is done via that which 'measures; our world into segments: Distance. Time. Specifics. Weight. Catergories. Comparisons. This. That. They. Them. Up. Down. Left. Right. North. South. In. Out...on and on. why so many of these aspects are listed above is so that the web's span of illusion may be noted. Often we may observe that: All that distinguishes. All that measures is from the mind. yet, we may also find, that in our discussions of the world beyond we use these markers to 'explain'. This paradox is interesting. Is this also one aspect of Maya or the Mystery of Truth? we know that anything that creates distance, a value, a starting place or ending point is the act of qualifying... is, in realtiy, the act of externalizing that is, of Separation. Yet, we proceed, caught, it seems, in a subtel zone of forgetfullness. Which translates as the concept of 'movement' or the experience 'distance' of some sort. Is this distance is the mind... In all of it's formost glory? How do we avoid measurements in with world of form, when engaged in activites that may compel us to look outside? The ideal that work is worship and that with the focal point of the mind centered on the Divine, it is said that we are In. But how, when this too is a mere thought? Are we not looking away from the Divine when engaged in thought? And would this not included japas, too? Yes, the mind's occupation with the vibratory aspect of 'sound' does allow the mind to become caught up within itself so that the light of divinity may shine. But, is this not also and excerise in of which we are engaged in segmentation? And, is not segmentation Maya? As sadhaks we are to examine that which is beyond words, beyond thought, beyond all that is a feature of what we call our life. And, is it no wonder that in this exploration many become lost into the folds of Maya's Univeresal gown. Om Shanti

Om Shanti... As introduction to this blessed community of Divine Light, here is a poem from me: The MOther's Womb ***** Like clustered pearls, scattered we lay Silently hoping for the day, when Midnight madness comes our way... A labor of birth to chart the way Away from oyster's tenuous claim of this body, of this name Snugly caught in velvet Wombs like silken pearls of rain we came drop by drop into Maya's pain nurtured by thoughts that ever bloom deeper and deeper, seeking this doom luminous pearls that lay hidden deep in a dream, fast asleep Yet, singing Om tat sat in whispered thoughts the sacred memory of infinite love and, it's loss The Divine Mother in labors of love from the shadows of darkness to the light above birthing Her children from pearls of "me" from the oyster to the sea no longer a prisoner of thoughts, you see to the freedom of form, of "me".. little clusters that dissolve to "We" into the waves of light, we see streaming from dreams, We creeping from land to fly free And in this flight we chant and sing a sacred song for dreaming pearls that lay for long, in sleepy songs secretly hoping in a dream one thought of freedom that will bring midnight madness no matter that pearly life will still unfurl Maya in a swollen womb in a barren oyster that like a tomb swells with life again and again in this world and out to bliss infinite and joyous deliverance liberation, away from sin away from darkness away from grief moments in pain brief joys and long refrains wasted in vain to the universe of loving light to the land of peace held tight to eternity in all it's might in the cosmic space of our Mother's love from dawn to twilight we will dance in infinite grace as luminous pearls of light in the deepest darkest night -shikha Om Shanti