Ten Thousand Flower-Flames, part 11

1001. No difference

```

No difference, none,

Between a divine hero

And a supreme doer.

No difference, none,

Between a supreme doer

And a God-Satisfaction-lover.

```

1002. The flame of oneness-life

```

The flame of oneness-life

Can never be extinguished.

It only knows how to burn on

Forever and forever. ```

1003. Confusion-night boasts

```

Confusion-night boasts,

Aspiration-day cries.

Realisation-sun destroys confusion-night

And manifests God-Height

On earth.

```

1004. My freedom-bird flies

```

My freedom-bird flies

In my dream-sky.

My bondage-breath dies

In my reality-prison. ```

1005. Stupendous victory

```

My aspiration-heart

Announces

Its stupendous victory,

For now it is enjoying

The silver charm

Of golden solitude. ```

1006. Arrows of Light

```

The swift wind-arrows

Of Perfection-Light

Have conquered the pride

Of my frustration-hours

And

Temptation-nights. ```

1007. The Love Divine

```

The Love Divine

Has been blossoming all year long

Inside my heart’s gratitude-garden.

And now I possess

A new sky of hope,

A new sun of promise

And

A new God of Compassion infinite. ```

1008. A broken wing

```

Aspiration-cry I have totally lost.

And now

Each fleeting breath of mine

Is a broken wing

In destruction-night.

```

1009. Submit to the power-heart

```

Submit your confusion-mind

To the power-heart

Of Love infinite

And

Light eternal.

```

1010. The swimmer

```

There was a time

When he used to swim

In the blue-white rivers

Of Heaven.

But now he is swimming

With the shadow of despair

In the ocean

Of destruction. ```

1011. The golden disc of the Beyond

```

Believe it or not,

A wild darkness-night

Has unconsciously

Yet unquestionably

Helped me to fly

Towards the golden disc

Of the Reality-Beyond.

```

1012. Puzzles

```

God’s Greatness and Goodness

Puzzle me.

My weakness and meanness

Puzzle God. ```

1013. Our supreme secrets

```

God told me His Supreme Secret:

Someday He will make me

Another God.

I told God my supreme secret:

Alas, alas!

I shall never make Him

Another mortal like me.

Never!

```

1014. A short vacation

```

My Lord,

You are blind

To my wrong doings,

You are deaf

To my wrong sayings.

Can You tell me why?

“My child,

Perhaps you have forgotten

That I have given you a short vacation,

Out of My infinite Forgiveness-Bounty,

Allowing you to stay away

From the Truth-Reality

Of Perfection-Delight.”

```

1015. I really wish to know

```

My Lord Supreme,

I really wish to know

How great You are.

Can Your Compassion tell me?

My Lord Supreme,

I really wish to know

How good You are.

Can Your Forgiveness tell me?

“My child,

My Compassion-Height

And

My Forgiveness-Light

Will not be able to satisfy

Your stupendous curiosity.

But there shall come a time

When your heart’s gratitude-sea

Will easily answer

Your thirsty blue-gold questions.” ```

1016. To please You most

```

My Lord Supreme,

To please You most

Shall I use my aspiration-cry,

My dedication-smile

Or my meditation-silence?

“My child,

First please Me

With your meditation-silence,

Then with your aspiration-cry

And finally with your dedication-smile.

Indeed, this is the way

You can please Me most.”

```

1017. Inside God's Compassion-Heart

```

My Lord Supreme,

Shall I drink deep Your Beauty’s Eye

Or live in Your Compassion-Heart?

What do You advise me to do?

“My child,

If you live in My Compassion-Heart,

Then easily and automatically

You will be able to see My Beauty’s Eye.

But if you only try to watch My Beauty’s Eye,

At times you may fail to live

Inside My Compassion-Heart.”

```

1018. An appreciating eye and an admiring heart

```

No greatness have I.

No goodness have I.

But what I do have

Is an appreciating eye for greatness

And an admiring heart for goodness.

```

1019. Cry and smile

```

Cry and smile.

Your cries will frighten

Ignorance-night.

Your smiles will strengthen

Wisdom-Light.

Cry to become.

Smile to transcend.

```

1020. God's problem

```

My Lord Supreme,

I have a serious problem.

Please help me.

I really want to become a good runner.

“Alas, alas, My child,

Please help Me in solving My problem,

And then I shall definitely solve your problem.

My problem is to see the face

Of a totally transformed human race.”

```

1021. The unusual oneness-delight

```

My Lord Supreme,

You have made me a good runner

In the inner world.

Can you not make me a good runner

In the outer world as well?

“My child,

I can do that,

But I want to experience in you

The unusual oneness-delight

Of a so-called

Unquestionable and inimitable

Defeated runner.”

```

1022. Each knowledge-day

```

Each ignorance-night

Is a proud wave.

Each knowledge-day

Is a calm sea. ```

1023. God-memories from my past

```

Desires confuse me.

Possessions bind me.

God-memories from my past in Heaven

Are walking with me. ```

1024. A one-way street

```

His feeble mind

Is a one-way street

With multiple

Frustration-bound destinations. ```

1025. Where is happiness?

```

Where is happiness?

No, not in the black abyss

Of your vital night.

Where is happiness?

No, not in the giant maze

Of your mental doubts. ```

1026. Yes, I shall forgive

```

Yes, I shall forgive

Your serious crimes,

But I shall not forget

Your dangerous stupidity. ```

1027. Each devoted moment

```

Each devoted moment

Prepares a beautiful sunrise

And a fruitful sunset.

```

1028. Each listening heart

```

Each listening heart

Is not a bud of infancy.

Each listening heart

Is a flower for God-Ecstasy. ```

1029. Because he is not sanctified

```

Because he is not sanctified

By soulful prayers and fruitful meditations,

His outer life

Is a loud mouth

And his inner life

Is an unfounded confidence. ```

1030. Soulful sorrows

```

Behold, behold,

My soulful sorrows

Are renewing and multiplying

Their fruitful tears

At not seeing the Vision-Eye

Of God’s Satisfaction-Height. ```

1031. Two extraordinary things

```

I have done two extraordinary things

In my entire life:

I have placed my black sins

At God’s Forgiveness-Feet,

I have taken from God’s Compassion-Eye

His white Virtues. ```

1032. O my inexperienced heart

```

O my inexperienced heart,

Try to become the smile

Of gratitude and surrender.

Your unlimited anxiety-worry-world

Will disappear before long.

```

1033. What each knows

```

My imagination knows

How to run fast.

My aspiration knows

How to fly high.

My realisation knows

How to become soon. ```

1034. Two ultimate absurdities

```

Two ultimate absurdities:

My mind will never be able

To appreciate my heart,

My heart will never be able

To hate my mind.

```

1035. Two things he has become

```

Two things he has now become:

A perpetual promise-maker,

A perpetual opinion-lover.

```

1036. Willing souls

```

God the Compassion

Loves the willing souls.

God the Love

Leads the willing souls.

God the Satisfaction

Welcomes the willing souls. ```

1037. Your heart's aspiration-flames

```

Do you know why your life

Is a totally crumbled height?

Just because you have deliberately

Extinguished your heart’s

Tiny aspiration-flames.

```

1038. I feel sorry for you

```

O my stupid mind,

I feel sorry for you.

You have become the authority

Without having the wisdom-light.

O my poor heart,

I feel sorry for you.

You are the wisdom-sun

Without having the authority. ```

1039. When my prayer is an action

```

When my prayer is an action,

My earth’s separation-division-life

Disappears

And my Heaven’s oneness-multiplication-life

Appears.

```

1040. Three diamond thoughts

```

Three diamond thoughts:

I love God sleeplessly.

My heart is all gratitude to the skies above.

My life is a shadowless aspiration-cry. ```

1041. My indispensable partner

```

O my gratitude-heart,

You are my indispensable partner.

Together we shall reach

The Satisfaction-Home

Of our Beloved Supreme.

```

1042. Each impure thought

```

Each impure thought

Is famous in infamy

In the inner world,

And is immediately sent

Into an implacable exile

By purity’s adamantine will. ```

1043. Bitter disappointments

```

What you have

Is an appreciation

For your doubting mind.

Therefore,

What you are now

Is the inevitability

Of bitter disappointments.

```

1044. A stormy thought-world

```

Simplicity has left him.

Sincerity has left him.

Humility has left him.

Alas, he can no longer enjoy

The pure breath of Mother Earth

And the sure breath of Father Heaven.

He is no longer his life’s own master.

A stormy thought-world

He now is.

```

1045. The city of "God and yes"

```

There was a time

When he lived

In the city of “man and yes”.

There was a time

When he lived

In the city of “God and yes”.

Alas, now he lives

In the city of “man and no”

And in the city of “God and no”.

Alas, now his “I-ness” reigns supreme. ```

1046. Who says?

```

Who says that I have a bad mind?

My mind appreciates God.

Who says that I have a bad heart?

My heart loves God.

Who says that I have a bad life?

My life needs God. ```

1047. What is behind me?

```

I am meditating.

What is behind me?

Insincerity.

I am meditating.

What is behind me?

Insecurity.

I am meditating.

What is behind me?

Impurity.

I am meditating.

What is ahead of me?

God’s Compassion-Flood

And

God’s Satisfaction-Ocean.

```

1048. Don't act like a fool

```

Don’t act like a fool.

Be sincere in your thoughts,

Be pure in your feelings.

You will not have to run after happiness.

Happiness will run after you.

```

1049. O vastness-sky

```

O vastness-sky,

I love you

Although you do not belong to me.

O meanness-mind,

I do not love you

Although you belong to me.

```

1050. I purify myself

```

I purify my body

By chanting God’s Name.

I purify my vital

By serving God.

I purify my mind

By emptying my mind for God.

I purify my heart

By meditating on God’s Compassion-Love. ```

1051. Keep aloof

```

What pleases your heart?

Meditation.

Then keep aloof from those

Who scoff at your meditation,

And also from those

Who unpardonably doubt

Your sincerity-heart

And purity-mind. ```

1052. The mind of man

```

The mind of man

Is an unlit lamp

That undervalues

His heart’s blazing sun. ```

1053. How far can ignorance carry you?

```

How far can ignorance carry you?

It can carry you into the destruction-doom

Of dumb Eternity.

```

1054. The best fighters

```

Who are the best fighters

In the inner world?

The orphan-cries

Of a seeker’s heart

And the orphan-tears

Of a seeker’s eyes. ```

1055. A fruitless thought

```

A fruitless thought

Is a wasted day.

A fruitless life

Is a God-forgotten failure. ```

1056. Two miracles

```

My Lord Supreme,

Do show me some miracles.

“My child,

I shall show you not one,

But two miracles.

Look what I have for you

When you disobey Me:

The eyes of dream,

And what I have for you

When you obey Me:

The Arms of My Omnipotence.”

```

1057. You are chosen

```

You are chosen because

Your greatness has fascinated the world.

You are beloved because

Your goodness has satisfied God. ```

1058. The pain of death

```

Who can avoid

The pain of death?

He who loves and treasures

Only the fulfilment-beauty

Of God’s Satisfaction-Will.

```

1059. Your selfless dedication-life

```

Because of your

Selfless dedication-life,

God has given you

Not only a sweetness-hunger

But also a fulness-feast.

```

1060. So often you sail

```

O my Lord Supreme,

So often You sail Your Golden Boat

In my silver dreams.

Alas, why do I not see You

Even once

On my reality-shore? ```

1061. My shadowless awakening-duty

```

My shadowless awakening-duty

Reveals the deathless dream-beauty

Of God’s Involution-Cry

And

Revolution-Smile.

```

1062. Discovery

```

The eve of my frustration-night

Will someday, without fail,

Surrender to my satisfaction-morn.

This is at once

My measureless and breathless discovery.

```

1063. A seeker of perfection-silence

```

There was a time

When my mind and I together

Were seekers of satisfaction-sound.

But now I have changed my partner.

With my new partner, heart,

I have become a seeker

Of perfection-silence.

```

1064. Two requests

```

My Lord Supreme,

I have only two requests to make:

Do veil the fruitless secrets

Of my stupid mind.

Do unveil the fruitful secrets

Of my wise heart. ```

1065. My mind laughs

```

My mind laughs

At my heart’s sacred tears.

My heart begs God

To forgive the shameless laughter

Of my senseless mind.

```

1066. Meditation's only food

```

Meditation’s only food

Is its oneness-ecstasy with God.

Meditation gets this food only when

It has a sleepless life

And

It is a winged heart. ```

1067. In the silent Memory

```

In the silent Memory

Of my Compassion-Lord,

I have been living

For a long time.

Now I am longing

For His tomorrow’s

Forgiveness-Home.

```

1068. A new role

```

My Lord,

Since I do not deserve

To be a giver,

And since I do not deserve

To be a receiver,

I am helplessly and hopelessly lost.

“My child,

You are not lost,

And you can never be lost.

Start playing the role

Of an enjoyer

Who is at once

Above giving and receiving.”

```

1069. How do you expect?

```

What you have

Is an indifferent mind.

What you are

Is a non-committal heart.

How do you expect

God’s Love and man’s appreciation? ```

1070. Never carry doubt-poison

```

Doubt is the most powerful weapon

Of ignorance-night.

Never carry doubt-poison with you

In your lifelong voyage

To Immortality’s Shore.

```

1071. You will never be able to learn

```

Because you have acquired

The powerful faculty of doubting,

You will never be able to learn

The supreme Art of inner awakening. ```

1072. During the day

```

During the day

I love the sun’s golden eye.

During the night

I love the moon’s silver smile. ```

1073. Yet I am determined

```

What my mind sees

Is a fruitless hope.

What my heart feels

Is a cloud of sorrow.

Yet I am determined

To make my life Heaven’s haven. ```

1074. Your flaw-seeking eyes

```

Because of your flaw-seeking eyes,

You will never get

A blossoming heart

And

A satisfying life.

```

1075. This extravagant desire

```

You want to dominate the world.

This extravagant desire of yours

Has totally robbed you

Of your satisfaction-life. ```

1076. Cheerful news

```

Cheerful morning news:

God loves me.

Cheerful evening news:

I need God. ```

1077. Always in my prayers

```

Yesterday you were always

In my prayers.

I was praying to God

To transform your frustrations

Into hopes.

Today you are always

In my prayers.

I am praying to God

To free you

From your desire-breath.

Tomorrow you will always be

In my prayers.

I shall pray to God

To grant you everything

That I will eventually need from you.

```

1078. If you can be aware

```

If you can be aware

Of your silver responsibilities,

Then God will make you aware

Of your golden opportunities. ```

1079. Your life-flower is fully blossomed

```

Because your heart-tree

Is fully awakened,

Your life-flower

Is fully blossomed. ```

1080. The beauty of purity

```

Beauty is of various types,

But the beauty of purity

Shall always remain

Unparalleled. ```

1081. Only one duty

```

There is only one duty,

And that duty is to live happily.

To live happily

What we need is a child’s heart

And a saint’s life.

```

1082. A gift of God

```

Eternity’s Love

And Infinity’s Joy

Shall come closer to humanity

If and when

Humanity accepts life as a gift of God

And not as a burden of man. ```

1083. To triumph

```

To triumph over our earthly sorrows

What we need

Is the power of our own faith

And the Hour of God’s Choice. ```

1084. Integrity

```

Integrity is a supreme beauty

Which the human authority

Sadly fails to own.

```

1085. We long for peace

```

We long for peace,

But unrest is on the upswing.

We long for satisfaction,

But dissatisfaction

Is the order of the day.

```

1086. I thank you

```

My Lord,

I thank You

Because You have given me

A small part in Your Cosmic Play.

I thank You

Because You have given me

The capacity to admire

Your great Dreams for Your universe. ```

1087. Offering

```

“I” is my peerless treasure.

I am offering this treasure

To You, my Lord,

Because I love You

And I am well pleased with You.

```

1088. The right answers

```

Teeming questions bother me daily,

My Lord,

But You have the answers.

Not only that,

You have the right answers, too.

Therefore, my gratitude-heart

Is all for You.

```

1089. Each human soul

```

Each human mind

Is an encouraging idea.

Each human heart

Is an illumining experience.

Each human soul

Is a fulfilling promise. ```

1090. Each thought

```

Each thought is either

A smiling mastery

Or

A crying slavery.

Each idea is either

A swimming satisfaction

Or

A sinking frustration.

Each ideal is either

A challenging reality

Or

A surrendering unreality. ```

1091. My earthly day

```

To lengthen my earthly day,

I pray to God

For His Compassion-Power.

To shorten my earthly day,

I pray to God

For His Justice-Hour.

```

1092. To make friends

```

To make friends with Infinity

Is to be far above

The head of Time.

To make friends with Eternity

Is to run side-by-side

With Immortality.

```

1093. An attempt

```

An attempt gives enlightenment.

Enlightenment gives freedom.

Freedom gives fulfilment.

Fulfilment gives contentment.

Contentment is God-hunger in man

And man’s feast in God. ```

1094. Do not waste time

```

Do not waste time.

Time is precious.

Do not exploit God.

God is gracious.

Do not mix with ignorance.

Ignorance is ferocious.

Do not play with doubt.

Doubt is injurious.

Do not cherish insecurity.

Insecurity is infectious.

Do not harbour impurity.

Impurity is dangerous. ```

1095. My supremely soulful joy

```

My supremely soulful joy

Is my sleeplessly fruitful sorrow

Unmasked.

```

1096. His life's departing splendour

```

His earth-life’s departing splendour

Has unmasked his hidden forests

Of sweetness-fondness

For all human souls. ```

1097. The boat of despair

```

His useless disharmony-mind

Is sailing in the boat

Of helpless despair.

Destination:

The laughing shore.

```

1098. My heart represents

```

My heart represents

God the Duty

On earth.

My soul represents

God the Beauty

In Heaven.

```

1099. If your mind is too poor

```

If your mind is too poor

To possess even an iota of doubt,

Then God will make your heart rich enough

To possess His own transcendental Delight. ```

1100. My silver dream-heart

```

The birth

Of my silver dream-heart

Announces the permanent victory

Of my golden reality-life. ```

Editor's introduction to the first edition

This is the eleventh volume in a series of ten thousand “flaming flower-poems” which Sri Chinmoy is placing devotedly, unreservedly and unconditionally at the Compassion-Feet of God, our Beloved Supreme. They stand as a supreme offering from the unfolding beauty of his flower-heart and the flaming heights of his realisation-sun. Indeed, a treasure-tower which will at once be claimed by humanity’s self-ascending cry and Divinity’s God-descending Smile.

Editor's note to cover photo

Cahit Yeter, holder of the world Masters’ record for the 100-kilometre run, meets with Sri Chinmoy in New York, 16 June 1979.

Editor's note

Some poems in this first edition were later selected by the author for a special collection of 207 Flower-Flames (FFP). The author also chose to revise some of his original poems for this anthology: FF-1028: FFP 60 (revised version).

From:Sri Chinmoy,Ten Thousand Flower-Flames, part 11, Agni Press, 1981
Sourced from https://srichinmoylibrary.com/ff_11