The Dance of Life, part 19

901. In My own Way

```

Father, I think of You so much,

Do You ever think of me?

“Daughter, I do think of you.

But I think of you in My own Way.”

Father, I meditate on You so much.

Do You ever meditate on me?

“Daughter, I do meditate on you.

But I meditate on you in My own Way.

Father, I love You so much.

Do You love me?

“Daughter, I do love you.

But I love you in My own Way.”

Father, what will happen

If You once please me in my own way?

“Daughter, if I please you

In your own way,

Your little ‘I’ will be overfed and fall sick

And die before it gets its own Illumination,

And

Your divine Self will starve,

And remain unmanifested.

Further, this will engender

My immediate death.”

```

902. Today's man of action and light

```

Today’s man of Action

Was Yesterday’s Dreamer.

Today’s man of Action

Shall be Tomorrow’s Path-finder.

Today’s man of Light

Was Yesterday’s Seeker.

Today’s man of Light

Shall be Tomorrow’s earth-Transformer. ```

903. The essence

```

Desire is the essence

Of a desiring man.

Doubt is the essence

Of a blinding man.

Fear is the essence

Of a bound man.

Aspiration is the essence

Of an aspiring man.

Bliss is the essence

Of a serving man.

Surrender is the essence

Of a God-man. ```

904. Difference

```

Difference of ideas is good.

I say this

Because

Other things are bad.

Difference of convictions is better.

I say this

Because

Other things are worse.

Difference of realisations

Is by far the best.

I say this

Because

Other things are absolutely the worst.

```

905. Failure and success

```

Defeat

Is a bad failure.

Despair

Is a worse failure.

Not to try again

Is the worst failure.

Victory

Is a good success.

Progress

Is a better success.

Surrender

Is the best success. ```

906. Your promise

```

Your promise to God

Is God’s highest Pride.

Your promise to man

Is man’s strongest anxiety.

Your promise to Heaven

Is Heaven’s nectar-delight.

Your promise to earth

Is earth’s frustration-night. ```

907. He hates himself

```

He hates himself

Because

He finds evil in everything.

He hates himself

Because

He finds everything evil.

He hates himself

Because

He desired to deceive God.

He hates himself

Because

He desired to deceive his life.

```

908. Her Master

```

The eyes of her Master

Serve faster than his hands.

The heart of her Master

Serves faster than his eyes.

The trance of her Master

Serves faster than his heart. ```

909. Experience tells me

```

Experience tells me

How foolish I was.

Experience tells me

How wise I can be.

Experience tells me

How silly all my mistakes were.

Experience tells me

How I can easily be perfect

Next time.

```

910. He is lost

```

He is lost.

He has no choice,

He has no voice.

He has lost

What he had:

Poise, inner poise.

He has forgotten

What he knew:

Joy, inner joy.

He has smashed

What he built:

His Palace, his inner Palace. ```

911. Evolution and revolution

```

Some call it

Cosmic evolution.

Others call it

Life’s transformation.

I call it

God’s transcending Perfection.

Some call it

Bitter frustration.

Others call it

Wild destruction.

I call it

God’s challenging Revolution. ```

912. The palace of falsehood, the palace of truth

```

Pure overstatement

Lives in the Palace

Of Falsehood.

Gross understatement

Lives in the Palace

Of Falsehood.

Self-discovery

Lives in the Palace

Of Truth.

God-mastery

Lives in the Palace

Of Truth. ```

913. God descended, I ascended

```

I unconsciously

Ascended from a monkey.

God consciously

Descended from the skies.

I unconsciously

Offered God

My only treasure:

Cry, heart’s cry.

God consciously

Offered me

His transcendental Treasure:

Smile, Goal’s Smile. ```

914. Her vital, mind and body

```

Her vital triumphed

Over her heart,

But failed

To conquer her heart.

Her mind confused

Her heart,

But failed

To weaken her heart.

Her body forgot to love

Her heart,

But failed

To ignore her heart. ```

915. Checked and unchecked

```

Checked, her vital strives.

Unchecked, her vital fights.

Checked, her mind obeys.

Unchecked, her mind doubts.

Checked, her heart offers.

Unchecked, her heart rests.

But checked or unchecked,

Her body sleeps. ```

916. Equality

```

Poor Equality,

I really feel sorry for you.

In the morning

You are mercilessly

Avoided by others’

Clever responsibility.

At noon

You are compelled

To dance with others’

Insincerity and futility.

In the evening

Absurdity and impossibility

Come into your broken heart

Only to destroy

Your entire existence.

```

917. I believe in oneness

```

I believe in oneness.

A child adds his achievements

To his parents’ achievements.

Thus the three become one.

Here I hear the song of oneness,

Here I see the dance of oneness,

Here I feel the reality of oneness.

But for me to say

A child’s achievements

Equal his father’s achievements

Or

His mother’s achievements

Is sheer stupidity.

You are on the top of the life-tree,

He is in the middle of the life-tree,

I am at the foot of the life-tree.

How can our achievements

Be equal?

But we are one,

Undoubtedly one,

Because we have established

Our inseparable oneness

With the life-tree.

```

918. He claims

```

He who has stark audacity,

Claims the physical world.

He who has dynamic energy,

Claims the vital world.

He who has silver dreams,

Claims the mental world.

He who has divine love,

Claims the psychic world. ```

919. Your enemy, your friend

```

He is your friend

Because

He hides the truth about you.

He is your enemy

Because

He tells the truth about you.

My God is your friend

Because

He teaches you

Secretly and devotedly.

My God is your enemy

Because

He examines you

Carefully, strictly, impartially,

Openly and publicly.

```

920. No little enemy

```

There is no little enemy.

A wee fear

Tortures our whole existence.

A tiny doubt

Devours our entire being.

A puny jealousy

Destroys our universal oneness.

```

921. No little friend

```

There is no little friend.

An iota of faith

Energises my entire being.

A small fraction of love

Elevates my whole existence

To Heaven.

An insignificant portion of surrender

Makes me one,

Inseparably one,

With Infinity. ```

922. Machines and men

```

Machines

Unconsciously aspire

To become men.

Men

Consciously aspire

To become machines.

In machines,

God declares

His lofty Pride.

In men,

God declares

His sad disappointment.

```

923. The story of a saint

```

Is he a saint?

Catch him,

Strike him,

Kill him,

Since he is not

Adding anything

To our world’s

Practical and real life.

Ah, he is gone!

He is dead!

His silent gaze

We miss so deeply.

His pure life

We miss so badly.

His heart of compassion

We miss so sadly.

His soul of illumination

We miss so unmistakably.

Alas, he is gone!

No more our saint is with us. ```

924. A daughter's confessions

```

Father, I confess my insecurity.

Therefore will You not bless me?

“Daughter, I am not a priest.

Therefore I am not entitled

To accept your confession.

But I shall bless you

For something else.”

Father, I confess my jealousy.

Therefore will You not bless me?

“Daughter, I am not a priest.

Therefore I am not entitled

To accept your confession.

But I shall bless you

For something else.”

Father, what is that thing

That You will bless me for?

“Daughter, I shall bless you

Because

You are My own

Searching and struggling,

Aspiring and evolving Self.”

```

925. Failure

```

He fails

Because

He never tries.

I fail

Because

I hesitate to try.

Faith never fails

Because

It always tries.

Love never fails

Because

It constantly does. ```

926. Helplessness and destruction

```

O self-confessed Failure,

Do you know your other name?

Your other name is

Deplorable helplessness.

O self-confessed Doubt,

Do you know your other name?

Your other name is

Deplorable destruction. ```

927. O doubter

```

Doubter,

Flatter me not.

You

Are a thief in disguise.

Doubter,

Inspire me not.

You

Are a rogue in disguise.

Doubter,

Love me not.

You

Are a butcher in disguise. ```

928. I call him a fool

```

I call him a fool

Because

He knows not something

Today.

Ah, I am so lucky

That God did not call me

A fool

Yesterday,

Although I myself did not know

That very thing yesterday.

The main difference

Between

God and me is this:

God illumines His world

Through loving forgiveness.

I illumine my world

Through shameless cleverness.

```

929. The song of forgiveness

```

He is weak.

Therefore

He cannot afford to forgive.

You are strong.

Therefore

You can afford to forgive.

I am unwise.

Therefore

I know not how to forgive.

God is wise.

Therefore

He is all Forgiveness. ```

930. He and she are not free

```

He is not free,

Although

He is the King.

She is not free,

Although

She is the Queen.

He is not free

Because

He enjoys living

In the world of mental confusion.

She is not free

Because

She enjoys living

In the world of vital depression. ```

931. I thought of my future

```

Three times

I thought of my future

Seriously.

First time when I thought

Of my future,

My Lord said to me:

“My daughter, do not ignore

My Compassion for you.”

Second time when I thought

Of my future,

My Lord said to me:

“My daughter, do not underestimate

My Concern for you.”

Third time when I thought

Of my future,

My Lord said to me:

“My daughter, do not forget

My Love for you.” ```

932. Sincere and devoted

```

She is sincere,

Therefore

She aspires more

Than she normally can.

She is devoted.

Therefore

She loves more

Than she possibly can. ```

933. He believes in God

```

He believes in God

Even though his doubts

Constantly speak against God.

He believes in God

Even though his failures

Constantly speak against God.

He believes in God

Even though God’s entire creation

Constantly misunderstands him.

```

934. My surrender, my service, my gratitude

```

My unconditional surrender

Is the only wealth

That I offer to God.

My devoted service

Is the only wealth

That I offer to man.

My soulful gratitude

Is the only wealth

That I offer

To both God and man. ```

935. Punishment

```

Doubt is self-punishment,

Faith is self-enfoldment.

Fear is self-punishment,

Courage is self-refreshment.

Division is self-punishment,

Unity is self-enlightenment.

Hate is self-punishment,

Love is self-fulfilment. ```

936. Follow and command

```

You follow;

Let me command.

God is there to watch.

You command;

Let me follow.

God is there to watch.

You shall follow;

God will command.

I shall be there to watch.

I shall follow;

God will command.

You shall be there to watch.

This is the only way

To become the seeker,

The Master,

The Supreme. ```

937. Look at the folly

```

Look at the folly of his heart!

His heart feels that all men are

Helpless.

Look at the folly of his mind!

His mind thinks that all men are

Senseless.

Look at the folly of his vital!

His vital declares that all men are

Useless.

Look at the folly of his body!

His body knows that all men are

Homeless.

```

938. Two places to live

```

An injured lover

Lives in hell.

A doubtful seeker

Lives in hell.

A misunderstood Master

Lives in hell.

A demanding beginner

Lives in hell.

An unsought adviser

Lives in hell.

Let you and me

Live in Heaven.

Where is Heaven?

Heaven is just

Beside hell.

```

939. The winner and the loser

```

He is the great winner

Who wins.

He is the greater winner

Who is the cheerful loser.

He is the greatest winner

Who gives equal value

To victory and defeat.

He alone is the real loser

Who separates

Defeat from victory.

```

940. Heart and soul, truth and peace

```

Heart offers its love,

It cannot be bought.

Soul offers its joy.

It cannot be caught.

Truth reveals itself.

It cannot be demanded.

Peace spreads itself.

It cannot be commanded. ```

941. A reasoning animal

```

He is.

He is a reasoning animal.

He is not.

He is not a reasonable animal.

He has.

He has the false capacity

To admire all.

He does not have.

He does not have the admirable capacity

To aspire at all. ```

942. Your real teacher

```

He who inspires you

Is your real teacher.

He who loves you

Is your real teacher.

He who forces you

Is your real teacher.

He who perfects you

Is your real teacher.

He who treasures you

Is your real teacher. ```

943. Who can cure?

```

Defects of the heart

Love can cure.

Defects of the vital

Power can cure.

Defects of the body

Compassion can cure.

Defects of the mind

Nothing can cure,

None can cure,

Only God can cure.

And

He does it cheerfully,

He does it unconditionally.

```

944. If I

```

If I

Do not change my doubting mind

Immediately,

Then there is a safe place

For me:

A grand mental asylum.

If I

Cannot change my doubting mind

Decisively,

Then there is a safer place

For me:

An enormous coffin.

If I

Cherish my doubting mind

Deliberately,

Then there is the safest place

For me:

A vast burial ground. ```

945. When he lives

```

When he lives

In his heart,

He descends

Into the nature

Of a lamb.

When he lives

In his mind,

He descends

Into the nature

Of a monkey.

When he lives

In his vital,

He descends

Into the nature

Of a wolf.

When he lives

In his body,

He descends

Into the nature

Of a snake.

```

946. Man's reputation

```

A man

With a bad reputation

Is already

Half-hanged.

A man

With a good reputation

Is already

Halfway

To Heaven.

A man

With no reputation

Is already

Half-lost

To the world

And

To Heaven.

```

947. God's Call

```

What is God’s Call?

God’s Call is the beginning

Of a supernal Vision.

What is a Vision?

A Vision is something

That leads us

To an immortal Decision.

What is a Decision?

A Decision is today’s Kite

Of Aspiration

And

Tomorrow’s Sky

Of Realisation.

```

948. Obedience, inner and outer

```

Inner obedience, inner obedience:

What is it,

If not a divine opportunity?

Outer obedience, outer obedience:

What is it,

If not a glowing beauty?

My inner obedience

Carries me to my Lord Supreme

Sooner than at once.

My outer obedience

Brings me to my Lord Supreme

Slowly, steadily and unerringly. ```

949. One man and one woman can save the world

```

One man can save the world.

Who is that man?

That man is the man of Compassion.

One woman can save the world.

Who is that woman?

That woman is the woman of Perfection.

Where does the man

Of Compassion live?

He lives in the Abode

Of God’s Transcendental Pride.

Where does the woman

Of Perfection live?

She lives in the Abode

Of God’s Eternal Gratitude. ```

950. Father and daughter

```

Father, how can I

Make You always happy?

“Daughter,

Think of Me more.

Think of the world more.

Think of yourself more.”

Father, please tell me how.

“Daughter,

Think from today

That I am your only Thinker.

Think from today

That the world is your only thought.

Think from today

That you are of My Heart-Dream

And

You are for My Life-Reality.” ```

From:Sri Chinmoy,The Dance of Life, part 19, Aum Press, Puerto Rico, 1973
Sourced from https://srichinmoylibrary.com/dl_19