Quote for this Week
The only offering you can make to God is your increasing awareness.
- from Four Questions, by Lal Ded, 14th Century Kashmiri poetess
She is possibly the greatest mystic poet/ess to have written in Kashmiri. Named Lalleshwari by her parents, she is affectionately known as Lal Ded (Sister Lal) in Kashmir. For some reason, internationally she is better known as Lalla.
Here's the full poem:
Who is awake and who asleep?
What is this lake that is continually
oozing back into the earth?
What can a human being offer to God?
What do we most deeply want?
The mind is what sleeps.
What recognizes itself
as God is awake.
This always-disappearing lake
is made of our appetites,
these movings-about,
this talking and listening.
The only offering you can make to God
is your increasing awareness.
And the last desire is
to be God in human form.
(Translation by Coleman Barks)
Please join Quotable Thursday by posting a quotation you like on your own blog, then linking your blog, or your post, to this one by using Mr. Linky below.
If you do not have a blog, you can still join the fun -- just leave us a favourite quotation in a comment to this post.
The only offering you can make to God is your increasing awareness.
- from Four Questions, by Lal Ded, 14th Century Kashmiri poetess
She is possibly the greatest mystic poet/ess to have written in Kashmiri. Named Lalleshwari by her parents, she is affectionately known as Lal Ded (Sister Lal) in Kashmir. For some reason, internationally she is better known as Lalla.
Here's the full poem:
Who is awake and who asleep?
What is this lake that is continually
oozing back into the earth?
What can a human being offer to God?
What do we most deeply want?
The mind is what sleeps.
What recognizes itself
as God is awake.
This always-disappearing lake
is made of our appetites,
these movings-about,
this talking and listening.
The only offering you can make to God
is your increasing awareness.
And the last desire is
to be God in human form.
(Translation by Coleman Barks)
Please join Quotable Thursday by posting a quotation you like on your own blog, then linking your blog, or your post, to this one by using Mr. Linky below.
If you do not have a blog, you can still join the fun -- just leave us a favourite quotation in a comment to this post.
Previously:
A quote from the Dalai Lama - Quotable Thursday #4
[Mr. Linky removed.]
The only offering you can make to God
ReplyDeleteis your increasing awareness.
And the last desire is
to be God in human form.Godly character does take some high mountains to travel on foot and high seas to swim amidst strong currents before it can be developed into near perfection.
Great one to ponder!
Beautiful poem, Pamposh! My post is finally up. Mr. Linky seems to be temporary unavailable, so here are my quotes at The Beauty & Colors of Life. Have a wonderful weekend :)
ReplyDeletePam,
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing more beautiful than the idea of devotion to God. The poem is beautiful!
I also had trouble with Mr Linky. So here is my quote on my blog: Barbara's Meanderings.
http://barbaraehrentreu.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-can-saying-from-confucius-help.html
Indeed, Mr. Linky is taking his own sweet time to link blogs, but I have linked both of you, Barbara and Rosidah. Lovely quotes from both of you - thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteAll others - please leave me a comment here if you are joining in - so that I can check on the link and enter the URL myself if required. Tks for your patience.