The Dance of Life, part 16

751. What to look for

```

What to look for

In God —

A sweet smile.

What to look for

In man —

An iota of gratitude.

What to look for

In Heaven —

A flood of compassion.

What to look for

On earth —

An island of peace.

What to look for

In life —

A particle of satisfaction.

What to look for

In death —

A song of immortality.

```

752. Surprising news

```

God has

Surprising news for him.

God will give him

Aspiration today

And

Realisation tomorrow,

Far beyond his expectation

And

Far beyond his imagination.

He has

Surprising news for God.

At last he is ready to offer

Ignorance, his best friend, to God.

He is even prepared to offer

His own self, the desire incarnate, to God. ```

753. Sigh no more

```

Father,

Sigh no more,

I shall be Yours.

Son,

Sigh no more,

I am yours.

Father,

I assure You,

I shall love You.

Son,

I assure you,

I love you.

Father,

I wish to replace You.

Son,

You have already replaced Me.

Don’t you see that you

And your friend, Ignorance,

Have been ruling My Kingdom

For a long time? ```

754. My songs

```

My desire-song

Began.

But I do not know

When I stopped it.

My aspiration-song

Began.

But I do not know

How it began

Or

How I am

Continuing it.

My realisation-song

Began.

Who began it?

God.

Who continues it?

God.

Who listens to it?

God.

Who is enamoured of it?

God. ```

755. Two instruments of death

```

Two instruments of death:

Fear and doubt.

I employed them

For a long time

To serve me

And

Please me.

They served me

Day in and day out.

I was really and truly

Pleased with them

And

Proud of them.

Recently faith, an instrument of God,

Came to me

Looking for a job.

I immediately employed faith.

To my wide surprise,

Faith chased away

My previous workers.

Now faith alone

Does everything for me,

From morn to eve

And

From eve to morn. ```

756. Three times

```

Three times

I looked for a hiding place.

Alas, each time

I failed.

First time

I looked for a hiding place in God.

God did not allow me

To hide inside Him.

He said

I am too restless,

I would not stay inside Him

For good.

He said to me

That I have to

Hide inside Him either

Forever or never.

He knew that I would not

Be able to stay inside Him forever.

Therefore, He did not care

To fulfil my prayer.

Second time

I looked for a hiding place in man.

Alas, it all ended in vain.

Man said to me,

“I shall allow you to hide inside me

On one condition.

You have to offer me daily

A sea of gratitude

And

A sea of plenitude.”

I immediately told man

That his demands were extravagant,

Impossible and unthinkable.

I left man with my transcendental disgust.

Third and last time

I looked for a hiding place

Inside Ignorance-sea.

Lo, I have done it.

And nothing need I

Offer my Ignorance-sea in return.

Here I shall hide,

I shall eternally hide. ```

757. He and fear, he and doubt

```

He and fear

Together began their adventure.

Their adventure ends

As it began.

It began with helplessness

And ends in helplessness.

He and doubt

Together began their adventure.

Their adventure ends

As it began.

It began with confusion

And ends in confusion. ```

758. Two strangers came

```

One stranger came.

I showed him my compassion,

I gave him my protection.

Soon I came to know

That this stranger was

My Father, God, in complete disguise.

Another stranger came.

I showed him my incapacity,

I gave him my ignorance.

Soon I came to know that

This stranger was

My brother, man, in complete disguise. ```

759. I lived

```

I lived in the cottage

Of Dreams

To see the Face of Reality.

I live in the house

Of Dreams

To shake hands with Reality.

I shall live in the Palace

Of Dreams

To become the Soul of Reality.

```

760. Homesick

```

My soul is homesick.

It wants to go back

To its Fulfilment-Home.

My heart is homesick.

It wants to go back

To its Oneness-Home.

My mind is homesick.

It wants to go back

To its Vastness-Home.

My vital is homesick.

It wants to go back

To its Dynamism-Home.

My body is homesick.

It wants to go back

To its Ignorance-Home.

```

761. Stand up!

```

Stand up!

Lo, half the battle is over.

Quick march!

Lo, all the battle is over.

Smile bright!

Lo, half the battle is over.

Laugh wide!

Lo, all the battle is over.

Aspire today!

Lo, half the battle is over.

Surrender tomorrow!

Lo, all the battle is over. ```

762. Some people

```

Some people

Are grateful to God

Because they feel He is so kind,

Because He fulfils their desires.

Some people

Are grateful to God

Because they think He is so blind,

Because He sees not what they do.

Some people

Are grateful to God

Because God does not fulfil

Their earth-bound desires,

Because He feeds

Their Heaven-free aspiration,

Because He evolves in them,

Because He evolves through them,

Because He is all for them.

```

763. The day he met God

```

The day he met God

For the first time,

God said to him:

“Don’t look back.

Forgive your past.

And be careful.

Play no more with desire-wings;

They will carry you to their source:

Ignorance.

Play and play,

Dance and dance

With aspiration-wings.

They will carry you to their Source:

Infinity’s Delight.” ```

764. At last

```

At last my heart-wound

Is healed.

At last my mind-spot

Is sealed.

No problem now weighs

On my soul.

Sleepless and fearless

I see my Goal. ```

765. How can he be happy?

```

How can he be happy

When wild storms are ahead of him?

How can he be happy

When red dangers are beside him?

He can be happy,

He can be happy

Because his Master has said:

“Be happy.”

How can he be happy

When he knows that he has failed

In his life-examination?

How can he be happy

When he knows that he has fought

Against the compassion-warriors of Light?

He can be happy,

He can be happy

Because his Master has said:

“Be happy.” ```

766. He is suffering

```

He is suffering

Because

He knows not

His Mother’s voice.

He is suffering

Because

He knows not

His Father’s choice.

He is suffering

Because

He knows not

Where God is.

He is suffering

Because

He knows not

Who he is. ```

767. When I say

```

When I say

“I wish,”

I am worthless.

When I say

“I need,”

I am meaningful.

When I say

“I have,”

I am fruitful.

When I say

“I am,”

I am the perfection

Of human aspiration

And divine satisfaction.

```

768. I escaped

```

I escaped

From the Embrace of God.

I escaped

From the sea of ignorance.

I escaped

From the perdition of despair.

I escaped

From the den of destruction.

I know not why.

I know not how.

And now I see,

No escape, no escape.

I am caught by my own

Choice of freedom. ```

769. Why is she chosen, why is he chosen?

```

Why is she chosen?

She is chosen

Because

She cries and cries

In her heart.

Why is he chosen?

He is chosen

Because

He dares and dares

In his mind.

Why is she chosen?

She is chosen

Because

She knows what surrender is.

Why is he chosen?

He is chosen

Because

He knows what service is. ```

770. Prayer

```

Prayer

Is the youngest brother.

He cries and cries

To see Father’s heights.

Meditation

Is the eldest brother.

He smiles and smiles

To house Father’s heights.

Prayer

Tells me

Where to go.

Meditation

Tells me

How to live.

```

771. Who is my God?

```

My God is the Farmer

Who cultivates my life.

My God is the Doctor

Who cures my mind.

My God is the Lover

Who loves my heart.

My God is the Warrior

Who strengthens my vital.

My God is the Forgiver

Who forgives my body.

My God is the Liberator

Who liberates my soul. ```

772. Good and evil

```

Good and evil —

They belong to my mental world,

They belong to my external life,

They belong to my moral summits.

Good and evil —

I see them not

Because

I am in God,

God is in me.

Father has made Son

Far beyond the domain

Of duality’s dance. ```

773. Realisation

```

Realisation,

What is it?

It is nothing other than illusion.

For whom?

For him who wants to govern the world.

Realisation,

What is it?

It is nothing other than satisfaction.

For whom?

For him who wants to serve the world.

```

774. Who are you?

```

Are you a sinner?

Then you are carrying

My ugly past.

Thank you ever so much.

Are you a saint?

Then you are carrying

My heavy present.

Thank you ever so much.

Are you a spiritual Master?

Then you will be carrying

My Dream-Boat

To

The Reality-Shore.

Thank you, thank you

A million times, my Master sweet.

```

775. Devotion

```

When you love

With devotion,

You are divinely great.

When you surrender

With devotion,

You are divinely good.

When you pray

With devotion,

You are supremely great.

When you meditate

With devotion,

You are supremely good.

Devotion, devotion, devotion.

```

776. Are there any Gurus in America?

```

Are there any Gurus

In America?

There are.

Where are they?

They are right

In front of your nose.

Who are they?

Those who tell you

That you are a future God.

```

777. Choose your Master

```

Silence your mind

To choose your Master.

Ask your heart

To choose your Master.

Ask your Master

To show the Light.

Ask your ignorance

To end the fight. ```

778. Where is God?

```

Where is God?

In Heaven?

“Perhaps.”

Where is God?

On earth?

“Perhaps.”

Where is God?

Within you?

“Perhaps.”

Where is God?

Without you?

“Perhaps.”

Where is God?

He is inside the “Yes”

Of your heart.

He is inside the “No”

Of your mind.

```

779. Son and Father

```

Son speaks to Father

On thought waves:

Father, I wish to pay a short visit

To You.

When can I come?

“Son, at any time.”

Father, do You have

Any presents for me?

“Son, I have three presents for you:

A beautiful present,

A precious present,

An immortal present.”

Father, Father,

Please, please tell me

What they are.

“A beautiful boat,

A precious pilot,

An immortal Shore.”

```

780. If I am to lead

```

If I am to lead,

I must touch others’ feet first.

If I am to guide,

I must wash others’ feet first.

If I am to lead,

I must kiss others’ feet first.

If I am to guide,

I must become others’ feet first.

And then alone

Can I be the Leader

And Guide of Divinity’s Smile

And Humanity’s pride. ```

781. Common sense

```

Common sense is

Always

Needed

When you are of the world

And in the world.

Common sense is

At times

Needed

When you are transcending

The low heights of morality.

Common sense is

Never

Needed

When you are in

The Heart of Light.

```

782. Don't try, but do

```

Try and fail:

This was the discovery

I made

While I stayed

In the mind’s hesitation-world.

Do and succeed:

This is the discovery

I have now made

Since I have been staying

In the heart’s confidence-world. ```

783. Who is called, who is chosen?

```

Who is called?

He alone is called

Who is ready

To fight,

Fight against teeming ignorance.

Who is chosen?

He alone is chosen

Who wants

To win,

Win the Victory supreme.

Who is called?

He alone is called

Who is prepared

To love,

Love the entire world.

Who is chosen?

He alone is chosen

Who embraces,

Embraces the life

Of universal oneness.

```

784. Who is normal?

```

Who is normal?

Is it the one who is intelligent and sincere?

No!

Who is normal?

Is it the one who is just and pure?

No!

Who is normal?

Is it the one who always hates and curses the world?

No!

Who is normal?

Is it the one who sincerely likes and enjoys the world?

No!

Who is normal?

Is it the one who is in God,

Who is for man?

Yes! ```

785. Our crowns

```

You wear your crown

On your unbending head.

He wears his crown

In his aspiring heart.

I wear my crown

Far above my ignorance-life.

God wears His Crown

In the heart of earth-love. ```

786. Three talkers

```

You speak.

You speak too much,

Too long,

And

Your contribution is fruitless.

He speaks.

He speaks too little,

Too briefly,

And

His contribution is senseless.

I speak.

My speech is all worthless,

All useless.

God does not speak.

He spontaneously acts,

He constantly becomes,

He eternally is. ```

787. My four inventor-children

```

My great progress

Invented my yesterday.

My strong will

Invented my today.

My sweet hope

Invented my tomorrow.

My clear faith

Invented my day after tomorrow. ```

788. Kind and unkind

```

O Himalayan Fear,

Because

You are kind,

You have left me.

O Himalayan Doubt,

Because

You are kind,

You have left me.

O Himalayan Faith,

Because

You are unkind,

You are still away from me.

O Himalayan Aspiration,

Because

You are unkind,

You are still hiding inside me. ```

789. My four homes

```

I have four homes:

Earth, Heaven, Death and God.

Earth is my frustration-home,

Heaven is my imagination-home,

Death is my oblivion-home,

God is my expectation-home. ```

790. When I walk down the years

```

When I walk down the years

With fear,

Death embraces me.

When I walk down the years

With courage,

Life embraces me.

When I walk down the years

With surrender divine,

Light blesses me.

When I walk down the years

With Perfection supreme,

God utilises me,

God treasures me,

God immortalises me.

```

791. A student from God's school

```

He studied at God’s school;

God was his main teacher.

God taught him

Only one thing: necessity.

“Son, if you want to live

Only in the soul’s world,

Then

I am your only necessity.

But if you want to live

In the body’s world,

Then everything is your necessity,

Everybody is your necessity,

I am your necessity,

Countless, yet countless more.

Now that you have completed your studies,

Time has come for you to go home

And begin your life.”

```

792. A mere waste of time

```

He finds

It is a mere waste

Of time

For him to pray.

God never listens to his prayers.

He finds

It is a mere waste

Of time

For him to desire.

God never fulfils his desires.

He finds

It is a mere waste

Of time

For him to dethrone and replace God.

God is not so weak as to be

dethroned and replaced. ```

793. A joint smile

```

What is aspiration?

Confidence.

What is confidence?

Success.

What is success?

Progress.

What is progress?

Manifestation.

What is manifestation?

A smile,

A joint smile

Of God and man. ```

794. A secret place and an open place

```

There is a secret place

Where I see my God.

Do you want to know where?

Look, my secret God is deep inside

My Faith-safe.

There is an open place

Where I see my God.

Do you want to know where?

Look, my open God is just before

My Love-light.

```

795. From a distance

```

You are kind

From a far distance.

He is pure

From a farther distance.

I am brave

From the farthest distance.

Truth shines divine

From a near distance.

Love shines perfect

From a nearer distance.

Surrender shines supreme

From the nearest distance. ```

796. I do not know

```

I do not know

How to run

Alone.

Therefore my friend, Faith,

Accompanies me.

I do not know

How to dive

Alone.

Therefore my friend, Courage,

Accompanies me.

I do not know

How to fly

Alone.

Therefore my friend, Aspiration,

Accompanies me.

I do not know

How to go to God

Alone.

Therefore my friend, Surrender,

Accompanies me.

```

797. Unveil

```

Unveil the face of simplicity.

Lo, Beauty appears.

Unveil the face of sincerity.

Lo, Reality appears.

Unveil the face of purity.

Lo, Divinity appears.

Unveil the face of humility.

Lo, Immortality appears.

Unveil the face of integrity.

Lo, the Absolute Himself appears. ```

798. Hope

```

Hope

Is kind.

Therefore

I mix with hope.

Hope

Is swift.

Therefore

I run with hope.

Hope

Is brave.

Therefore

I collect boundless strength

From hope.

Hope

Is sincere.

Therefore

I invite hope

To accompany me

To the Golden Shore. ```

799. Thinker, believer, seeker and server

```

O Thinker,

Indeed you are great.

But

I wish to mix with the believer,

Because he is good.

O Believer,

Indeed you are good.

But

I wish to offer my love to the seeker,

Because he is divine.

O Seeker,

Indeed you are divine.

But

I wish to live with the unconditional server,

Because he is perfect.

```

800. My daughter has no equal

```

Doubt says to God

“God, why do You love

Your daughter, Faith, so much?”

“I love My daughter

Because she does not argue with Me,

Because she does not question Me,

Because she always believes in Me,

Because she does not ask Me to make her understand

What I say to her.

She accepts My Will devotedly,

She executes My Will unconditionally.

I tell you, Doubt,

Here on earth, in My vast creation

My daughter has no equal.”

```

From:Sri Chinmoy,The Dance of Life, part 16, Aum Press, Puerto Rico, 1973
Sourced from https://srichinmoylibrary.com/dl_16