35. HEART'S PUNISHMENT, MIND'S PUNISHMENT

Both
My mind and my heart
   Punish me.
Yet I love my heart
And hate my mind.

      Why?
My heart’s punishment
   Is reformatory.
My mind’s punishment
   Is vengeful.

My heart punishes me
      Because
Of my own immediate necessity.
My mind punishes me
      Because
Of its own constant necessity.
Sri Chinmoy, The Golden Boat, Part 16, Vishma Press, New York, 1974