Thursday, 28 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कल्पतरुखाली I
फळे येती मागितली II
तेथे बैसल्याचा भाव I
विचारुनि बोले ठाव II
द्यावे हे उत्तर I
येतो प्रीतीचा तो फेर II
तुका म्हणे मनी I
आपुल्याची लाभहानि II

" The Mythological Tree Kalpataru is believed to hold immense powers and could fulfill any wish. In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, One's Wish must be conducive to his goal otherwise it will not give favourable result. He has used the analogy of Kalpataru Tree to emphasize that attaining Self Realisation is all about how we train our mind to make a right choice at the right time.
In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, we can control our lives if we can control our minds. First and foremost thing One needs to do on his journey of Self Realisation is to decide of his goal,"I Want God". Unless this is done all the efforts will be nothing but aimless wanderings. Only when this goal is set, One needs to do everything necessary to attain the Highest Reward, the Self Realisation.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, the journey of Self Realisation is a step by step process which needs much care and absolutely no haste. Only when One's goal of "I Want God" is set and he begins incessant recital of Holy Ram Nam, his quest of Self will commence and as he will continue on the path patiently and diligently, the transformation from within will start unfolding very slowly but steadily in a step by step manner.The privilege of experiencing the changes from within during this transformation is only for the brave who make the right choice at the right time in this rarest of rare human birth.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, the eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend. There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. It the doors of perception of mind are cleansed by the Name Worship of Supreme Lord Shri Ram then everything would appear as it Eternally is, the Infinite Supreme Bliss. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Wednesday, 27 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय जय राम II

विभ्रंशिली बुद्धि देहान्ति जवळी I
काळाची अवकाळी वायचाळा II
पालटले जैसे देठ सांडी पान I
पिकले आपण तयापरी II
न मारिता हीन बुद्धि दुःख पावी I
माजल्याचि गोवी तयापरी II
तुका म्हणे गळ लागलिया मत्स्या I
तळमळेचा तैसा लावलाहो II

" As you sow, so shall you reap. "
As a famous saying goes, there is a perfect correlation between cause and effect by which our thoughts and actions have consequences - good or bad. The intensity of suffering at the time of death is about what wealth One accumulates in this rare human birth. If One spends his entire lifetime acquiring material wealth then what comes with it free is its attachment. It is this attachment that becomes the root of sufferings when he is at the brink of his death. However if One makes a conscious effort throughout his lifetime of living in the world but not of the world then it inculcates a sense of detachment in him which makes the transition at death much smoother than otherwise. In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj has elucidated this thought. He says,
Bearing in mind the ephemeral nature of our earthly life, One must use his discerning intelligence to make the right choice of his outlook towards life while living. Else on the verge of death all his prudence bears no significance and nothing but guilt will linger for not using his wonderful asset of sagacity for the journey of Self Realisation.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj has illustrated the journey from birth to death of human life with a beautiful analogy. He says, just like a green leaf holds the tree dearly, we hold our worldly life dearly. It needs a great amount of effort to pluck the unripened green leaf off the tree. Similarly our "I - ness" due to false ego sense does not allow us to be detached from the worldly possessions we acquire from time to time. In the end when the leaf ripens which is inevitable, it fall freely to the ground on its own. Similarly when our life comes to an end, we realise that none of our worldly possessions are of any value and One must part from everything we have including our sagacity. Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, only sanity based on the sense of discrimination can keep the false ego sense at bay so that One can avoid the grave mistake of using his prudence for material well- being instead of using it for his journey to Self Realisation.
In another analogy Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, just like a fish lured by the bait put at the end of fishing rod, gets trapped and repents for its foolishness, we in this rarest of rare human birth remain enticed in the materialistic contentment for whole of our life and only in the end when deaths stands at our door we realise what grave and unpardonable mistake we have committed from which there is no going back.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, only if One makes a conscious effort to remain absorbed in Holy Ram Nam, then it is a wonderful way to keep the mind alert of the evanescent nature of our existence and hence do everything possible to elevate us on our quest of True Self. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II
II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

आशा ही समूळ खणोनि काढ़ावी I
तेव्हाची गोसावी व्हावे तेणे II
नाही तरी सूखे असावे संसारी I
फाजिति दूसरी करू नये II
आशा मारुनिया जयवंत व्हावे I
तेव्हाची निघावे सर्वातुनि II
तुका म्हणे जरी योगाची तातड़ी I
आशेची बोबुड़ी करी आधी II

It is said that,
" If desires remain and breaths are over, it is death. If breaths remain and desires are over, it is Liberation. "
In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj talks about "Desirelessness" as not a prescription for Self Realisation but the description of same. He says,
Desirelessness will neither come about by talking about it nor by an intellectual feat. One can attain it by subjecting himself to constant heart churn.
True renunciation is not what you have or don't have. It is only your state of consciousness. He emphasises on internal renunciation where the worldly objects are not renounced, but only the attachment to the worldly objects is renounced. However mere external renunciation may seem to be a facade or a veil of deception to hide all the desires One is secretly harboring within.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, Renunciation is casting away of One's lesser Self armed by his false ego sense, One can attain True Renunciation by relinquishing the sense slavery as it is the only way to realise the Absolute within. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Tuesday, 26 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

बीज भाजुनि केली लाही I
आम्हा जन्ममरण नाही II
आकारासी कैचा ठाव I
देह प्रत्यक्ष झाला देव II
साखरेचा नव्हे ऊस I
आम्हां कैचा गर्भवास II
तुका म्हणे अवघा जोग I
सर्वा घटी पांडुरंग II

" It is said that, "The Oneness exists, whether you are aware of it or not, it exists.In reality it makes no difference. But it makes difference to you if you are conscious, where you have the joy. If you are not conscious, you miss the joy."
 In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj talks about a Self Realised Soul who is Conscious of this Unity, the Unity of Consciousness and Unity of Will. He no longer has the perception which makes him separate from others.
Illustrating with beautiful analogy Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, just like a roasted Kafir Corn (जोंधळा) cannot be used for future sowing, the Self Realised Soul having transcended from Individual Consciousness to God Consciousness has roasted the seed of repeated sufferings by Wisdom of his True Self and hence he is free from the bondage of endless cycles of deaths and rebirths while still living.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, having transcended the realm of duality, the Self Realised Soul merges with God Consciousness. His "I" and "I - ness" being vanished, only nothingness prevails. His journey of "I - ness" to "I - Less" is complete.
Illustrating with another analogy Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, just like from sugar One cannot get back to sugarcane from which it is produced, the Self Realisation is an irreversible transformation and hence a Self Realised Soul does not have to worry about being forced  back into the cruel cycle of repeated sufferings.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, a Self Realised Soul is the One who is liberated mentally while alive. He continues to live in the state of Liberation and is free from worldly entanglements. He experiences Supreme Bliss everywhere without exception because he sees the Divine Lord Pandurang everywhere. Devotion is the most profound human emotion that merges individual's.identity with the Divinity. The devotion of a Self Realised Soul is his unalloyed love for Divine Lord Pandurang and enjoys supreme ecstasy of His Grace remaining absorbed in his renunciation from the pains and pleasures of this material world. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Monday, 25 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

अग्निमाजी गेले I
अग्नि होऊन तेच ठेले II
काय उरलें तया पण I
मागिल ते नाम गुण II
लोह लागे परिसा अंगी I
तोही भूषण जाला जगी II
सरिता ओहळा ओघा I
गंगे मिळोनि जाल्या गंगा II
चंदनाच्या वासे I
तरु चंदन जाले स्पर्शे II
तुका जडला संतापायी I
दुजेपणा ठाव नाही II

" Self Realisation is attaining Oneness with the Supreme Consciousness by the intuitive faculty of soul.
Illustrating with beautiful analogies Sant Tukaram Maharaj says,
Just like the identity of a thing thrown in fire is erased completely as it becomes One with it, the seeker of Supreme Self must seek the fellowship of a Self Realised Soul and follow his footsteps on the journey within. Just like an ordinary iron transforms into precious gold as soon as it touches the Paras Stone, the fellowship of Self Realised Soul does the wonder of transforming the seeker from within until he realises that the riches of the world are all not outside but with him and within him forever.
Just like the vicinage of the Sandalwood becomes incensed with its rich fragrance, all who follow the footsteps of the Self Realised Soul savour the aroma of piousness emanated from him. In a way the fellowship of a Self Realised Soul is a journey of transcending the realm of duality to become One with Supreme Consciousness."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Sunday, 24 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

झाला प्रेतरूप शरीराचा भाव I
लक्षियेला ठाव स्मशानिंचा II
रडती रात्रदिवस कामक्रोध माय I
म्हणती हाय हाय यमधर्म II
वैराग्याच्या शेणी लागल्या शरीरा I
ज्ञानाग्नि लागला ब्रह्मत्वेसी II
फिरविला घट फोडिला चरणी I
महावाक्य ध्वनी बोंब झाली II
दिली तिलांजुळी कुळनामरूपासी I
शरीर ज्याचे त्यासी समर्पिले II
तुका म्हणे रक्षा झाली आपीआप I
उजळीला दीप गुरूकृपा II

" Grace is the unmerited favor of the God, which is freely bestowed on the devout seeker through the redemptive will of the God for the purpose of saving the embodied soul from the repeated births. The Divine Grace is man's enduring wealth of Self Realisation which is not to be found outside, for its ever present deep in the core of man's own heart. It can only be merited by becoming One with the Supreme Consciousness. In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj has illustrated it with a beautiful analogy of funeral rites. He says,
In crematorium, when the body burns, the destruction of falsehood leads to total loss of duality. When duality is lost, there is Oneness. When there is Oneness, there is the linking with the root within. In other words, the full vision of Divine Grace within is revealed. The analogy of crematorium thus correlates with the Divine link to Supreme Self. Sant Tukaram Maharaj says that the grieving relatives of the deceased are nothing but the attachments of the Self to body consciousness lamenting their separation. The cow dung cakes of detachment cremate the ego laden body of the deceased by the fire of Supreme Wisdom, to transcend the Spirit to its Supreme Abode of Eternity.
As soon as the Spirit becomes free of its bodily apparel, the Spirit once again gets attuned to the Supreme Self. Thus the Creation goes from subtle to gross or from psychic to physical and then again back. The body made of Earth, Fire, Air, Water and Ether merges back into them thus leaving behind everything attached to the bodily recognition of the world.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says that cremation is but a momentary halt in the unending cycle of deaths and rebirths, where the Spirit is free from bodily shackles and enjoys it's Oneness with the Divine Eternal. The sun of Grace of God is always present in its full effulgence. Once the phantom of ignorance is removed, the Grace of the Divine shines forth within. The Grace, Spirit, God are all synonymous with the Supreme Self, the ever Eternal and Immanent. Only sincere and unconditional surrender of falsehood will make One intuitively understand the Divine Grace, which will ultimately lead to the Self Realisation."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Friday, 22 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

परमार्थी तो न म्हणावा आपुला I
सलगी धाकुला हळू नये II
थोड़ाचि स्फुलिंग बहुत दावाग्नि I
वाढता इंधनी वाढविला II
पितयाने तैसा वंदावा कुमर I
जयाचे अंतरा देव वसे II
तुका म्हणे शिरी वाहावे खापर I
भावी असे सार नवनीत II

"Since time immemorial, Self Realisation is the culmination of pursuing the path of Devotion earnestly through millions of births. It is then no surprise that, just like Devotee Pralhad, One becomes a Self Realised Soul in very young age.
In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, the distinction of age, gender and social hierarchy are irrelevant when it comes to practicing devotion to Lord Supreme. No matter how old or how young One is, if he displays Selfless Devotion in his quest of God, he must be revered. Just like a spark is enough to become a forest fire, a devotee with his courage of conviction may attain Self Realisation at very young age.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, One must bow down with reverence to the Self Realised Soul who may even be his son. This respect is for the Eternal Supreme Self or God, which his son has become and not for the body of son which is perishable.
For a butter in a broken piece of a clay pot, the butter is substantial as compared to the piece of clay pot. It is the "Valuation" aspect of butter that distinguishes it from the piece of clay pot. Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, in the quest of Self Knowledge, One must give paramount importance to "Valuation". Unless this is done there is all possibility of giving undue importance to trivial things which may actually deviate us from our journey of Self Realisation.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, only with  proper "Valuation" and not by mere bodily aspects such as age, gender and social status, we can distinguish a Self Realised Soul who is the most revered of all."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Thursday, 21 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

साहोनिया टोले उरवावे सार I
मग अंगीकार खऱ्या मोले II
भोगाचे सांभाळी द्यावे कळीवर I
संचिताची थार मोडूनिया II
महत्वाचे ठायीं भोगावी अप्रतिष्ठा I
विटंबावे नष्टा पंचभूतां II
तुका म्हणे मग कैचा संसार I
जयाचा आदर तेचि व्हावे II

" It is said that,
" Trials and tribulations tend to squeeze the artificiality out of us, leaving the Essence of what we really are and clarifying what we really yearn for. "
In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj talks about God who is more interested in our character than he is in our comfort. He says, just like everybody wants to be a Diamond, but very few are willing to cut, a gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials. Only when the trials of life test One to the extremes, the metal is ready for the Maker's Hand.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, we perform actions with certain desires. These desires forge chains for our future bondage. Only when One does his duties in a detached manner absorbing in the Holy Ram Nam and take everything such as body, mind, possessions as a trust from Divine Lord and considers himself as only a trustee, as his agent, then all the responsibility for the actions of the agent are transferred to the Lord Supreme. The agent is not liable for any loss or profit. However the trouble comes only when we try to misappropriate the trust property, our worldly existence.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, when a Bowman is about to shoot an arrow, the bundle of arrows in the quiver on his back is like Sanchit Karma (संचित कर्म), the arrow he has shot is Prarabdha Karma (प्रारब्ध कर्म) and the arrow he is about to shoot is the Kriyaman Karma(क्रियामाण कर्म). He says, for a Self Realised Soul the death comes to his bondage of Body Consciousness because he knows no other death. He continues to live in his physical form only on account of his Prarabdha Karma. The body of the Self Realised Soul will continue till the force of Prarabdha works itself out, and after the Prarabdha is exhausted it will drop off.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, the path to Self Realisation will unfold only when One transcends beyond " I am the body " idea. Therefore One must exercise caution regarding avoiding the situations where there might be glorification of his identity as a body. One needs to inculcate revulsion towards his perishable body which is bound to merge back into the five basic elements of universe from which it has come into existence. Such loathing towards One's body is a positive step closer to his ultimate goal, the Self Realisation.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, the Name Worship of Supreme Lord Shri Ram makes One distant from his body slowly but steadily and is a beautiful way to merge individual Consciousness to God Consciousness, the Supreme Bliss."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Wednesday, 20 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

मरण माझे मरोन गेले I
मज केले अमर II
ठाव पुसिले बुड पुसिले I
वोसले देहभाव II
आला होता गेला पूर I
धरिला धीर जीवनी II
तुका म्हणे अनादीचे I
झाले साचे उजवणे II

It is said that,
" To be dead while still alive is not to jump off the cliff or fall down from a roof but it is simply to know One's True Self, his very Essence while alive."
To become living dead or Self Realised Soul, One needs to be liberated from the bondage of false ego sense emerging out of "I am the body" idea."
In the worldly sense, demise of the physical body is considered as death. However it is not true and actually is the other way around. "I am the body" idea itself is the root cause of all suffering and it in itself is death because it shuts off all the Pathways to Self Realisation. In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, to transcend beyond Body Consciousness is the real death or in other words Death of Death. This is Self Realisation. He says, the real death is to die while still alive. It is death at the level of mind while still living in the body.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, with Death of Death, the raging flood of vices recede leaving behind the Oneness of Eternal.
Summimg up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, in the state of Living Liberated, when the Wisdom of his True Self dawned on him, he was relieved from the vicious and endless cycle of repeated sufferings forever. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय के राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Tuesday, 19 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

रंगलिया रंग पालट न धरी I
खेवरी अंतरी पालटेना II
सावळे निखळ कृष्णनाम ठसे I
अंगसंगे कैसे शोभा देती II
पवित्र झाले ते न लिंपे विटाळा I
नेदी बैसों मळा आडवरी II
तुका म्हणे काळे काळे केले तोंड I
प्रकाश अभंड देखोनिया II

" It is said that,
" There is nothing "yonder" (far away) which is not within. "
In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj reminds us that the precious jewel of Infinite Bliss is hidden within us and we can attain it only by absorbing in the Name Worship of Supreme Lord Krishna. He says,
Constantly remembering the Divine Name helps One to overcome distracting thoughts which cause restlessness of mind. His Name is nothing but an antidote to all negative actions and negative emotions of our conditioned mind. The incessant recital of Divine Name is none other than scrubbing the mind's filth or egoism and hence living in the unbroken Divine dialogue within.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says,
The Name Worship of Supreme Lord instills within the intuitive peace which it itself is the image of Divine Lord and it roots firmly within as One practices to remain absorbed in His Name Worship.
Holding the dark complexioned Divine Lord Krishna within through His Name Worship is nothing but transcending from Loneliness to Oneness, the state of Self Realisation.
On attaining Self Realisation, One becomes a silent witness to his life, without any trace of emotional attachment. He becomes like water drops which do not adhere to the Lotus Leaf. In other words the mind of Self Realised Soul becomes open to everything but remains detached from everything.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, when the heart of Self Realised Soul illuminates in the Divine Knowledge of Supreme Essence, it ends the vicious cycle of deaths and rebirths and he experiences Supreme Bliss of being Living Liberated. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Monday, 18 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

गोड नावे क्षीर I
परी साखरेचा धीर II
तैसे जाणा ब्रम्हज्ञान I
बापुड़े ते भक्तिविण II
रुची नेदी अन्न I
ज्यात नसता लवण II
अंधळ्याचे श्रम I
शिकविल्याचेची नाम II
तुका म्हणे तारा I
नांव तंबुऱ्याच्या सारा II

" It is said that "Devotion gives birth to Self Knowledge as mother gives birth to a child."
Just as the stick that stirs the funeral pyre ultimately burns in the same pyre, a Devotee who prays is ultimately absorbed into the Supreme Essence that is inseparable from him.
In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj talks about this highest form of Devotion (अनन्य भक्ति) wherein the seeker is completely absorbed in the Divine Ultimate Beingness. He says,
By observing the divinity of universe through Devotion, the ego tends to melt down, along with the sense of being separate from others, for Devotion is a celebration of God Consciousness and the Divine in everything.
Illustrating with beautiful analogies Sant Tukaram Maharaj says,
Self Realisation without Devotion is just like insipid (tasteless) pudding made of sugarless milk.
Talking about the inherentness of Devotion in the belly of Self Realisation, Sant Tukaram Maharaj says , Devotion is like Salt. It's presence is not felt, but it's absence makes the food tasteless.
Devotionless journey of Self Realisation is like a blind man who may identify objects by their names or by touch but feels the incompleteness of experience as blind eyes cannot read.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, just like repeated cycle of plucking all strings of a Tanpura (तंबोरा) creates a sonic canvas on which melody unfolds, the Divine Melody of Self Realisation is unattainable unless the mind of devotee resonates with utmost Devotion to the Divine Supreme. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Sunday, 17 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

बहुता छंदांचे बहु असे जन I
नये वाटू मन त्यांच्या संगे II
करावा जतन आपुला विश्वास I
अंगा आला रस आवडीचा II
सुखाची समाधि हरिकथा माउली I
विश्रांति साउली सिणलियांची II
तुका म्हणे बुडे बांधोनि दगड I
तेथे कोण कोड धावयाचे II

" It is said that Maya, the Mistress of Illusion puppets mortals in many forms and ways. With the exception of a Self Realised Soul, Maya spares none. Caught in the whirlpool of worldly illusion, man wanders like deer running after delusion of water in the desert.
Liberation from the clutches of illusory world is not disappearance of material world but it is the change of One's vision. In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, the only way One can break through the formidable fortress of worldly illusion is by rising up to the platform of Divine Consciousness through Self Knowledge. One can cultivate Self Knowledge by making a conscious effort of remaining absorbed in the Name Worship of Divine Lord or by listening to Harikatha, the story Of God.
Harikatha (हरिकथा) is a story of Supreme Lord Vishnu, is the exposition of a religious theme. This Divine Storytelling is a composite art full of poetry, music, drama, dance and philosophy. It is a story about God or scriptural incidents or about Spiritual Beings who are the living exemplars for the existence of God. Listening to the stories about Divinity and Divine Beings subtly makes the mind of listener conscious of Self. Thus Harikatha not only entertains but it Enlightens One on his Spiritual Journey.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, One pointed devotion creates miracles. Just like a little child turns to his mother for his every need and not to anyone else, One must practice One Pointed Devotion to Supreme Lord without giving much thought to what people say.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, when the mind is completely absorbed in the object of meditation, it is called Samadhi. The mind then identifies itself with the object of meditation. He says, being absorbed in Harikatha, the story of God, is to experience Samadhi or Oneness with God.
The True purpose of this rarest of rare human birth is to make a conscious effort to realise that, God indwells in every heart as our True Self. Listening to Harikatha, being the drama soaked in Divine Devotion, helps One channelise his thoughts on his journey to Self Realisation.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, just as it is impossible to save a person who jumps in water with a burden of large stone tied on his back, its worthless to convince an ignorant mind who assumes Harikatha as a myth and believes in his worldly existence as the Truth. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Saturday, 16 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

पाहो ग्रंथ तरी आयुष्य नाही हाती I
नाही ऐशी मती अर्थ कळे II
होईल ते हो या विठोबाच्या नावे I
अर्ज़िले ते भावे जीवी करू II
एखादा अंगासी येईल प्रकार I
विचारिता फार युक्ति वाढे II
तुका म्हणे आळी करिता गोमटी I
मायबापा पोटी येते दया II

It is said that,
" True knowledge lies in knowing and experiencing the Ultimate Reality, in the Light of which we blindly live, move about, and have our very being rooted, and yet know it not. "
In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, reading books is but a drop in the ocean of knowledge. It is a great irony of fate, that we can know a lot about the world through books but it is nothing when it comes to knowing the Living Spirit, the life spark of consciousness that enlivens us and is our very life, our True Self.
He says, One needs a long healthy life to read books in his quest of acquiring knowledge. But it has its limitations because life is too short and most unpredictable to be relied upon. Not everyone can have a sharp intellect needed to discern the essence of the book. In other words acquiring knowledge by reading books needs a certain level of bookish literacy. Reading books may instill a sense of conceit in the reader as if he is the knower when he is not. However Name Worship of Divine Lord  needs no knowledge of bookish grammar, as it can be practiced by anyone without dstinction.Practicing Name Worship of Supreme Lord is a mode of gaining knowledge by experience which is far superior than bookish knowledge because Name Worship is all about looking within and trying to comprehend the Supreme Indweller residing within. The Name Worship of Divine Lord is nothing but practicing to be a silent observer which in itself is a Divine Experience.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, just like parents do everything possible to promote a hobby of their child, the Divine Lord Vithoba uplifts the One absorbed in His Name Worship, making him move ahead firmly on his journey to Self Realisation. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Friday, 15 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

नाही शब्दाधीन वर्म आहे दूरी I
नव्हे तंत्री मंत्री अनुभव तो II
हर्षामर्षि अंगी आदळती लाटा I
कामक्रोधे तटा सांडियेले II
न सरे ते भक्ति विठोबाचे पायी I
उपरति नाही जेथे चित्ता II
तुका म्हणे सुख देहनिरसने I
चिंतन चिंतने तद्रुपता II

Even though the Scriptures repeatedly remind us that everything is but One Divine Consciousness, we still live holding dear "I am the body" idea. This along with ignorance of One's True Nature is the cause of worldly sorrows. The deluded mind is the creator of subject-object relationship. It is the cause of duality. It is the deluded mind to whom happiness and sufferings exist. Every material joy is a suffering in disguise. So long as we take refuge in the worldly mind we suffer. The moment One realises his True Self, the suffering ends. The Spiritual Wisdom attained by reciting Holy Ram Nam only can remove the poisonous fangs of mind serpent so that serpent still remaining serpent, does not pose any danger to Snake Charmer.
 It is said that, "All things are only a projection of a level of Conscious Awareness and are never ' Personal '."
The very 'isness', or 'beingness' or 'amness' of all life is radiant with the ineffable love of Consciousness and existence. In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj talks about taking a leap of faith into Nonduality through incessant recital of Holy Ram Nam. He says,
The Body is not who we truly are. Existence is infinitely beyond form, because all form will pass, but life itself is Eternal and Formless. The Self awaits within every moment to be noticed and realised, it is only the ego's resistance that keeps ecstasy from being actualized.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, the mark of the genuine seeker of the Truth is One who possesses the conviction and strength to pursue the surrender of attachments of ego  in order to discover the full Liberation of the Immortal Self. Not by words, not by rituals, not by chanting mantras, but only by transcending beyond "I am the body" idea, One can seek the God Consciousness.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says that no one can stop the waves of worldly sufferings but One can surely learn to surf these inevitable waves only by practicing the Name Worship of Holy Ram Nam,  because rather than escaping our fears, stresses and sufferings, sitting nonjudgementally as a silent observer is a beautiful way to paddle through, slowly but steadily on the journey of Self Realisation. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Thursday, 14 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

सुनियाचा हाचि भाव I
आपला ठाव राखावा II
दुजियाचा येऊ वारा I
नेदूं घरावरी देउं II
केली याची फाडाफाडी I
तडामोड़ी क्षेत्राची II
पातेजत नाही लोकां I
देव तुका वाचूनि II

It is said that,
"Your dog is the ultimate acolyte, he believes you are the very image of God "
In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj illuminates the seeker on his journey of Self Realisation by giving an analogy of a dog. He says,
The seeker needs to inculcate forgiveness from within to move a step closer to God. As the famous saying goes, "to err is human - to forgive, canine", only when One makes a conscious effort to let go of what he is, he can become what he might be.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, Dog gives man his absolute utmost loyalty at all times, unfailingly. Dog does not care about what's in it for him by being man's friend because when dog offers friendship, it is friendship for life. Similarly the seeker must stick to the path of Self Realisation with fervour, believing in what he is doing and without any discrimination as well as expectations just like a dog.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, Dog is at peace with himself and comfortable in silence. Dog does not need to make a constant noise to validate his existence. Similarly the seeker must practice to remain absorbed in the Name Worship of Supreme Lord Shri Ram incessantly in silence because journey to Self Realisation is a journey within.
Just like Dog's hearing is far more sensitive than man's, the seeker must make a conscious effort to hear the Holy Ram Nam recited within though silently. In a way it will help him not to sway his attention from his ultimate quest.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, Dog is not a bowl-half- empty being. He does not grumble his way through life. Just like Dog, the seeker must apply himself with zest to make most of this rarest of rare human birth by immersing in the Name Worship of Supreme Lord Shri Ram and making each moment of his life count with contentment of accepting his life as it is.
It is said that Dog can be unselfish in a way that man can only aspire to be. Just like Dog, a Selfless Devotion is paramount on the journey of Self Realisation.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, to keep at bay the thief of duality, the seeker must annihilate the false ego sense just like a menacing dog tears off the skin when he bites ferociously.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, just like Master is sure of loyalty of his DOG, GOD also helps the seeker displaying adorable qualities of Dog persistently on his journey to Self Realisation. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Wednesday, 13 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

जन्मा येणे घड़े पातकाचे मूळ I
संचिताचे फळ आपुलिया II
मग वायाविण दुःख वाहो नये I
रुसोनिया काय देवावरी II
ठाऊकाची आहे संसार दुःखाचा I
चित्ति सीण याचा वाहू नये II
तुका म्हणे त्याचे नाम आठवावे I
तेणे विसरावे जन्मदुःख II

It is said that "What goes around, comes around."
In other words what One does always comes back to him. We reap what we sow. In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj talks about Karma or our deeds which are not eternal and subject to change. It is because we can change our acts if we wish to, thereby we can change the results of the deeds.
He says, what we consistently cultivate in our mind determines our character and ultimately our destiny. Apparently the entire destiny of One's life is in his own hands and hence it will be improper to hold God responsible for sufferings in our present birth which is the result of the accumulated deeds during our previous births.
Talking about the inevitable uncertainty of this life, full of sufferings, he says, so long as One lives in ignorance of his true Nature, his soul remains eclipsed by "I am the body" idea and egoistic mind. To escape from the oppressive narrowness of this attitude is the true purpose of this rare human birth.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, life pattern undergoes marked change when One remanins absorbed in the Holy Ram Nam as it initiates Self Correction.The true knowledge is latent in everyone. One needs to turn inward and make a conscious effort to recite the Holy Ram Nam incessantly, as it is indispensable to attain peace of mind and contentment. The Name Worship of Supreme Lord Shri Ram is the only way to free us from all burdens, bondage and repeated sufferings.
One who does a conscious effort to contemplate and meditate the Holy Ram Nam alone achieves salvation. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Tuesday, 12 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

मीच विखळ मीच विखळ I
येर सकळ बहु बरे II
पाहिजे हे क्षमा केले I
येणे बोले विनवणी II
मीच माझे मीच माझे I
जाले ओझे अन्याया II
आधी आंचवला आधी आंचवला I
तुका झाला निर्मनुष्य II

It is said that,
"All manifest existence, us included, strive back to One, to wholeness, that's the hardest paradox to fathom."
In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj talks about Nothingness of  "I - ness". He says,
The journey of soul is cyclic, from nothingness to the ego of "I - ness" and back to nothingness. On account of ignorance, One forgets about his True Nature, resulting in Body Consciousness or I am the body idea. This mistaken identity of "I - ness", gives rise to the sense of doership.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says that man's True Identity is in his inner Divine Qualities and not in the outer details. To be born is to be just biologically here in this world, however to be truly alive is to move from Biological Realm to Spiritual Realm which is a quantum leap from the Body Consciousness to God Consciousness, from Time to Timelessness. Only when One transcends beyond "I am the body" idea, there can be Homecoming to Divine Consciousness which pervades all, equally. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Monday, 11 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

परिसाचे अंगे सोने झाला विळा I
वांकणे या कळा हींन नव्हे II
अंतरी पालट घडला कारण I
मग समाधान तेचि गोड II
पिकलीया सेंद पूर्वकर्मा नये I
अव्हेरु तो काय घड़े मग II
तुका म्हणे आणा पंगती सुरण I
पृथक ते गुण केले पाके I

" It is said that,
"Improving yourself is to change the course of life "
Just as the  ocean retains the same level and fullness irrespective of the volume of water discharged into it, the man of Wisdom retains Self Awareness and maintains poise amidst all the happenings around him. In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj says that journey of Self Realisation is all about a conscious effort of inculcating change from within. He says,
Inner awakening is a slow process similar to bitter to sweet journey of ripening of fruit. Just as the  fruit holds the tree firmly till it is completely ripened, we the mortals cling to our bodily and worldly attachments holding dearly " I am the body " idea. However as One walks on the path of Self Realisation, the process of ripening of consciousness begins and the sense of detachment starts seeping in. This loses his grip on the worldly attachments such that when the glimpses of Spiritual Awakening are in sight, he experiences profound detachment which is similar to a ripe fruit falling down on its own. As ripening is a one way process so is Self Realisation.
Illustrating with beautiful analogies Sant Tukaram Maharaj says,
(सुरण), an Elephant Foot Yam is very itchy in nature when eaten raw. However on cooking it's itchiness disappears and it becomes edible.
Just like ripening of fruit, cooking is also irreversible process. Similar to cooking of Elephant Foot Yam which causes its itchiness to diminish, the journey of Self Realisation makes the desires to lose their grip, so that on Self realisation, One enjoys complete desirelessness.
An iron hook transmutes into Gold with a  touch of a mystical Philosopher's Stone (परिस). Once it becomes precious Gold, the wierdness of the shape of hook carries little significance. Similarly the equipoise of Soul Transcended to Self Realisation remains untouched by worldly happenings.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, although change in intrinsic to life, there is an Unchanging Awareness within. To learn to become aware of One's True Self is to realise that changes pertain only to the body-mind- intellect set up and the Real Self is always Changeless "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Sunday, 10 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

त्यजिले भेटवी आणुनी वासना I
दाविल्याचे जना काय काज II
आळवावे देवा भाकुनी करुणा I
आपुलिया मना साक्ष करी II
नाही जावे यावे दुरूनी लागत I
आहे साक्षभूत अंतरींचा II
तुका म्हणे हा तो आहे कृपासिंधु I
तोड़ी भवबंधु तात्काळीक II

" It is said that,
" Be In The World, But Not Of The World. "
In other words, it is having a mind open to everything, but attached to nothing. In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj talks about living amidst the worldly activity, unattached to it and unattained by it, very much like a Lotus Flower which remains untainted by the mud in the pond. He says,
Renunciation and detachment are like two sides of a coin. Renunciation is an outer action, an act of leaving behind the objects and habits which bind the individual to a pattern of life. Detachment is essentially an inner attitude of breaking the bondage of mind to possessions, people and property. External Renunciation is of little significance without renouncing the false ego sense. It is never the object itself which has to be renounced, but its ownership or the attachment to it. There is nothing to renounce in life beyond our attachments and our basic instincts.
Liberation cannot be attained without renunciation. The secret of renunciation is to want nothing. Renunciation of One's family and material life is not enough. What is required is renunciation of egoism, small mindedness and all the negative personality traits that stand as obstacles on the way of Spiritual Journey.
It is the Detachment which enables One to respond to all life's situations creatively. And hence Detachment is not a listless un-involvement in life, but is a living sacrifice.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says,
Devotional Renunciation is very easy and pleasant. Absorption in the Essence of Divine Name through Holy Ram Nam is the ultimate Detachment. God is always close at hand. Do not think that he is far away. He dwells within the heart of all of us, day and night. God takes birth in the Womb of Love within each of us. He is standing at the door of every heart. Call Him. He is waiting to come in. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Saturday, 9 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

मंत्र चळे पिसे लागते सत्वर I
अबद्ध ते फार तरले नामे II
अशौचता बाधी आणिकां अक्षरां I
नाम निदसुरा घेतां तरे II
रागज्ञानघात चुकतां होय वेळ I
नाम सर्वकाळ शुभदायक II
आणिकां भजनां विधि बोलिला निषेध I
नाम ते अभेद सकळां मुखी II
तुका म्हणे तपें घालिती घालणी I
वेश्या उद्धरूनि नेली नामें II

" It is said that in Kali Yuga, the Holy Ram Nam is the only salvation. Devotion alone brings about the union with the Supreme Lord Shri Ram. Among the different modes of devotion, chanting the Holy Ram Nam takes the pride of place for its efficacy and the ease with which anyone can recite it. In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj says that even in this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, One can experience the most sublime state of Self Realisation by absorbing the Self in reciting the Holy Ram Nam, a royal highway to realisation of God. The Name Worship through Holy Ram Nam is nothing but a panacea for people caught in the web of worldly miseries. When the veil of ignorance is lifted, One realises that God resides within as the All Pervading Supreme Self.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says,
Mistakes in chanting 'Mantras' can cause wide array of problems, from merely nullifying its effect to emotional imbalances which may be detrimental. However the Name Worship has no such inhibitions. Irrespective of state of mind and bodily condition, One can recite the Holy Ram Nam, while performing the daily chores. Absorption in the Holy Ram Nam purifies the mind and bears fruits is abundance. Sleeping or awake, sitting or standing, One can recite the Holy Ram Nam even when he is bodily unclean.
The Blessed Ram Nam is the veritable Divine Melody of the Lord, which needs no elaborate knowledge of intricacies and grammar of musical notes. Engaged in the Name Worship of Divine Melody, One is awakened from a long drawn slumber of ages.
There are nine forms of devotion which if cultivated and practiced regularly leads us closer to the Lord Divine. Out of these, the third devotion is  constant remembrance of the Lord (स्मरण भक्ती), the Name Worship of Supreme Lord. Those who always contemplate on the qualities of the Supreme Lord with devotion are freed from all impurities and enter the Supreme Abode. Except for this devotion, all others need certain disciplines regarding things to be done and things to be avoided.
Certain ritualistic practices, if not performed well may give hazardous results. However the Name Worship through Holy Ram Nam needs no stringent discipline and code of conduct. It can be practiced by anyone without any inhibitions.
Illustrating the miraculous transformation the Name Worship of Supreme Lord Shri Ram brings about Sant Tukaram Maharaj narrates story of Ganika. He says,
Ganika, who made her living as a prostitute, was transformed from bottomless loneliness to absolute happiness. The Holy Ram Nam awakened in her a great sense of detachment. The anxiety was replaced by contentment from within. Ganika's story is about the sudden bursting forth of Spiritual Illumination. One day when no one turned up to her then in utterly disappointed state of mind, she experienced an awakening which was sudden and profoundly regenerative. She was filled with a profound sense of Divine Delight when she immersed herself in incessant recital of Holy Ram Nam with absolute reverence. She was enlightened by the Name Worship of Supreme Lord Shri Ram.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, the Holy Ram Nam works instantly on the mind who recites it with utmost devotion. He urges earnestly that One must pursue the Name Worship of Divine Lord Shri Ram with every breath as it opens the gates of the Supreme Bliss. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Friday, 8 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

शुद्धा शुद्ध निवड़े कैसे I
चर्म मांस भिन्न नाही II
काही अधिक नाही उणे I
कवण्या गुणे देवासी II
उदक भिन्न असे काई I
वाहाळ बावी सरिता नई II fc
सूर्य तेजे निवड़े काय I
रश्मी रसा सकळां खाय II
वर्णा भिन्न दूधा नाही I
सकळां गाई सारखे II
करिता भिन्न नाही माती I
मडक्या गति भिन्न नांवे II
वर्ते एकविध अग्नि I
नाही मनी शुद्धाशुद्ध II
तुका म्हणे पात्र चाड I
किंवा विष अमृत गोड II

It is said that,
" In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans, in one aspect of you are found all the aspects of existence. "
in order to bridge the wide gap between Consciousness and apparently durable matter, all physical things are constituted of five subtle elements (पंचमहाभूत) called Earth, Fire, water, Air and Ether.These five great elements represent the universe of matter-energy. In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, these are not the elements, but the subtle conditions which together create the perception of forms which can be sensed by human mind. Just like God consciousness, each of these elements may manifest in different forms but their original nature and quantity in universe remains eternally constant. The imbalance of these five elements is the root of all sufferings. All Basic Elements emerge out of God consciousness, remain sustained by it and ultimately merge back into it and hence it is challenging to judge of what is pure and what is impure among them. This quest however ends when one realises that the Eternal Essence expressing through matter is the manifested entity in each one of us.
Human beings, animals, birds and fish are each made of flesh, but none of them are alike. We identify flesh on the body with the Basic Element Earth and the Body Cavity with Basic Element Ether.
Water may be contained in a canal or well or river or an ocean. From rain to fog to snow to mist, the Basic Element Water manifests in different forms but Water is still Water in the end.
As the rays of the Sun spread out everywhere, the One Divine Principle pervades each and every heart. The rays of One Divine Light representing  the Basic Element Fire, spread out their brilliant radiance everywhere.
Clay or mud, the Basic Element Earth, is the cause of all Clay pots. The Clay pots may come in many colours, but Clay being the main constituent, is same in all Clay pots so is the One God Consciousness which is the cause and support of individuality in all of us. Just like the Basic Element Fire, the life giving Spirit in only One, and everything is filled in His glory.
The dairy cows come in many colours but colour of cow's milk is same everywhere, the colour being a perfect confluence of Five Basic Elements.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says it is the content in the pot that matters more than mere container which holds it. A conscious effort of identifying the proper content conducive to the journey of Self Realisation is paramount for its success because where Amrut or nectar of immotality will do its wonder, the wrong choice will make things worse.
The All Permeating Supreme Lord is One-without a second. The journey of Spiritual Awakening is all about identifying Him in different manifestations. His reflection is hidden in all objects just as fire is hidden in wood or butter is hidden in milk. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Thursday, 7 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

चंदनाचे गावी सर्पाची वसति I
भोगिती ते होती द्विपांतरी II
एका ओझे एका लाभ घड़े देवा I
संचिताचा ठेवा वेगळाला II
क्षीराची वसति अशुद्ध सेवावे I
जवळी ते जावे भोगे दुरी II
तुका म्हणे ऐसी बुद्धि ज्याची जड़ I
त्याहुनि दगड बरे देवा II

" Snakes in the proximity of Sandalwood Tree are unaware of  lovely fragrance emanating from it. But Godliness of its rich aroma captivates everyone, not only in its vicinity but also someone at far off places.
In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj talks about  being unaware of possessing something valuable. He says,
Mirage like enchanting world compels One to spend this rare human birth in frivolous pursuits. We tend to forget the Divine purpose of assuming this rare and precious human birth, an opportunity to do everything possible to ensure no repeated sufferings. The mind dances to the tune of Maya, the Mistress of Illusion, engrossing in "I am the body" idea. Attracted to external features of this phenomenal world, the mind is practically asleep to introspection. The journey of Self Realisation is nothing but Self Enquiry, debugging the mind by looking inward. Everything is within the body.The quest of our True Self is the introspective meditation that yields Self Knowledge.
However we do everything opposite by seeking contentment outside. Just like snakes in the vicinity of Sandalwood Tree, we are unaware of having the treasure of this precious human birth which is a wonderful opportunity to dispel the darkness of ignorance enveloping our True Self.
Illustrating with beautiful analogy Sant Tukaram Maharaj says,
A gadfly (गोचिड) remains stuck near the udder (आंचळ) of cow. Despite being in its proximity, the gadfly is unaware of sweetness of cow's milk. Instead it exhausts it's life force in sucking only the blood of cow. In other words for One blinded by ignorance, the worldly things matter most and seem to be reliable than the Supreme Lord Shri Ram who is most reachable.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says that animals live uninhibited lust and self centred instincts to preserve their own existence. But this rarest of rare human birth is a wonderful opportunity to rise above this animal nature and come to live more noble, and Divine Life true to Self. He says it is much better to be like stones than Snakes and Gadfly who miss the bus  only due to their unawareness."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Wednesday, 6 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

सुख पाहता जवापाड़े I
दुःख पर्वताएवढे II
धरी धरी आठवण I
मानी संतांचे वचन II
नेले रात्रीने ते अर्ध I
बाळपण जराव्याध II
तुका म्हणे पुढा I
घाणा जुन्तिजसी मूढ़ा II

" It is said that, the cause of pain is love of pleasure. The pleasure is not in objects but it is in the imagination or inclination of mind. There is a grain of pleasure in objects, but the pain that is mixed with it is of the size of a big mountain. There is not a single object in this world which can give us lasting happiness. Any pleasure emanating from material objects ultimately turn into disease or pain. What separates human beings from animals is their faculty of Discrimination (विवेक बुद्धि) which allows man to discriminate between the Eternal (Permanent) and Ephemeral (Impermanent). The common mistake we make is to be complacent that in life everything will be permanent. But, when inevitable change happens we are often caught unaware.
Since that which comes is not eternal and cannot escape end, Sant Tukaram Maharaj urges us in this composition, to see deeper into the total unreality of coming and going or life and death, which only exists in our "I -ness". He says, One must not waste this rarest of rare human births in frivolous pursuits, since One is not sure what might be in store in the next.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj describes vividly of how uselessly we mortals waste this previous human life. He says,
Assuming a hundred year life span of human life, an average twelve hours sleep every day reduces the life span effectively to fifty years. Out of these, the first twelve years pass in childhood. Few are absorbed by exuberance of youth and in the end, the old age starts taking it's toll and our tongue becomes incapable of speaking the Truth, and in regrets and repents, tears flow copiously from our eyes. The next thing is the noose of death hanging over our head, which strikes suddenly to snatch away everything in a moment what we had tried to preserve all our life as our own.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj urges us not to fear death, but always keep it in mind until Truth is realised. He says, following the footsteps of Spirituality Wise is the only way One can avoid the vicious cycle of repeated pain and delusion. The True Happiness can be found nowhere, but within, realising our True Self. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Tuesday, 5 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

देह हा सादर पाहावा निश्चित I
सर्व सुख येथे नाम आहे II
ब्रम्ह जे देखणे द्वैत जेव्हां गेले I
शरीर ते झाले ब्रम्हरूप II
यजन याजन तप व्रत करिती I
विकल्पे नागवती शुद्ध पुण्या II
तुका म्हणे सर्व सुख येथे आहे I
भ्रांति दूर पाहे टाकुनिया II

" It is said that,
"Do not meditate - be
 Do not think that you are - be
 Don't think about being - you are"
In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj talks about the feeling of two-ness or Duality, which gives rise to the phenomenal world of names and forms. Just as the silkworm weaves it's own cocoon and binds itself to death, the man fancies this pluralistic world and gets caught in it. The only solace for the One caught in this web of duality is the Holy Ram Nam, for only it can dispel all the darkness born of ignorance. This body is the merchant's warehouse and has in it the Holy Ram Nam as wares. A rare buyer may get it through the teachings of a Spiritually Wise.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, only when the mind looks at the immutable Truth within, it renounces "I am the body" idea and attains the Divine Consciousness.
Bereft of Spiritual Wisdom, people worship ignorance and carry on rituals, vows and sacrifices. These practices performed with definite purpose along with the strong notion of "I am the body" enhance egotism. However if One thinks that merely performing these rituals he can mend his mind, he could not be any more lost.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, a true pilgrimage for the soul is the Holy Ram Nam which is replete with Wisdom of Supreme Self. It will dawn only when One overcomes the spell of Maya, the Mistress of Illusion which keeps him in bondage of worldly possessions and worldly relations.
Last but not the least he says,
When One goes beyond awareness, there is a state of Non Duality, in which there is only Pure Being. In the state of Non Duality, all separation ceases. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II
II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

देह हा सादर पाहावा निश्चित I
सर्व सुख येथे नाम आहे II
ब्रम्ह जे देखणे द्वैत जेव्हां गेले I
शरीर ते झाले ब्रम्हरूप II
यजन याजन तप व्रत करिती I
विकल्पे नागवती शुद्ध पुण्या II
तुका म्हणे सर्व सुख येथे आहे I
भ्रांति दूर पाहे टाकुनिया II

" It is said that,
"Do not meditate - be
Do not think that you are - be
Don't think about being - you are"
In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj talks about the feeling of two-ness or Duality, which gives rise to the phenomenal world of names and forms. Just as the silkworm weaves it's own cocoon and binds itself to death, the man fancies this pluralistic world and gets caught in it. The only solace for the One caught in this web of duality is the Holy Ram Nam, for only it can dispel all the darkness born of ignorance. This body is the merchant's warehouse and has in it the Holy Ram Nam as wares. A rare buyer may get it through the teachings of a Spiritually Wise.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says,  only when the mind looks at the immutable Truth within, it renounces " I am the body " idea and attains the Divine Consciousness.
Bereft of Spiritual Wisdom, people worship ignorance and carry on rituals, vows. These practices performed with definite purpose along with the strong notion of " I am the body " enhance egotism. However if One thinks that merely performing these rituals he can mend his mind, he could not be any more lost.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, a true pilgrimage for the soul is the Holy Ram Nam which is replete with Wisdom of Supreme Self. It will dawn only when One overcomes the spell of Maya, the Mistress of Illusion which keeps him in bondage of worldly possessions and worldly relations.
Last but not the least he says,
When One goes beyond awareness, there is a state of Non Duality, in which there is only Pure Being. In the state of Non Duality, all separation ceases. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Monday, 4 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कोडियाचे गोरेपण I
तसे अहंकारी ज्ञान II
त्यासी आता रिझे कोण I
जवळी जाता चिळसवाणे II
प्रेतदेहा गौरविले I
तैसे विटंबवाणे झाले II
तुका म्हणे खाणे विष्ठा I
तैशा देहबुद्धि चेष्टा II

" It is said that "Pride of worldly knowledge rots the mind."
In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj cautions us about Pride of materialistic knowledge, a great pitfall  to become conceited and haughty. He says,
Pride corrupts. It makes One lose his Sense of Discrimination (विवेक बुद्धि) and perception of Truth. The self imposed complacency of this temporal knowledge is so intimidating that One becomes blind to the Divine Virtue.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says,
Boastful arrogance of earthly knowledge is just like fairness of skin inflicted by depigmentation due to Vitiligo (कोड). One absorbed in " I am the body " idea is beyond reach, for the Spiritually Wise to convince him that eventually frittering away his life in pursuits will only distance him from Reality.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, just as grotesque it is to embellish a dead body, a self approving One makes his own mockery by pretending to know everything when he knows nothing.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says,
Identifying body with the Self is as repulsive as eating an excrement. If One ends in accumulating more material desires and body centric filth in One's life, it will cause the Spirit to be reflected again within another body pot and it will be impossible to breach the vicious circle of repeated sufferings. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Sunday, 3 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

लहानपण देगा देवा I
मुंगी साखरेचा रवा II
ऐरावत रत्न थोर I
त्यासी अंकुशाचा मार II
ज्याचे अंगी मोठेपण I
तया यातना कठीण II
तुका म्हणे जाण I
व्हावे लहानाहूनि लहान II

It is said that " Rock Bottom has built more Heroes than Privilege. "
In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj discourses about Humility. He says,
There is a thin line between confidence and arrogance. It's called Humility.Confidence smiles while arrogance smirks.
Cosmic energy is the energy of God Consciousness. We all are surrounded by it, in and out, always, every time and everywhere. A conscious effort to avoid using words that reflect ego and self insistence of using humble words is in itself a gross level step to receive the Cosmic Energy of God Consciousness. Self Realisation is a journey in the third dimension, the dimension of depth where One transcends from  Body Consciousness in matter form to God Consciousness in energy form. In other words, Energy is liberated matter while matter is energy waiting to happen. Thus the journey of Spiritual Awakening is inculcating Humility from within, an ability to give up your pride while still retaining dignity.
Sant Tukaram Maharaj says,
Just like a huge elephant needs to be goaded by a spiked stick, a precious life force is wasted to subdue the false ego sense of ignorant mind. However an ant, being inconspicuous, seeks sugar cube, picks up one crystal and carries it off. Taking only as much as it can handle, it goes much far. Just like ant, One needs to do little bit of good everytime so that those little bits of good put together overwhelm the world. In other words Self Realisation and Humility always go together "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Saturday, 2 February 2019

II श्रीराम  जय राम जय जय राम II

धारिता इच्छा दूरी पळे I
पाठी सोहळे उदासा II
म्हणऊनि  असट मन I
नका खुण सांगतो II
अमिषापाशी अवघे वर्म I
सोसे श्रम पाववी II
तुका म्हणे बीज न्यावे I
तेथ यावे फळाने II

It is said that
"You are what your deep, driving desire is.
As you desire, so is your will.
As your will is, so is your deed.
As your deed is, so is your destiny."
In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj talks about emotional attachments to worldly sense desires which clouds One's subtle sense of Discrimination (विवेक बुद्धि) thereby leading him to bondage. He says,
When we control one desire, another pops up. In those who chose to give up desire for wealth and give away their money, a new craving emerges - a desire for reputation. Conversely, those who chose to renounce the world and become ascetic are often driven by a desire for heaven or Liberation. So goes on the  pursuit of desires, an endless chase.
Summing up Sant Tukaram Maharaj says,
Until you have chased after your desires, until you have seen the worthlessness of chasing after them, run and fallen down and scraped, nothing can take you to the door of Truth.
As it goes with the famous saying, "As you sow, so shall you reap."
The Spiritually Wise utilizes his senses just like a Tortoise. If he feels harm or danger in the form of worldly temptations, he immediately withdraws them within at his will. Instead of using them for his own sense gratification, he ever keeps them occupied in Selfless Service of Divine, Lord of the Highest. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

Friday, 1 February 2019

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

दधीमाजी लोणी जाणती सकळ I
ते काढी निराळे जाणे मथन II
अग्नि काष्ठामाजी ऐसे जाने जन I
मथिलियाविण कैसा जाळी II
तुका म्हणे मुख मळीण दर्पणी I
उजळील्यावाचुनि कैसे भासे II

It is said that Spiritual Path is just like "Walking on a two edged sword."
In this composition Sant Tukaram Maharaj elucidates this thought. He says,
To succeed in this, we need to awaken from within, which is possible only by Divine Providence.(ईश्वर कृपा). A conscious effort at the appropriate time is paramount on this journey of Spiritual Awakening.
It requires an iron will to steer One's perspective from worldly to Spiritual through inner renunciation, making it an arduous journey of Selflessness, Commitment and Sacrifice. Unfortunately few display the courage of conviction to sustain the same spirit for too long.
Illustrating with beautiful analogies Sant Tukaram Maharaj says,
Just like churning of curd separates the butter inherent in it, the distinctness of the Divine Lord cannot be realised unless a conscious effort is done to attain Self Realisation.
In another analogy he says,
 One need to make a conscious effort to make the fire indwelling in wood to surface because only the freely blazing fire makes flames out of everything thrown into it.
In another analogy Sant Tukaram Maharaj says, in the mind mirror  clouded with dust of our false ego sense, we cannot see our True Self clearly. The cleansing of mind mirror is nothing but the quietness of mind and the ultimate sublimation of all its wanderings.
Just as when the darkness of the night is dispelled, everything shrouded becomes visible, similarly when One makes a conscious effort to remove perversions of mind, there arises the blissful realm. The calm mind, free of agitations enjoys the Intuitive Peace Forever. "

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरुचरणार्पणमस्तु II

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II धावे माते सोई I बाळ न विचारता काही II मग त्याचे जाणे निके I अंग वोडवी कौतुके II नेणे सर्प दोरी I आगी भ...