Songs Of The Soul 5f55o

THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES

Digitized by tine Internet Archive in

2014

https://archive.org/details/songsofsoulOOswam

SONGS OF THE SOUL By

SWAMI YOGANANDA,

A.B.

Of India

Founder of Ranchi and Pari Brahmacharya Residential Schools

in

India

Sal Sanga (Fellowship with Truth) Boston ,

Sat Sanga

Summer

Vice-President:

School,

Waltham

SADHU SABHA,

India

Delegate from India to International Congress of Religions

Boston, 1920

Author of "Science of Religion,"

30

etc.

PUBLISHED BY SAT SANGA HUNTINGTON AVENUE, BOSTON 1923

CopyrigMcd, 1923, by

Swami Yogananda,

Boston. Mass.

Everett Printing Service, Boston

CONTENTS PART

I

7 8 10

Consecration

Soul Is Marching They Are Thine

On

Thou in Me Thy Call One That 's Everywhere

11

12 14 15 16 18 19

Whispers

In Me Too Near Evasion

Thy Cruel Silence Am Here Where I Am One Friend

20 21

/

23 25 26 27 28 30 32 33 34 35

Flower Offering The Tattered Dress Thy Secret Throne Methought I Heard a Voice

A

Milk-White Sail The Harvest The Splinters of Thy Love For Thee and Thine

PART Wake, Wake,

My Sleeping

II

Hunger, Wake

Eternity

39 41

Vanishing Bubbles

42

513893 UB

SETS

.

.

CONTENTS 44 47 48 49

Variety

The Blood

of

Rose

At the Roots of Eternity Undying Beauty

New

The Noble

51

Protecting Thorns Tattered Garment

In

52 53 54 56

Dark

Stillness

Nature's Nature

My Om

Kinsmen

61

64 66 68 70 72 74 76 77 79

Mystery Silence It's All

At

the

Unknown

Fountain of Song

The Ever- New The Ever-Trodden Path The Human Mind The Cup of Eternity A Mirror New The Spell

PART

My

Native

Land

On Coming

to the

The

Toiler's

City

Drum

81

82 III

New-Old Land

Lay

of

America

85 87 89 91

PART IV Foreword Vision of Visions

95 97

PART

I

—

—

CONSECRATION At Thy All

my

come to shower heart's rhyming flower,

feet full

I

Thy breath born. By Thy love grown. Of

With

my

lonely seeking found.

By hands Thou gavest picked and bound; For Thee the sheaves Within these leaves: Of my life's season The choicest flowers, With petals soulful spread. Their humble perfume shed;

Hands

folded

What's Thine

now

I

come

—receive!

[7]

to give

—

— ——— — SONGS OF THE SOUL

SOUL

IS

MARCHING ON

The shining stars are sunk in darkness, The weary sun is dead at night, The moon's soft smile doth fade anon, But still my soul is marching on.

The

grinding wheel of

many And many Full

But

still

a

life

Time has crushed

moon and

of

stars

a brightly smiling morn; my soul is marching on.

The flowers bloomed, then hid in gloom. The bounty of the trees did cease. Colossal men have come and gone; But

still

my

soul

is

marching on.

The aeons one by one are flying, The arrows one by one are lost. Dimly, slowly

But

still

my

life is

soul

is

fading,

marching on.

[8]

— — SONGS OF THE SOUL

Darkness, death, and failures vied, block my path they fiercely tried; fight with jealous Nature's strong;

To

My

But

still

my

soul

is

marching on.

[9]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

THEY ARE THINE I have nothing to offer Thee, For all things are Thine; I

grieve not that

I

can not give,

For nothing is mine, for nothing Here I lay at Thy feet

My

limbs,

my

life,

my

For they are Thine,

for

is

mine:

thoughts and speech. they are Thine.

[10]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

THOU When Thou

I

smile

dost smile through me;

When I cry In me Thou dost When I wake Thou

When Thou Thou Thou

ME

IN

weep,

greetest me. I

walk

art with

me.

dost smile and weep, dost wake and walk Like me; my Likeness Thou:

But when

dream, Thou art awake;

When Thou

When Thou

I

I

stumble.

art sure; I

die

art

my

life.

[

11

]

— ——— SONGS OF THE SOUL

THY CALL When

lost

roam

I

hear Thy call to home In whistling breeze I

Or

rustling leaves of trees.

When drunk

in folly

wander gaily the sandy shore, Who wakes me with a sudden roar? I

By

When

clouds do spread •& veil precious joy to steal, Who tears the sheet away To burst in redd'ning ray?

My

When

dark night blinds,

And my movements

Who

shows

binds,

my

path and th' dark beguiles With mildly mocking moonlit smiles?

[12]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

The million starry stares. The waking sunny glares, The river's ever-murmuring

Thy

air

sure and silent call declare.

[13]

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

ONE THAT'S EVERYWHERE The tree sighs. The wind plays, The sun smiles. The river moves; Feigning dread the sky

At the creeping

is

blushing red

sun's gentle tread.

The

earth changes robes black and star-lit night Of For dazzling silver light. Dame Nature loves herself t' array In changing seasons' colors gay;

The murmuring brook

e'er tries to tell

In lisping sounds so well Of the hidden thought By inner spirit brought.

The

birds aspire to sing

Of things unknown that swell within.

But man first speaks in language true Both loud and clear, with meaning new. Of what all else before

Had

failed to full declare:

Of One That's everywhere.

[14]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

WHISPERS Leaves do

sigh,

They can not speak Of One That 's high. The birds do scream, They can not sing What in their bosom The beasts do howl

springs.

In sadness foul,

They can never say As doth Since

I

as nigh

in their feelings

lie.

can sing or say or cry

mighty try To pour out whispers Thine, one and each That to heart doth softly reach. I

will

—

[

15]

—

—

—

SONGS OF THE SOUL

IN Hello,

ME

Yonder Tree!

Thou

dost breathe in me, in me; Fast-footed River! Thy shining meandering quiver Declares itself Through myself; Thou dost shine through me, in me.

Huge Himalaya With snowy sovereign white regalia! In my mind doth rest thy throne

Thy home In me, in me. Ocean! endless to the eye In boundless stretches thou dost But to me thou art small: A tiny drop upon a ball, Thou art in me, in me. Endless Sky!

O

So vast to eye, In some brighter age or day

When

I'll

cast

my

cares

[

away 16]

lie;

SONGS OF THE SOUL

On thee will sail my better boat, On to thy shore To find, I'm sure, Thy border land in me. O Distant Heav'ns! O Secret One and Angels Seven!

—

In my sphere you all In me, in me, in me!

I see.

[17]

bright and gay,

—— SONGS OF THE SOUL

TOO NEAR I

stood in silence

To worship Thee In the temple large

With blue etheric dome, Lighted by the spangling

stars.

Shining with the lustrous moon. Tapestried with the golden clouds, reigns no dogma loud. prayed and waited For Thee to come. I cried, Thou didst not come. I will wait no more,

Where I

Nor send my

feeble prayer Footsteps Thine to hear, They are not heard without. In me Thou art, too near.

—

[18]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

EVASION When

do almost see Thee Thou dost suddenly vanish; When Thou art almost trapped in I

find

When

I

me

Thee gone.

think I have seized Thee Thou dost most escape. How long this hide and seek, and play? I am weary with the toil of the day; Still I may brook this evasion Thine If 'tis for a tiny flash of time, That in the end I may see Thy face with doubled joy and mind more I

[19]

free.

——

—

SONGS OF THE SOUL

THY CRUEL SILENCE prayed to Thee But Thou wert mute, At Thy door I knocked, I

Thou answered'st I

gave

To

my

soft'n

not,

tears

Thy

heart;

In cruel silence Didst Thou watch.

But now The way

I

learn

to earn

Attention Thine: I'll weep and pray Unceasingly In cruel silence Till time is old. And earth grows cold, Till life doth fail,

body fall; Then if Thou speak'st Till

And

dost wish

Still I will

me

peace;

pray and weep

In cruel silence deep.

[20]

— — —— SONGS OF THE SOUL

I

I

AM HERE

roamed alone by ocean's shore

And watched

:

the wrestling, brawling waves did

roar

Thy own restless Life. Thy angry mood and ripply quiver. Thy wrathful vastness made me shiver;

Alive with

turned away from heated strife. A kindly waving tree Caught my roving eye so free To comfort me with gentler look sublime That I did feel was Thine. I saw the gaugeless mystic sky, And down its valley dark I ran to pry At Thee, and play with Thee I

;

I

failed to find

Thy

hiding Body,

Yet I felt everywhere That Thou wert always near, Playing at hide and seek with me, Receding when I almost touched Thee As to find Thee I groped blindfold In ignorant darkness old. [continued]

[21

1

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

my

search in dim despair; Thou Royal, Sly Eluder! In haste I hied away from Thee And I retired within me: I left

When

lo! some Unseen Hand Did quickly snatch away the all-black band That did my eyes enfold That were so numb and cold.

And

in troth

I felt

quite keen:

Someone beside me stood unseen to me, cool and clear,

And whispered

"Hello, playmate,

I

am

[22]

here!"

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

WHERE

AM

I

Not the lordly domes on high With tall heads daring clouds and sky, Nor alabaster shining floors, Nor the rich organ's awesome roar, Nor rainbowed windows' beauty quaint With colossal chronicles told in paint, Nor torch nor incense' curling soar. Nor gay-dressed children of the choir, Nor well-planned sermon. Nor loud-tongued prayer Can call Me there. The richly carven door, Through which all pomp and pride pour, deign not through to go; But still I come Incognito. The stony, polished altar Or narrow builded sermon seat Too narrow seems to hold I

My large, A

large

Body

for retreat.

humble magnet-call.

]23]

——

:

SONGS OF THE SOUL

A whisper On

by the broo k grassy altar small

There I have my nook: A crumbling temple shrine,

A little

place unseen,

Unwatched, unhedged, Is where I humbly rest and lean

A sacred

heart

Tear washed and true Doth draw me with its rue. I take no bribe Of strength or wealth Of caste or church or scribe. Of fame or faith or festive breath. But wail for truth;

And

e'er the

And

My

broken distant heart Doth draw Me e'en to heathen lands. help in silence

[24]

I

impart.

—— SONGS OF THE SOUL

ONE FRIEND Many

clouds do race to hide Thee Of friends and wealth and fame And yet through mist of tears I see Appear Thy Golden Name. Each time my father, mother, friends Do loudly claim they did me tend, I wake from sleep to sweetly hear

That Thou alone

didst help

[25]

me

here.

—

—

—

—

—

SONGS OF THE SOUL

FLOWER OFFERING A

goblet of

my

folly-blood

beneath Thy Petal Feet, 0, Lotus Sweet! I've stood with tears seeking Thine angry thirst to quench, With sandal sweet, with motely cosIs

humbly

set

tumed flowers. With devotion's perfume from

my

heart

constancy

my

soul

Unheard

my

of heart.

With

myrrh

of

imparts worship Thee.

To And

naught

pray, But with sleepless care I '11 lay my flower there. for

I

[26]

is

lay,

— — SONGS OF THE SOUL

THE TATTERED DRESS I

see

Thy Magic Hands

of

Death

Snatch away in stealth

And change

the tattered dress. Which fondly men caress With blind attachment.

Into soul-sheen habiliment,

This newly given robe That shines with all the beauties of

[27]

Thy

globe.

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

THY SECRET THRONE Behind the screen Of all things seen

How

dost

Thou

hide,

Elude the tide Of marching human eyes,

That 'round Thee rushing

hies?

'Twill not be long

Ere

will

be known

Thy hiding place By children with Thine Sage science

Each atom

eyes and grace. ^

splits

knit

By Thee, to find apace Thy hiding place. Is heart of

Thy

atom,

—electron,

secret throne?

Deep we bore

To

find

Thy

Of doings

art,

and

lore

sublime; E'er hidden betimes. all

[28]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

Yet Thy abode Seems far remote; 'Tis still to fmd With deeper mind.

[29]

—

:

SONGS OF THE SOUL

METHOUGHT

I

HEARD A VOICE

Singing by the rill voice doth thrill With echoes of my thought By fancies brought.

My

I

wandered

On

in

my

faerie fields

play

away;

stopped to muse, rejoice; Methought I heard a voice! I

The

flowers of that field

Of wondrous With essence

hues,

—perfumed — did yield

of the heart

Delicious joys undreamed.

Behind the thin bright Of scented feelings I saw some fitful flash

Some

veil

Glistening Presence rush.

[30]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

I

tiptoe stood,

Listening, watching; I

poured

my

heart,

Listening, watching.

[31

]

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

A MILK-WHITE SAIL A

milk white, tiny

Skims

fast across

sail

my

sea; I wail

The threatening storms to see; But my bark glides free toward the So near the shore

And

safe

from the angry

[32

roar.

lee,

SONGS OF THE SOUL

THE HARVEST Drawn by

joy sublime I watch each harvest time, When the sky glows red with ripe sunbeams; Oh, ne'er before had I found Thy ploughing teams. The oriole's painted, glowing breast is shown, Painter, ne'er is known. Yet Thy brush, The north star timely leaps. And its nocturnal watch unfailing keeps; The sun and seasons Thy house supervise. Master, seemest not to rise! Yet Thou,

[33

]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

THE SPLINTERS OF THY LOVE The

Thy love many a heart: fragments of Thy love,

splinters of

Lie strewn in

The

little

Descended from I

To I

far above,

find spread here seize all

and

there,

and with care

and charm'd

I

collect.

feel as I reflect

That

have certes seen somewhere Thy whole unbroken love that's everywhere; And with devotion strong I weld my varied collection Of tiny bits of parental, friendly love in one To match it with Thy own. I

[34]

start

—

—

—

SONGS OF THE SOUL

FOR THEE AND THINE I

love to seek

What's mine. I

think,

I

work with

To

I

act tact

gain what's mine.

by th' river In joyous quiver To soothe this mind of mine. I smell the flowers To cheer the hours, I love to have what's mine. I

sunshine To warm this flesh of mine. I drink the fresh and flowing I

sip the gold

For I

me

I lift

my

air,

prayer,

try to rake

The world

to take

All things for

me and

mine. [continued]

[35]

—

——

SONGS OF THE SOUL

Those dark days are gone,

The

old time 's flown, So lived for me and mine; In new-born light I see what's right, To live for Thee and Thine.

[36]

PART

II

I.

——— —

WAKE, WAKE

MY

SLEEPING HUNGER,

WAKE! When

tables large of earth and moon and meteors, Of brooks and rills, of shining ether ore Are laid with wondrous One Nectar, Stolen from nature's nooks by lars, Do thou thy sullen sleep forsake; Wake, wake my sleeping Hunger, wake!

Through diverse paths of aeons thou hast cried, For a morsel of manna begged and tried; But now thou sleepest, dazed and tired, on leer Undried lie drops of fresh-wept tears While nectar touches thy lips, partake, Wake, wake my sleeping Hunger, wake!

—

This unquenched hunger old of mine Did eat all food and yet did pine, Was starved with surfeit and it sought How might its yearn'd-for food be got. [continued]

[39]

—

—— —

SONGS OF THE SOUL

The food

for

take!— Wake, wake

which thou wept'st awaits,

my

—par-

sleeping Hunger, wake!

Friends and wealth and fancy's rarest treat, Posthumous wishes sprung from deathless roots so sweet Did fail to feed thy heart's true crave And burned with thousand flaming waves The nectar sought for seeks thee now; par-

—

take,

Wake, wake

My

my

sleeping Hunger, wake!

hunger burned and wept to drink

The mysteries by

life's

bare brink,

Ambrosial fount that sleep beneath The mystery caves on soil of truth: Weep more drops, nay streams oceans of tears, Thy duty is for peace to weep; thy only care To seek thy work; and all thy food Be what doth nourish thy mood; Thy work is done, thy nectar's here, Quench, quench the eternal ache! Wake, wake my sleeping Hunger, wake!

—

[40]

—

SONGS OF THE SOUL

ETERNITY Oh,

will that

When

I

day arrive

shall ceaselessly ask,

and drive

Eternal questions Into Thine ear, Eternity, and await solution As to how weak weeds do grow and stand unbent, Unshak'n beneath the trampling current; How the storm did wreck titanic things, rooted trees.

And

quick disturbed the mighty seas; the first spark blinked, and the first tree, The first goldfish, the first blue bird so free And the first crooning baby In this wonder house made their visit and entry. They come, I see; Their growth alone I watch;

How

Thy Cosmic Moulding Hand That I

secret

wish to

works on land and seas

seize,

Eternity!

[41

]

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

VANISHING BUBBLES Many unknown bubbles float and Many ripples dance by me And I

melt away in

like to

flow,

sea.

know, ah, whence they come or whither

go— The

and

rain drops

dies,

My

thoughts play wild and vanish quick, red clouds melt in skies; stake my purse or slave all life their motive

The I

still

to seek.

Some friends, though not their love. Some dearest thoughts I ne'er would And last night's surest stars, seen just All, all are fled.

The crowds

of

lilies,

the linnet.

Perfumed blossoms, honey-mad bees. Did meet on yonder bowered trees;

Now

the lonesome field alone

[42]

is left.

lose, I said.

above,

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

The bubbles, lilies, friends, dramatic thoughts They all their part did play and entertain. And now beneath the grassy screen, to change their displayed coats.

They

quiet, concealed remain.

[43]

—

!

SONGS OF THE SOUL

VARIETY sought for twins could not find; I search my mind. No twins have seen. I

I

They seem

alike,

Man and man, beast and brute. Yet no faces two are like; Ne'er the same song sang the lute. Ne'er two hearts are same. I bow to each new form and Variety complete. Through forms infinite.

name

wish that I were you and he. And all at once what I would be; Oh, could I wear at will all terrene minds. Like robes of newer kinds I

[44]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

Then would

I

flash forth varied smiles,

Or languorous walk in sorrow robed, Or charm with sparkling wiles

And

time beguile;

Or march with martial songs.

To

right

all

wordly wrongs;

Or wear a powerful prophet mind

And

into dust earth's sorrows grind;

Or wear the youthful hermit's heart, To scatter love and strength impart. I'd

wear each heart

And don each will and smiles and spend my To try all noble minds and thoughts And take what suits myself.

pelf

With brain-born nixes. With marsh-marauding hopes and pixies. With every elfm thought that timid trod on mind I'd friendship find.

[45]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

To

soul of the

New

in things

My spirit homage sings. I

would not

taste the

same

nectar,

Nor

twice drink from th' Immortals'

Thy

presence,

Show Thou

Eternity,

in endless variety;

Yet change not me, Though various my costumes

[46]

be.

SONGS OF THE SOUL

THE BLOOD OF ROSE I

tore the rose,

I

bled

its

Its petals

And Yet

I

slender stem,

quivered

shivered;

dared to rob its smell! My heart did break and tell, "Thy hands are soiled," and mute I stood, Thus self-condemned and stained with rose's blood. But I know now, I

I

love the rose its wealth, and vow love to desecrate or lose.

More than Ne'er

its

[47]

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

AT THE ROOTS OF ETERNITY With sailing clouds and plunging breeze. With swaying trees and youthful, stormy With whirling planets I wildly play In some absorbing way But not alway; At close of day

Hay

My To

eager hands at the roots of Eternity seize and own its nectar free.

[48]

seas.

— — —

—

SONGS OF THE SOUL

UNDYING BEAUTY They

And

did their best they are blest, sap, the shoots,

The The little leaves and The benign breath, The touch of light, All

worked

in

roots;

amity

To grow the rose's beauty. Watch its splendor, undying grandeur, The Infinite Face That peeps through its Its

Watch not

little

case;

in grief

Its falling petals or its brief

Sojourn here;

For its career Done, its duty ends;

Toward the Immortals' home The sap dried. The summer petals fled.

[49]

it

tends.

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

body

Its

Yet

its

pines;

death

's

divine;

Through death and spurns Its deathless glory won: The rose is dead, Its

beauty

lives instead.

[50]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

THE NOBLE NEW Sing songs that none have sung, Think thoughts that in brain have never rung, Walk in paths that none have trod, Weep tears as none have shed for Lord, Love all with love that none have felt, and brave The battle of life with strength unchained, Give peace to all to whom none other gave, Claim him your own who is e'er disclaimed.

[51

1

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

PROTECTING THORNS The charm

of the blushing rose

Hides its stinging thorns beneath; Yet without the wounds from those Thou could 'st not snatch its wealth with stealth, The rose with thorns unstained with blood, The rose that sprang from earthly sod. In her defense the thorns do sting. To keep thee out by thorny ring; Yet the perfumed petals' show

Thy drowsing If

soul doth

wake and draw:

thou dost love the beauty alone would'st thou rush to bleed from prickly

Why

thorns?

[52]

—

!

SONGS OF THE SOUL

TATTERED GARMENT Oh, sing no plaintive lay

When Nor

at last

let

ashes

Oh, blow

my

my

earthly raiment dies,

thy tears where it lies; tattered garment's dust away tell

The dust clean washed, The hidden gold beneath will show Itself anew all bright and brushed,

And

shine somewhere aglow,

And

wait with luring lustre

For some home-lorn soul To show the path with lightening glimmer From darkness on to goal.

[53]

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

IN STILLNESS

DARK

Hark! In stillness dark, noisy dreams have slept,

When

The house

is

And busy

life

gone to

rest,

Doth cease from strife, The soul in pity soft doth kiss The truant flesh to soothe, and speak With mind-transcending grace Its soundless voice of peace.

Through transient

fissures

In walls of sleep

Take thou a gentle peep; Nor droop, nor stare, But watch with care The sacred glare, Ablaze and

clear.

[54]

deep

SONGS OF THE SOUL

In golden glee Flash past thee So nigh. Ashamed, Apollo droops in dread To see that lustre spread Through boundless reach of sky.

55

]

— !

SONGS OF THE SOUL

NATURE'S NATURE Away, ye muses,

Away Away

all away, with songs of finch and fay, the jaundiced sight

That conflagrates the

To

firefly's light

bonfire,

That sets ablaze at once Your musing's burning lamps; That ornaments with rhymes

The penury-stricken looks betimes; That over-clothes the Logic lord With fancy-swollen words. Away, the partial love That 'boldens nature to sit above Her Maker This day I fasten eye-lid doors. With absence wax my ears. With langour all congeal my tongue,

my That

tears. I

myself

may

pore

[56]

my

touch,

SONGS OF THE SOUL

Upon

the things behind, ahead Of the darkness 'round me spread. I lock Dame Nature out

With all her fickle Somewhere here

rout:

In the darkness drear I myself with cheer course will steer In the path E'er sought by all: Its magnet-call

My

I

hear.

Not

here, not here Apollo would his burning chariot steer; Nor Dian dares to peep Into the sacred silence deep.

Not here, not here The mounts nor rebel waves, nor far or near. Can make me full of fear, nor evermore Their dreadful grandeur adore. [continued]

[57]

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

Not here, not here The soft capricious wiles of flowers, Nor swarming storm clouds' sweeping Nor doomsday's thunder drear

terror,

Dismantling earth and stars. The cosmic beauties all to mar; Dishevelling of trees

And light-haired skies, Nor nature's murderous mutiny Nor man's all-powerful Can touch me here. Not here, not here Through mind's strong

destiny

iron bars gods nor goblins, no men nor nature Without my dare enter. I look behind, ahead. And on naught but darkness tread. In wrath I strike, and set it ablaze With the immortal spark of thought. By the friction process brought

No

[58]

—

—

SONGS OF THE SOUL

Of concentration

And

distraction;

The darkness burns With a million tongues, And now I spy All past,

I

all

distant things as nigh.

smile serene

As

I

expose to gaze

In wisdom's brilliant blaze charms of the Hidden Home Unseen:

All

The Home of Nature's birth, The planets' moulding hearth. The factory whence all forms or fairies The bards, colossal minds and hearts, The gods and all.

And

all,

and

start,

all!

Away, Away With all the lightsome

lays;

I '11 now portray In humble way,

Oh,

[continued]

[59]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

And

try to lisp half-truths

Of wordless charms of Thee Unseen her nature owes, and sheen.

To whom Nature

[60]

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

MY KINSMEN In spacious hall of trance I spied Aglow with million dazzling lights, Tapestried with the snowy cloud kinsmen all, lowly, proud;

—

My

The banquet great with music rolls, The drum of Om* in measure falls, The hosts, in many ways arrayed, Some plain, some gorgeous dress displayed. Around the various tables large Of earth and moon and sun and stars. The countless mute, and noisy guests Observed

Dame

Nature's feast with

zest.

The tiny-eyed and shiny sands. Thirsty, drank of ocean's life: I

well

For a * Cosmic

once sip of sea,

I brawled with kinsmen sands.

vibration.

[61

]

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

know those

Yes,

I

Who

rocked

When

I

me on

a tiny

Did chafe

old

dame

rocks

their stony laps

baby

tree

to run with

winds so

free.

The green-attired friends I know, With rose and lily buds aglow; once adorned a kingly breast. Lost life, returned to mother dust. I

I

know

the ruby redbreast dear. blood in it once flowed so clear; smiled in diamonds, gleaming bright, danced in Roentgen rays of light.

My I I

A

ray of friendship from my heart In diamond and ruby joy did start. The bright ones smiled, the ruby wept

To meet The The

their long-lost friend at last.

soul of gold in yellow gown. soul of silver whitely shone,

Bestowed on me maternal smiles That told they knew me long erewhile. [62]

— !

SONGS OF THE SOUL

The lark, the cuckoo, the pheasant The deer, the lamb, the lion great. The shark and monsters of the sea In love and peace

all

The

arms outspread,

leafy fingers,

Caressed

And

fed

sweet,

greeted me.

me when a tiny bird, me with ambrosial fruit

That drew

its life

from immortal

root.

When atoms and the star-dust sprang, When Vedas, Bible, Koran sang, I

ed each choir; their long-past thrilling songs echo in my soul in accents strong.

Still

[63]

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

OM Whence, Oh,

this soundless roar doth come drowseth matter's dreary drum? The booming Om* on bliss' shore breaks; All heaven, all earth, all body shakes.

When

Cords bound to

flesh are

broken

all,

Vibrations vile do fly and fall; The hustling heart, the boasting breath No more disturb the yogi's health.

The house

is

Dim, shiny

lulled in darkness soft,

is seen aloft, Subconscious dreams have gone to bed. 'Tis then that one doth hear Om's tread.

light

The bumble bee doth hum along, Baby Om, hark! sings his song; Krishna's flute is sounding sweet, 'Tis time the watery God to meet.

*

Cosmic vibration.

[64]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

God of fire is now singing, Om, Om his harp is ringing; God of pranaf is now sounding, Wondrous bell of soul resounding.

— —

Upward climb

the living tree, J the sound of ethereal sea;

Hear Marching mind doth homeward hie To the Christmas Symphony. Vibration of t Spinal cord

t

life

energy.

[65]

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

MYSTERY Burst, inky cloud, do burst. Fling open thy fathomless gloom!

Thy dark chamber must

In

A

million mysteries loom.

Heartless, staring sky!

Make

quick reply To aching query of my straining eye. Show what thou hidest and why; The ceaseless surging thoughts Go mocking, dancing by, I deign to know their lot.

Someone did throw me

To

battle

all

Rudderless I drift. Stranded on shoals

my

ril burst the clouds, I'll

rip the

free

alone in this rough sea.

boat couldn't

I'll

sky in twain,

[66]

shift.

clean the shoals,

—

—

!

SONGS OF THE SOUL

I'll

break

my

heart,

With question crush I'll ask and pray,

my

brain

Will beg or steal

To find the friends To know their woe

long stolen away. or weal.

This wondrous day. Stage set for play

By Unseen Hand, The

players drop

From no-man's land, Then vanish away or

stop

With changing scenes of birth and death. The drama's on The actors play anon Yet know not why they play This glorious day

[67]

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

SILENCE The

earth, the planets play

In and through the sun-born rays In majesty profound.

Umpire Time In silence sublime

Doth watch This cosmic match.

The Author of the great game Assumes no spoken name; With boundless poise

He

doth His will without a noise. Ungrateful moods ignoring, Unkindness all forgiving.

Truth

clearly speaks to

all,

But speaks not loud; They hear its call

Who

noises enthrall.

[68]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

The voice in threatening silence speaks To those who error's path do seek. The tiger may be tamed, Failures' talons can be

maimed.

All friends forsaking reason's

way

be

gained,

Unruly nature trained

By powerful If in

silence o'

unspoken words,

Truth maintained.

[691

—— SONGS OF THE SOUL

IT'S

ALL

UNKNOWN

Each rose-bud dawning day, In hourly opening petal-rays Doth fair display Its hidden beauty.

The

petal-hours, unfolding smile,

My

drooping, lagging heart beguile. spreads its petals all Of novel hopes and joys withal. The rose-buds' there,

Day

"Today"

is

here;

In time the rose-bud blooms,

While lazy day often glooms. Forsake thy sleep O, Lazy Day, Open Thou with thy full-bloom ray To chase my gathered gloom away!

The rose-bud opened. The day now smiled In fullness fine;

[70]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

Still I

opine

'Tis all

Just

And

unknown

why the rose was blown, the day was drowned in night Then raised again to light Of glorious dawn, marching o'er the lawn!

So swiftly

[71

]

—— SONGS OF THE SOUL

AT THE FOUNTAIN OF SONG Dig, dig, yet deeper dig In the stony earth for fount of song Dig, dig, yet deeper dig

In

soil of

muse's heart along.

Some sparkle is seen. Some bubble is heard: 'T

is

then unseen,

The bubble

is

dead.

The watery sheen Again doth show; Dig, dig, still deeper e'en the bubble song again would grow.

Till

I

hear the song,

I see its body bright, Yet cannot touch I long To seize it now and drink

—

[72]

its

liquid light.

—

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

Bleed, O my Soul, do amply bleed To dig yet deeper, dig!

—

I I

—

touch the holy fount, drink its bubble voice

My throat's

rejoice;

ablaze,

I want to drink and drink always; The sphere's aflame

With So

my

thirst as

dig, dig,

Though

it

I

came:

yet deeper dig

seems thou canst not

dig!

thought with heart aglow All, all, I had drunk this day. And idly looked for more, deep, deep, I

below,

But

lo!

undrunk, untouched.

There the fountain

lay.

[73]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

THE EVER NEW Newer

joys adorn the day, Brighter burn through livelong night The stars with purer light, Brighter thoughts do brace my voice.

Newer words await my choice, With heart of th' new I '11 sing my lay. Wings of thoughts would ceaseless beat The sky of time, and race to meet

Thy

distant throne

That somewhere

is

alone.

Each and every day choir some song Not with thoughts the same but a changing throng

Men

Of newer ones that make Thy greater

The bubbling joy Of each

little

boy.

Each brew of friendship still I steal, and with them fill

[74]

lay.

SONGS OF THE SOUL

Mine cup of aged heart With ceaseless thrills to start. Morrow each and each today With newer love I will sing my The voices same do sing the lay

lay.

In temple church and fane: But I deign ne'er to hear The strains all stained with age-old tear; fountain flows anew today, With newer tears will flow my lay. In the same old church

My

newly sing and search, In the same old sermon For unending truths and newer reason; In the same old organ will I seek The newer hopes of new-born week. I'll

Every day, oh, every day bell will ring a new Sunday, And bathed in Thy beaming ray With newer thoughts I'll sing my

The

[75]

lay.

—— SONGS OF THE SOUL

THE EVER-TRODDEN PATH This ever-trodden path

Where

travelers

all

of earth

Do walk in joyous haste Or slothful sorrow's state I walk and wonder, In truth or blunder.

The path is cleft To right and left. In front, behind The diverse ways' ;

I find,

Rewildered

am

As

mazes do they

baffling

I

lie;

they say There's a royal way For all the right, the error-wed,— 'Tis the sub-way path of ruby Which far beneath lies hid For eager eyes to lead Straight on the feet To where all paths do meet. Still,

—

[76]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

THE HUMAN MIND I love to roam alone, unseen, In cities of the human mind, Untrodden by the crooked thoughts Vile-born, unkind.

—

wish to wander, my thoughts surrender With simple wish to know and learn The straight nice paths and danger turns. Incognito

To

I

living lanes

wish to roam in mazy lanes Of dark and brighter thoughts. I

With love to all and harm to none. With better message fraught. broaden narrow lanes crooked thoughts

I'd love to

Of

selfish

With That

my I

love's true-building brain

've within

me

got.

[77]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

I

long to soar so high

That I at once may spy The narrow alleys, broader roads Of human thoughtful moods.

[78]

— — SONGS OF THE SOUL

THE CUP OF ETERNITY The

traveler of the endless track

All weary, thirsty, sore doth seek

To quench the quenchless mortal The wordless worry of his heart.

He He He On

spies a

cup

—a

thirst.

little orb.

drink with joyful sob. stands aback, the cup sets down, the contents scant his heart did frown. tries to

Yet up he lifts the cup again, But fears his baneful thirst to flame. When, hark! a voice of counsel deep Forbids him this to soil with lip.

The cup so small to mortal eye, The cup whose depth the wise can spy Dries up, alas! if mortals drink; Perennial fount, the soulful think.

[79]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

Now, in the little cup he'll see The unsounded deep of eternity; For ageless hours and endless days The ambrosial drink he'll taste and

praise.

The deathly

thirst so fleshly born Ne'er shall parch his soul again; The cup he'll drink, but not the bane.

To quench his thirst, and bliss attain. And vain would mighty north winds try Comion's gathered tears to dry.

[80

1

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

A MIRROR

NEW

bring to you A mirror new A glass of introspection clear, That illusions shows and sooty fear That spots thy mind. I

Thou

wilt

fmd

This mirror new

Would also show all The "Inner You,"

true

That's veiled in flesh And doth ne'er appear. Each night consult afresh Thy mirror friend and clear away The dust that gathers each day.

[81]

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

THE SPELL Ah, this

old, old

nectar of night

Brewed below by Sun God

bright!

Let every little fleshly cell That's tired and thirsty drink it well. By soothing spell of sleep eject All aches that heart and brain infect! The spell quick marching on

me now

Fails

on

And

robs

my

so

warm,

mind

Of hnked thoughts, to bind prisoner in its charm.

Me

[82]

PART

III

—— SONGS OF THE SOUL

MY

NATIVE LAND

The

friendly sky, Inviting shades of banian tree.

The holy Ganges

How I

can

I

flowing by,

forget thee!

love the waving corn

Of India's fields so bright. Oh, better than those Heav'nly grown By deathless gods of might.

My soul's Was

broad love so grand born here first below,

In

my own

On

India's

I

native land.

sunny

soil

aglow

love thy breeze,

I

love thy

I

love thy

In thee

I

moon, hills and

seas,

wish to cease, or swoon. [continued]

[85]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

Thou

Thy So

taught'st

me

first

sky, the stars, the

my

first

to love

God above;

homage meets,

India, at thy feet!

From thee I now have learn' d to see. To love all lands alike as thee; 1 bow to thee, my native land. The Mother of my love so grand.

[86]

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

ON COMING TO THE NEW- OLD LANDAMERICA Sleeping memories

Of friends once more to be Did greet me sailing o'er the Sensing my coming

—

sea,

The Pilgrim Land to adore. The distant sleeping shore Lay in the twinkling night,

Dim

through the vanished light, breeze wafted strong Strange thoughts

The

•

That my brain did throng, Hopes sweet and richly wrought.

The raven-winged gloom did perch On the portals of my mind and search

My

my

strength to awe; Yet crowds with joy oh, then,

soul,

I

saw

[continued]

[87]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

Of phantom

Now

come

friends,

to lend

Their cheer, And end my

fear!

[88]

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

THE TOILER'S LAY From school of life, From bossy duty's binding From hours of dollar-strife I

wish

I

day,

were a run-away!

From

chasing worry hound I'll fly one day, From crowds and throngs around I wish I were a run-away!

From greedy That

From I

food

steals its

wish

way,

luring dainties' tempting I

mood

were a run-away!

From homely cups and chairs and couch The call of grassy-bed today

My I

heart doth snatch;

wish

I

were a run-away! [continued]

[89

]

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

From

nature's given cup, hollow hands, I'll drink At the streamlet's bounteous brink;

My

With

finger forks

I'll

eat the

meat

Of fresh plucked fruits from trees, my seat All snug beneath the shady trees, Enliv'n'd by birds and bumble bees. Fanned by mothering air, From warmth and tear I'll bathe my weary mind In

new-made joyous day:

Away I

dish-washing, cups and saucers, For just a day wish I were a run-away!

[90]

all

away!

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

CITY

DRUM

'Tis

morn

The

rolling wheels are

on

Of a marching world So strong. I

love to be roused

From

By

a silent sleep the early hum

Of the active city drum.

The drum To loudly

beats greet

All those heroes true

That would

To meet

die or do,

the morning's foe

Of worry or of woe

With

And

a dauntless smile. thus success beguile [continued]

[91

]•

SONGS OF THE SOUL

Unto the happy camp Where peace e'er burns

its

The city's drum With its noisy hum Announces true and strong The world is marching on.

[92]

lamp.

SONGS OF THE SOUL

MOHAWK

TRAIL

Welcomed by a fresh and smiling day, Usher'd by trees benign that lay To shade our bodies from the jealous sun, With rubber shoes pressing on asphalt road, With softly humming noise we rode Through Mohawk Trail where Adam lies. Unlike

other joyful rides When mind with sameness was dulled sometimes and did abide The time and common scenes in ive mood. mind was now so full, bright and good. all

My

A

strange,

Did

unknown, unthought, new

steal o'er

me

in soothing

thrill

sweep so

I raced with wind and scattered smiles That played with sunshine, spread for

still.

miles.

My secret hoarded joy in vault of soul I

extravagantly did spend withal

To buy new

nature's gaudy scenes That one hasty, racing peddler brought me

in.

[continued]

[93]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

My

spirit

Was

free

hemm'd

in city's

once more;

all

narrow walls

nature sent a joyous

The waving leaves of trees, the babbling The impatient wind, sober skies and hill.

[94]

rill,

call:

PART

III

FOREWORD The eleventh chapter of the Bhagavadgita, of which "Vision of Visions" is a lyrical rendition interwoven with an interpretation of its spiritual significance, is the consummation of the teachings of the Book. It describes how the Lord Krishna, the Warrior-Prophet, blessed Arjuna, his devotee, with the great yogic vision of the cosmic drama of life and death, enacted on the Infinite Body of the Lord by Himself. Arjuna, still human, was perplexed, being unable to reconcile the benign aspect of the Lord with His destructive aspect: doing good to men and the world as a whole on the one hand, and bringing death and destruction to countless creatures and worlds on the other. It has been shown here that life and death are both momentary scenes in the cosmic drama, meant not to hurt or please anybody, but designed to afford infinite opportunities to the Lord's children for the attainment of higher and higher states of evolution through apparently unpleasant disturbances caused by great changes. The relative value of life and death in this Drama, which is a dream in comparison with the Reality of the Lord, is the same. This vision represents the great Cosmic Law, as seen not from the point of view of finite creatures, but from that of the Lord Himself. Hence this allows no room for the finite questioning of Arjuna as to whether the Lord is benign or To Him, to destroy life is not an absence of destructive. benignity, nor to give life a presence of it, as is the case with The Lord views life and death as forms of change only. us.

[97]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

according to His Cosmic Law. A law is law. It has been His nature, and always will be. There is no question about benignity or otherwise. Nevertheless, it describes the Lord as leading this Cosmos with all its individuals to higher and higher stages of unfoldment. Every individual is expected to do his duty unattached, with the consciousness of an intelligent agent merely, that he can reach those higher stages easily, and finally be in tune with that Great Being.

[98

SONGS OF THE SOUL

VISION OF VISIONS Beloved Lord,

Adored

of gods,

Behold, behold Thy body holds All fleshly tenants, seers fine,

The .

diverse saints divine.

Indwelling mystery cave,

The Serpent Nature's forceful crave. Though fierce and subtle, now is tanie. Forgetful of her deadly game; And Sovran Brahma, God of gods. On lotus seat is snug secured. Cosmic-Bodied Lord of worlds. Oh, I behold, again behold

Thee

Thy

all

and everywhere

countless arms and trunks and eyes!

my

knowledge lies About Thy birth and reign and presence here. Yet, drooping dark

[continued]

[99]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

This day, Blazing, Furious Flame,

O Blinding Ray, Thy focussed power's

aglow:

Thy Name

Spreads everywhere

To

dark'st abysmal

lair.

Thou, gilded with a crown

of stars.

And wielding mace of sovereign Thou whirlest forth, Burning Thy evolution's circling discus.

power, Phoebus,

Immortal Brahma, all Supreme, Thou Cosmic Shelter, Wisdom's Theme, Eternal *Dharma's guardian true.

Thou

diest not

I

ever knew!

Birthless, Fleshless, Deathless One,

Unseen, thy endless, working arms. Eyes! The suns and moons and staring skies, Thy Selfborn Lustre shields from harm,

Thy Ever-Watching

And

the distant creation warms, Sovereign Soul, this earth and gods'

*Religion.

[100]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

All high-abode

and

all

encircling spheres,

Directions all, and earthly sods. By Thee pervaded, far and near. The worldly beings, struck by fear. Thy wondrous form adore. In Thee the gods their entry make With folded hands, afraid, some pray to shelter take In Thee. The seers great, on Heaven's path successful ones,

With superb hymns of peace do worship Thee and Thee alone. The eleven lamps of Heaven, The twelve bright suns, The grizzly Eight, The starry lustres great. Aspiring hermits, gods.

The agents of the Cosmic Lord, The twin-born princes strong, Of valor known so long, Two-score and nine noil breezes'

force, [continued]

[101

]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

That binds the atoms

close,

The long-ed guardian spirits all, The demi-goblins, gods, and dembns Mighty ones in Spirit's path. In wonder

all

behold

Thy

tall.

blazoned worth.

Thy countless cheeks. eyes. Thy endless hands, and

Colossal arms,

Thy

starry

legs

adorned lotus feet, Thy chasmed mouth, with doomsday's teeth Doth yawn to swallow swooning worlds around. And leaves a distilled joyous awe in me. Thy grandeur I and all are wonder-struck to see; The bowels of the void deep are filled with Thee Thy diverse hues and gaping mouths and lustresmeared body, *Vishnu of the flaming sight. Directions lost. Thou now awest me, my peace

With

dost fright. Ferocious teeth and deadly fire do howl In mouths of Thine which at me scowl.

The principle of preservation.

[102]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

Directions lost and gone, find no peace alone.

I

Cosmic Guardian, Lord

of gods,

Be pleased t' accept my pleading words. The Ego, Karma, Senses great abide

And And

wait to leap upon our Wisdom's chiefs. yet they both do ride The race of death, to fall and hide For e'er in Thy devouring mouth. Adorned with crushing cruel teeth uncouth. The victor and the vanquished must, Thy offsprings both, the righteous and ungodly ones,

Thy

love still claim, yet the dust.

all

some day

shall kiss,

And sleep on common floor of earth. The shattered skulls of some are seen, As caught Thy greedy teeth between. As

watery waves Of river branches all do crave To force through crowded wavelets' way, diverse, restless,

[continued]

[103]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

And meet where Neptune's home

long lay,

So the heroic streams of life Do plunge to meet in maddest strife At Thy foaming mouth of sea, Where sparkling lives do dance so free:

As

insects lost in beauty's

game

All swiftly, thoughtless rush to flame,

So fog-born ion's

fires

pretend

To glow like Heav'nly light of Thine, And draw on mortals to attend The trumpet call to deathly line. Thy mouth ablaze Doth bring

to gaze tongues to lick The angry blood of strong and weak. Thou Gourmand God dost eat Its leaping

With hunger

Infinite;

Vishnu, Thou The worlds with

Be 1

pleased,

ache to

dost scorch All-pervading fiery torch.

Prime

of gods;

know Thee, Primeval

[104]

Lord.

— SONGS OF THE SOUL

tell,

Who

Thou,

Thy Royal

Will,

know not

still.

1

Fiery Mood,

art yet so good,

The Lord

"Am

sang: Endless Doom,

All bent to

room

In burning maw Of mine the weaklings' awe And all the mortal meat Of weary worlds of deathly change, and treat Them with my nectar life

To new and

fearless, better strife.

E'en if thou dost not slay These wicked warriors all in war array. They surely certain have to fall, Ah, in my teeth-of-law, withal. Arise, awake! Arise, awake! Oh, dash to war thy foe, the flesh a captive make.

And

seize the victor's fame.

With battle-hunted game, [continued]

I

105]

SONGS OF THE SOUL

Wealth of the King Of Peace, and Heaven's Kingdom

bring.

know right now the happenings all Which mystic future forth doth call, I

And

thus thy foes and warriors true, Long, long ago I slew Ere thy agent-hand, That I would wield to land Thy foes on death's dim shore, could understand. agent thou, this is how Oh, I work my plans in universe Through instruments diverse; 'Tis I who slew and yet will slay the senses'

My

train

Through ones,

thee, as

my

through both past and future

soldiers sane."

[

106

]

TEACHING BY CORRESPONDENCE may

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