DARSHAN

[Guest guest]

DARSHAN

 

Each one crowded in the large compound

Before the temple

Waits for the moment

That will alter his life.

Women, like flowers,

Spread on the floor of the temple,

And on the other side,

Men transform the darkness of body and soul Under

splendid white clothes.

 

When the doves have founds their sitting places On the

sparkling chandeliers, And the babies behind the saris

of their mothers Are fed into sleep, When the last

persons, Who are always late, Have found a seat near

the wall, Or have stolen or fought for one, Then He

will come. Then He must come.

 

The noise is dying, and

Silence can be heard,

Longing can be felt.

Tension is growing,

Touching each heart,

Suffocating each soul.

 

Will He see you?

You and your love for Him,

Your doubts, your jealousy,

Your envy, your pettiness,

Your beauty, your surrender,

Your divinity?

 

Will he look at you,

Smile at you,

Speak to you,

Invite you to His home?

 

Or will He behave

As if you were not present,

Not existing,

An intruder

Who disturbs the peace of the place?

 

As the wind passes through the field grain And makes

each stalk bow its head, So the heads of the crowd

move, And a whisper hangs in the air, He is coming!

 

Walking on feet, so young and chaste

As those of a virgin,

One who has never been touched,

He passes the gate

And moves toward some face.

Then waves of jealousy rise

And fall around the face,

Until He moves on,

Giving His attention to all,

Who sit there and wait for a look,

Wanting to see God,

Wanting to possess God,

Though He belongs to all.

 

And again He comes to a halt

And takes a letter,

And you are alone with Him.

God stands before you,

Summing up your life

Your time, your goal,

In one look.

 

And you feel only His love,

Greater than the law,

Permeating your being,

Uplifting your soul,

Filling your heart with ananda.

You'll never be the same again

That you've been.

 

And then He walks on

And you are full to the brim with love.

Remain sitting,

Being chosen,

Being blessed,

Being loved.

 

Heavy is the burden

On the shoulders of Him

Who crosses the crowd

On light feet

Day after day

Until the end of all days,

Choosing

Blessing,

Loving.

 

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Bliss has to be sought not through accumulation of

material wealth, but through sacrifice and promotion

of the welfare of one's fellowbeings. Thyaga

(sacrifice) is recommended by the Vedas as the only

path to immortality. Give in plenty, give gladly, and

with gratitude to God. Selfishness is the canker that

destroys charity. Though one is aware that a certain

act is wrong, selfishness does not allow him to

desist. But, this weakness can be overcome by steady

determination. Share with others the knowledge and

skills you have earned, the ideas and ideals you have

benefited by and the joy you have won by discipline

and dedication. Sharing will not diminish them or

devalue them. On the other hand, they will shine with

added splendour.