Three hundred sixty-five Father's Day prayers
1. Nowhere
Nowhere to live?Try my heart-home.
I think you will like it.
Nowhere to sleep?
Try my soul-room.
I am sure you will love it.
Just love it.
2. A beggar
YesterdayI acted like a beggar
By asking God
To give me a smile.
Today
I am acting like a beggar
By asking God
To give me His Power.
Tomorrow
I shall be acting like a beggar
By asking God
To make me His only perfect instrument.
3. Father, do I have a mission
Father, do I have a mission?Daughter, you have not one
But two missions,
secret and sacred.
Your heart of life is your secret mission.
Your life of heart is your sacred mission.
4. Do you know, daughter
Do you know, daughter,Why God loves you?
No, Father, I do not know.
He loves you
Because
You are a good player of love-game.
Do you know, daughter,
Why God is devoted to you?
No, Father, I do not know.
God is devoted to you
Because
You are a superb player of devotion-game.
Do you know, daughter,
Why God has surrendered to you?
No, Father, I do not know.
God has surrendered to you
Because
You are an excellent player of surrender-light.
5. What are they
What is earth,If not the splendour of sacrifice-might?
What is Heaven,
If not the splendour of vision-light?
What is humanity,
If not the splendour of expectation-soul?
What is divinity,
If not the splendour of ecstasy-sea?
6. You are thinking
You are thinking of yourself.Lo, you are descending
From
The human life to the animal life.
You are thinking of God.
Lo, you are ascending
From
The human life to the Life divine.
You have started loving God.
Lo, you are singing and playing
With
God’s Silence-Height
And
God’s Oneness-Light.
7. A full and complete truth
I love God.Indeed,
This is a stark lie.
I think of God.
Indeed,
This is a quarter truth.
I do not find faults with God.
Indeed,
This is a half truth.
I never doubt God’s existence.
Indeed,
This is a full and complete truth.
8. Believe me
There is no differenceAnd
There can be no difference
Between
Love-touch and God-Touch.
Believe me, O aspiration-soul!
There is no difference
And
There can be no difference
Between
Fear-touch and death-touch.
Believe me, O desire-life!
9. Yesterday, today and tomorrow
YesterdayI cried to live
In God’s Dream-Boat.
Today
I long to reach
God’s Reality-Shore.
Tomorrow
I shall pine to be
God’s Perfection-Smile.
10. You want to know
You want to know my past:I was an unparalleled escapist.
You want to know my present:
I am a shameless opportunist.
You want to know my future:
I shall become
And end my life
As a false idealist.
11. A series of mysteries
Earth-bodyIs a mystery of loveliness.
Earth-vital
Is a mystery of strangeness.
Earth-mind
Is a mystery of loneliness.
Earth-heart
Is a mystery of holiness.
Earth-soul
Is a mystery of perfectiveness.
12. My three dreams
My old dreamIs nothing but a faded flower.
My new dream
Is nothing but a wild animal.
My God-dream
Is nothing but a climbing life.
13. My mind-life, my heart-life, my soul-life
My mind-lifeIs a useless thing to ignore.
My heart-life
Is a holy thing to see.
My soul-life
Is a perfect thing to offer.
14. I do not know
Where is God?I do not know.
Who is God?
I do not know.
Shall I become
Someday
Another God?
I do not know.
But,
One thing I do know:
He loves me
And
He is all for me.
15. When I escaped
When I escapedFrom ignorance-river
The ocean of ignorance
Captured me, my earth-body
And
My Heaven-soul.
When I escaped
From the ocean of ignorance
The Infinity of God-Love
And
God-Pride
Embraced me, my all.
16. God-Power is always within me
I have no money-powerYet
I am unmistakably happy.
I have no earth-power
Yet
I am exceedingly happy.
I have no friend-power
Yet
I am constantly happy.
How?
Just because God-Power is always within me.
17. Are you a seeker
Are you a seekerOf silence-life?
Then come in, please.
Indeed,
This is the right place.
Are you a seeker
Of sound-life?
Then leave this place immediately.
Indeed,
This place can never welcome you.
18. The boundaries
Daughter, these areThe boundaries of your unseen life:
Your black ego-life
Your red jealousy-life
Your brown doubt-life
Your gray insecurity-life.
Daughter, these are
The ever-transcending boundaries of your life unknowable:
Your green aspiration-life
Your blue realisation-life
Your gold revelation-life
Your white perfection-life.
19. Nothing is impossible
Nothing is impossibleWhen
I have an iota of love for God.
Nothing is impossible
When
I have a fragment of sacrifice for man.
Nothing is impossible
When
I realise I am oneness-perfection.
20. Why, My daughter, why
Father, I love Your Eyes.Why, My daughter, why?
Because they elevate my heart-breath.
Father, I love Your Hands.
Why, My daughter, why?
Because they protect my earth-life.
Father, I love Your Heart.
Why, My daughter, why?
Because it feeds my Heaven-soul.
21. Thought and despair
Thought is transitory;Therefore
Don’t worry.
It will die soon.
Despair is stationary;
Therefore
Don’t worry.
You can leave despair alone
And triumphantly run away.
22. Noise, voice and choice
What do I like?A noiseless noise.
What do I love?
A voiceless voice.
What do I admire?
A faultless choice.
23. Your three enemies
The enemy of your past life:Pride, a sky-vast pride.
The enemy of your present life:
Jealousy, a sea-deep jealousy.
The enemy of your future life:
Insecurity, an ant-feeble insecurity.
24. Alas, you are deceived and disappointed
Your vision of manHas deceived me.
Alas, what can you do now?
You are doomed to stay with man.
Your realisation of the cosmic gods
Has disappointed you.
Alas, what can you do now?
You are compelled to stay with them.
25. Do you know
My heart,Do you know what you are?
You are my daily hope.
My soul,
Do you know what you are?
You are my daily promise.
My God,
Do you know who you are?
You are my daily Saviour.
26. His life-chronicle
His body is a villageOf the sleepers.
His vital is a town
Of the fighters.
His mind is a city
Of the dreamers.
His heart is a province
Of the lovers.
His life is a country
Of the sufferers.
27. Earth-voice and Heaven-voice
My earth-voice proclaims:“God may be of Heaven
But
He is for earth.”
My Heaven-voice proclaims:
“God may be for earth
But
His Breath is in Heaven.”
28. A new discovery and a sublime invention
A new discovery;I am using my heart
To see the Face of God.
A sublime invention;
God needs me.
He really needs my life of love.
29. Thought will surrender
O face of thought,You are my abysmal disgrace.
O heart of will,
You are my supernal lustre.
O soul of surrender,
You are my sempiternal pride.
30. Mind-night and heart-light
O mind of night,I am tired of seeing
Your ugly face.
O heart of light,
Where are you?
Do you really live?
Or is it all my imagination?
O soul of perfection,
Do you really carry
The message of perfection-light?
31. The miracle power of infinitesimal grain
An infinitesimal grain of TruthCan save you and your life.
An infinitesimal grain of Peace
Can perfect you and your life.
An infinitesimal grain of Love
Can immortalise you and your life.
32. When you live
When you liveIn the room of your thought,
Your life is a mighty, fruitless plan.
When you live
In the house of your will,
Your life is a solid, splendid achievement.
When you live
In the palace of God-Love,
Your life is a flood of glowing, illumining ecstasy.
33. The Story of Time
The Life of Time:Aspiration-flight.
The Heart of Time:
Silence-Light.
The Soul of Time:
Liberation-Delight.
The God of Time:
Compassion-Height.
34. Do you know
Daughter, do you knowWhat I owe you?
I owe you My Perfection-Life on earth.
Father, do You know
What I owe You?
I owe You my aspiration-soul of Heaven.
So Father, it is a mutual debt.
No, Daughter, it is a mutual self-satisfaction.
35. The miracles of your surrender-life
Look at the miraclesOf your surrender-life.
You are remembering
Your forgotten bliss.
You are enjoying
Your cosmic silence-sleep.
36. Don't hide
Don’t hide, don’t hide.If you hide, you can never be
A master sailor on the flow of Time.
Seek, seek,
Yours will be the experience-sea,
Yours will be the realisation-mountain,
Yours will be the Perfection-Sun.
37. Three powers
Fear-power tells you:Death is at your door.
Courage-power tells you:
Immortality is in your room.
Love-power tells you:
Death never cares for you,
And
Immortality desperately needs you.
38. Yesterday, today, tomorrow
YesterdayI lived in the body of outer glory.
Today
I am living in the heart of inner glory.
Tomorrow
I shall be living in God’s unhorizoned Glory.
39. If you
If youLove man in God,
The adventure of consciousness-light
Will embrace you without fail.
If you
Serve God in man,
The consciousness-light of adventure
Will claim you and treasure you.
40. When I think of you
Heart, my heart,When I think of you,
I see an aspiring height.
Life, my life,
When I think of you,
I hear a thunderous voice.
God, my God,
When I think of You,
I make my supreme choice.
41. Sad music and glad music
O sad music of humanity,Even God is tired of you.
O glad music of divinity,
Even earth-ignorance needs you
Sincerely
Desperately
And
Immediately.
42. You want to know
You want to knowWhere I was born.
My sincere heart speaks:
I was born in the field of toil.
You want to know
Where I now live.
My sincerity speaks:
I live on prostrate soil.
You want to know
Where will be my future home.
My sincerity speaks:
My future home will be
In my earth-bound foil.
43. Unerring, unending and uncompromising
Unerring,Heaven-promise is unerring.
Unending,
Earth-sorrow is unending.
Uncompromising,
My challenge to ignorance-night
Is uncompromising.
44. Three friends and My Lord
Three friends are with me now:Yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Yesterday offers me a lingering world.
Today offers me a dying world.
Tomorrow offers me an aspiring world.
Ah, My Lord has just appeared.
He offers me His ever-fulfilling World.
45. My life-story
My body-lifeIs a land of poverty.
My vital-life
Is a land of audacity.
My mind-life
Is a land of curiosity.
My heart-life
Is a land of austerity.
My soul-life
Is a land of absurdity.
46. Slow process and quick process
O slow process of mortality,Sleep not, wake up and strive.
I shall admire your new life.
O quick process of immortality,
Run not, slow down and rest.
I shall adore your compassion-height.
47. In you
In you I sawThe light of the rising sun
And spontaneously I saluted you.
In you I shall dare not see
The tears of the setting sun
For I shall immediately die.
48. Her feet have descended
Her feet have descended;Therefore
Earth-life can treasure hope.
Her eyes have ascended;
Therefore
Heaven-soul can fulfill its august promise.
Her heart has transcended;
Therefore
God-Goal can manifest its Light supreme.
49. You want to know
You want to knowWhat my mind is:
My mind is unlit ignorance.
You want to know
What my life is:
My life is half-lit ignorance.
You want to know
What my goal is:
My goal is ignorance-transformation.
You want to know
Who My Lord is:
My Lord is Compassion-Perfection.
50. I need you
O hiding hands of love,I need you.
O smiling eyes of love,
I need you.
O illumining heart of love,
I need you.
O revealing soul of love,
I need you.
51. Teach me how to become
Father, do teach meHow to become.
Why, My daughter, why?
Father, if You teach me
How to become,
Only then shall I be able
To become
Your egoless child,
Your surrendered child,
Your perfect child.
52. Don't assail
Don’t assail humanity.After all,
Humanity is frail and weak.
Don’t assail divinity.
After all,
Divinity is very audacious and callous.
53. Father, who am I
Father, am I a sleeping fool?No, daughter, you are a crying fool.
Father, am I a binding fool?
No, daughter, you are an unloving fool.
Father, am I an unpardonable fool?
No, daughter, you are an unparalleled fool.
54. Hungry lives
My body’s hungry lifeHas an endless need.
My soul’s hungry life
Has two childlike needs:
God-Beauty
And
Love-necessity.
My God’s hungry Life
Has only one need:
My shadowless smile.
55. The Voice of God and the Choice of God
Love the world.You will be the Voice of God
Unmistakably.
Serve the world.
You will be the Choice of God
Immediately.
56. I need you
O Heaven-born freedom,Where are you?
O earth-bound bondage,
Where are you not?
O God-Promised land,
I need you
And
I need you.
57. When and how
Father, when shall I realise You?Daughter, you have already realised Me.
Father, when?
Father, how?
When?
The day you joined My Dream-Boat.
How?
Through your surrender-heart.
58. No, My daughter, no
Father, shall I worship You?No, My daughter, no.
Father, shall I adore You?
No, My daughter, no.
Father, shall I admire You?
No, My daughter, no.
Father, shall I become like You?
Yes, My sweet daughter, yes.
59. Only one thing
“O Father, Father of my soul,Only one thing I do not need.”
Daughter, daughter of My Heart,
What is it?
“Life-consuming sound.”
Granted, My daughter, granted.
“Father, Father of my soul,
Only one thing I do need.”
Daughter, daughter of My Heart,
What is it?
“Life-liberating silence.”
Granted, My daughter, granted.
60. Four universes
What is really huge?Material universe.
What is really powerful?
Spiritual universe.
What is always in the Goal?
Silent universe.
What is always the Goal?
Transcending universe.
61. Excess of beauty and excess of stupidity
Father, what do You doWith Your excess of Beauty?
Daughter, with My excess Beauty
I perform My extra Duty.
Daughter, what do you do
With your excess stupidity?
Father, with my excess stupidity
I delay Your Manifestation-necessity.
62. Father, who was I
Father, who was I?Daughter, you were the frankness
Of desire-life.
Father, who am I?
Daughter, you are the seriousness
Of aspiration-soul.
Father, what shall I be?
Daughter, you will be the sweetness,
Fruitfulness of Perfectiveness-Goal.
63. Endeavour
My life knowsWhat mad-endeavour is.
My heart knows
What sad-endeavour is.
My surrender knows
What God-endeavour is.
64. Teach me how to cry
Father, do teach meHow to cry.
Why, My daughter, why?
Father, if You teach me
How to cry
Only then shall I be able
To cry for You
Soulfully
Devotedly
And
Perfectly.
65. Father, tell me
Father, what is the thing You like mostIn my life?
Daughter, in your life I love most
Your wisdom-cry.
Father, in the near or distant future
What thing would You like most
In my life?
Daughter, in the near future
I shall love most
Your perfection-smile.
66. Father, what never stops
Father, what never stops?Daughter, horizon never stops.
Father, who never stops?
Daughter, the desiring beggar never stops.
Father, what always begins?
Daughter, the soul-life.
Father, who always begins?
Daughter, the aspiring-child.
Father, am I an aspiring child?
Daughter, you are much more than that.
You are a God-manifesting princess.
67. Teach me how to love
Father, do teach meHow to love.
Why, My daughter, why?
Father, if You teach me
How to love
Only then shall I be able
To love You
Unconditionally
Eternally
And
Supremely.
68. Dawn
O arms of dawn,I love your power of beauty.
O eyes of dawn,
I love your light of purity.
O head of dawn,
I love your height of duty.
69. They are fond of
Body is fond ofThe snoring hour.
Vital is fond of
The roaring hour.
Mind is fond of
The doubting hour.
Heart is fond of
The loving hour.
Soul is fond of
The dreaming hour.
God is fond of
The promising hour.
70. Live
Live in the heart-rose,You will learn the song
Of sinless progress.
Live in the soul-lotus,
You will learn the dance
Of shadowless progress.
Live in the God-Fragrance,
You will learn the secret
Of endless progress.
71. Father, what will happen
Father, what will happenIf I touch Your Feet?
Daughter, if you touch My Feet
You will see a sea of peace.
Father, what will happen
If I touch Your Eyes?
Daughter, if you touch My Eyes
You will feel a mountain of power.
Father, what will happen
If I touch Your Heart?
Daughter, if you touch My Heart
You will become a sun of light.
72. Why do I need God
Why do I need God?Just because He is great?
No.
Why do I need God?
Just because He is good?
No.
Why do I need God?
Just because He is for me?
No.
Why do I need God?
Just because He is of me?
Yes.
73. Beautiful, soulful and fruitful
BeautifulIs your aspiration-heart.
Therefore,
You are great.
Soulful
Is your realisation-heart.
Therefore,
You are good.
Fruitful
Is your perfection-heart.
Therefore,
You are immortal.
74. Regularity and punctuality
Striking is the differenceBetween
Regularity-power
And
Punctuality-light.
Regularity shows me
God’s Face
Eventually.
Punctuality makes me
God’s Heart
Immediately.
75. You want to know
You want to knowWhat kind of mind I have.
Alas, I have a backward-walking mind.
You want to know
What kind of heart I have.
Ah, I have a forward-marching heart.
76. Yesterday, today, tomorrow
YesterdayYours was an industrious life.
Only earth knew it.
Today
Yours is the generous life.
Only Heaven knows it.
Tomorrow
Yours will be the precious life.
Only God will know it.
77. I admire
I sincerely admireFour treasured things in me:
A blossoming hope,
An illumining oneness,
A strengthening love,
An ever-transcending God.
78. When
O earth-body,When
Will you be receptive?
O earth-vital,
When
Will you be perceptive?
O earth-mind,
When
Will you be concentrative?
O earth-heart,
When
Will you be contemplative?
79. We enjoy recognition
Heaven and I enjoySimultaneous recognition.
Earth and I enjoy
Spontaneous recognition.
God and I enjoy
Constant recognition.
80. My old-new-future friends
My old friends, fear and doubtAre calling me.
I tell them:
I am sick of them.
My new friends, imagination and inspiration
Are calling me.
I tell them:
I am proud of them.
My future friends, perfection and satisfaction
Are calling me.
I tell them:
I am fond of them,
Extremely fond of them.
81. Beauty
Body-beauty:Ephemeral splendour.
Heart-beauty:
Supernal splendour.
Goal-beauty:
Eternal splendour.
God-Beauty:
An ever-transcending splendour.
82. Heaven and earth
Heaven has fire.Earth has ire.
God alone knows
Who is going to win.
Heaven owns smile.
Earth owns cry.
God alone knows
Who is going to win.
83. Why
Body, why do you loveThe moonless night?
Vital, why do you love
The sunless day?
Mind, why do you love
The fruitless sky?
Heart, why do you love
The goalless shore?
84. Your life-story
Your life-storyIs liked by God.
What else do you want?
Your soul-song
Is loved by God.
What else do you need?
85. O unconfined bird
O unconfined bird,I love your beauty.
O unconfined wings,
I love your duty.
O unconfined flight,
I love your necessity.
86. God-Light dawned
God-Light dawnedOn your confusion night.
But you failed to see.
Why?
Because your love
Of earth-bound doubt
Far surpasses your God-faith
And your own faith in your life
Of inner cry.
87. Good news
Father, give me some good news.Daughter, your loud and wild days
Are all over.
Father, give me some more good news.
Daughter, your evil and titan nights
Are all over.
88. Because
Because of my timid voiceI have failed
To guide and please humanity.
Because of my timid choice
I have failed
To serve and please divinity.
89. Three believers
My heart is a good believer,Therefore
My soul loves my heart.
My soul is a better believer,
Therefore
My God loves my soul.
My God is the best believer,
Therefore
I always love God.
90. Three boats
The boat of the past sailedTo reach the Golden Shore.
The boat of the present sails
To see the Face of God.
The boat of the future shall sail
To become the Heart of God.
91. When I think of God
When I think of God,God tells me
He will give me all that He has.
When I meditate on God,
I clearly see that He has given me
All that He has been treasuring
From time immemorial
And all that He eternally is.
92. God is always ready
In the world of formGod is always ready
To play with you
With His arms of Duty.
Do you know that?
In the world without form
You must remain always ready
To play with God
With your eyes of beauty.
Do you know that?
93. You will win
Love the world-reality.You will dauntlessly conquer
The countless soldiers of doubt.
Serve the world-necessity.
You will immediately win
The sun-warriors of faith.
94. Transcending Reality
My heart of love treasuresGod the descending Dream.
My life of gratitude treasures
God the transcending Reality.
95. Live
Live in the heart-garden;Yours will be the angelic inspiration.
Live in the vital-jungle;
Yours will be the Satanic temptation.
Live in the soul-sky;
Yours will be the dynamic aspiration.
96. Pyramids
A pyramid of beautyMy heart enjoys.
A pyramid of height
My mind enjoys.
A pyramid of fire
My vital enjoys.
A pyramid of slumber
My body enjoys.
A pyramid of light
My soul enjoys.
97. Secret and sacred
The secret influence of lightHas totally changed
My earth-life.
The sacred influence of light
Shall make me
Supremely
And
Proudly
Another God.
98. Don't smile
Don’t smile.Darkness-abyss
Will welcome you.
It may even capture you.
Swim.
Illumination-height
Will welcome you
And will without fail embrace you.
99. Soul's eye, ear and arm
Your soul has an ear.With it you hear all about
Earth-failure.
Your soul has an eye.
With it you see
Heaven-satisfaction.
Your soul has an arm.
With it you create
World-perfection.
100. Aspiration, realisation and perfection
Aspiration, my aspiration,I want you to be the keeper
Of my undisciplined vital.
Realisation, my realisation,
I want you to be the keeper
Of my doubtful mind.
Perfection, my perfection,
I want you to be the keeper
Of my timid heart.
101. When
When the morning stars sing,I clearly see
That earth-confusion
Is never meant for my heart-aspiration.
When the evening stars sing,
I clearly realise
That Heaven-satisfaction
Is meant for my vital-aggression.
102. When he plays
When he plays on Heaven-organNot only the cosmic gods
But also the Lord Supreme
Admires his miracle music of
Unmeasured height
And
Unplumbed depth.
When he plays on earth-organ
No human soul sincerely dares
To appreciate the soul-breath
Of his life of
Music-flow
And
Music-glow.
103. Four precious gifts
Gift of sight:Universal beauty.
Gift of night:
Universal peace.
Gift of humanity:
Universal sorrow.
Gift of divinity:
Universal smile.
104. They admire
Your body admiresDisciplinary endeavour.
Your mind admires
Visionary endeavour.
Your heart admires
Complimentary endeavour.
Your soul admires
Complementary endeavour.
105. Where are they
I see an empty church.Where is the Christ?
Where has he gone?
I see an empty temple.
Where is Sri Krishna?
Where has he gone?
I see an empty heart.
Where is God?
Where has He gone?
106. His prayers, his meditation
His loving prayersHave made his earth-life
Clear of defects.
His silence-meditation
Has made his Heaven-journey
Clear of obstructions.
107. Mortals and Immortals
Mortals, they are helpless.Immortals, they are careless.
Earth-Mother, she is sleepless.
Heaven-Father, He is speechless.
108. He lived
He lived laborious days.Therefore
He can afford to live
A relaxed
And
Retired life.
But not you, never.
You belonged to a different category.
Two things you really need:
A heart of divinity
And
A life of immortality.
109. O silent dust
O silent dust,I do feel your bosom’s pangs.
But what can I do?
Insignificant is my voice.
Impotent is my strength.
O silent dews,
I do feel your heart’s agonies.
But what can I do?
Helpless is my sight.
Useless is my might.
110. First flower, first fruit
My faith-tree’sFirst flower:
Self-awakening.
My faith-tree’s
First fruit:
Self-giving.
What is self-giving
If not God-becoming?
111. Instruments
You are a forced instrument.Therefore
You cannot go very far.
You are a loving instrument.
Therefore
You can fly very high.
You are a perfecting instrument.
Therefore
God wants to dance with you.
112. The great Face
When the great FaceIs behind me,
Forward I run
Out of fear.
When the great Face
Leads me,
Backward I run
Out of sheer stupidity.
113. Earth-life
O my earth-lifeWhy do you cry
Constantly?
O my Heaven-soul
Why do you hide
Deliberately?
O my Heaven-Father
Why do you dance alone
Incessantly?
114. Heart, soul and God
Heart, my heart,Will you make me your wisdom-height?
Soul, my soul,
Will you make me your perfection-height?
God, my God,
Will you make me Your Satisfaction-Sun?
115. Sanctity and intensity
The sanctity of HeavenIs for my earth-heart to admire.
The intensity of earth
Is for my Heaven-soul to admire.
116. Thought-songs
A white thought tells me;God loves my pure heart.
A blue thought tells me;
God loves my clear mind.
A green thought tells me;
God loves my hero-vital.
A red thought tells me;
God loves my surrender-body.
A black thought tells me;
God never likes me
And
He has no need for me.
117. Iron gates and diamond gates
The iron gates of earthThreaten me, frighten me
And compel me to be earth-slave.
The diamond gates of Heaven
Invite me, embrace me
And request me to be
The Prince of Heaven-Kingdom.
118. On strike
Now that your heart-sunIs in bed
Your vital life is on strike.
It demands more attention from you.
Now that your perfection-goal
Is asleep
Your desire-body is on strike.
It demands more compassion from you.
119. What do I need
What do I need from God?An everlasting smile.
What do I need from earth?
An everlasting oneness.
What do I need from Heaven?
An everlasting concern.
120. To become
To become an immortal instrument,I offered my Lord my soul-breath.
My Lord has fulfilled
My snow-white desire.
To become a perfect instrument,
I offered my Lord my heart-love.
My Lord has clasped
My aspiration-fire.
121. No control
Earth has no control over meAnd
I have no control over Heaven.
Earth, I do not need
Your wise guidance.
Heaven, I do not deserve
Your blind disobedience.
122. All are tired
My mind is tired of livingOn earth.
My heart is tired of loving
Human beings.
My soul is tired of promising
To God.
My God is tired of advising
My ignorance.
123. You are brave
You are brave, very braveonly because
You are still an unexamined hero.
You are pure, very pure
only because
You are still an untempted seeker.
124. God's Life-History
God's Life-HistoryHas inspired my life
Beyond my imagination's flight.
My life history
Has prompted God
To be more conscious
And cautious of ignorance-night.
125. Doubt, over-confidence and indifference
Doubt,I am ashamed
Of our former attachment.
Over-confidence,
I am ashamed
Of our present attachment.
Indifference,
I am ashamed
Of our future attachment.
126. The employer's complaints
I gave death a job.I asked death to sleep.
But death forgot to obey me.
What can I do?
I can only exercise
My forgiveness-power.
I gave Satan a job.
I asked Satan to meditate.
But Satan forgot to obey me.
What can I do?
I can only exercise
My forgiveness-power.
127. Are you not tired
Father, are You not tiredOf my life of never-ending weakness?
Daughter, no.
I am only tired of My ever-increasing forgiveness.
Father, are You not tired
Of my earth-bound life?
Daughter, no.
I am only tired of My Heaven-free delay.
128. You want to know
You want to knowWhere I have been.
I have been with God the Dreamer
In Heaven.
You want to know
Where I have been.
I have been with God the Lover
On earth.
You want to know
Where I have been.
I have been with God the Liberator
In death.
129. My discoveries
My sleep-discovery:God is nowhere.
My dream-discovery:
God is only in Heaven.
My reality-discovery:
God is always busy.
He has no time to think of me.
He has no love to share with me.
130. Three teachers
My mind can teachThe world all about the heart's
Clouded weather.
My heart can teach
The world all about the mind's
Threatening weather.
My soul can teach
The world all about the soul's
Inspiring weather.
131. I celebrate myself
I celebrate myself.Not because I am perfect,
But because I admire
Perfection's core.
I celebrate myself.
Not because I have satisfied God,
But because I am nearing
His Satisfaction-Door.
132. Unfamiliar, familiar and eternal God
To me,God the Justice
Is an unfamiliar God.
To me,
God the Compassion
Is a familiar God.
To me,
God the Love
Is the eternal God.
133. Growth
Doubt is an unconscious growthIn you.
Faith is a conscious growth
In you.
Love is a precious growth
In you.
Service is a sagacious growth
In you.
134. The song of my life
ProgressiveIs my heart-life.
Regressive
Is my mind-life.
Aggressive
Is my vital-life.
Apprehensive
Is my body-life.
135. What do we treasure
EagernessMy sound-life always treasures.
Soulfulness
My silence-heart always treasures.
And what do I treasure?
I treasure the attentiveness
And perfectiveness of my Master Pilot
Supreme.
136. Nobody wants to confess
Light is the harbinger of God-Day.Everybody knows that.
Night is the harbinger of world-death.
Nobody knows that.
Why?
Just because nobody dares to expose himself.
Nobody wants to confess
That he is the sole cause of night.
137. Look at Her
Look at Her Feet,It is all salvation.
Look at Her Eyes,
It is all illumination.
Look at Her Heart,
It is all perfection.
Look at Her Soul,
It is all satisfaction,
God-satisfaction.
138. Imperial palace
Mind, are you lookingFor an imperial palace?
Lo, it is here.
Heart, are you looking
For a celestial palace?
Lo, it is here.
Soul, are you looking
For a transcendental palace?
Lo, it is here, and nowhere else.
139. His comments
His commentsOn Heaven-vision
Are authentic, if not prophetic.
His comments
On earth-reality
Are pathetic, if not sympathetic.
140. Yet
Lord, I have done my best.Yet
Earth-progress is a far cry.
Lord, I have loved my best.
Yet
Heaven-success is a far cry.
141. Alas, alas!
Alas, alas!No one will believe me
If I say that God has
Employed me to represent Him
On earth.
Yet I perform my task most efficiently.
Alas, alas!
No one will believe me
If I say that God has
Employed me to advise Him
In Heaven.
Yet I perform my task most devotedly.
142. What can I do
You have two timid feet.Alas, what can I do?
What can my feet do for you?
Indeed, it is a helpless case.
You have two timid eyes.
Alas, what can I do?
What can my eyes do for you?
Indeed, it is a hopeless case.
You have a timid heart.
Alas, what can my heart do for you?
Indeed, it is a useless case.
143. My realisations
My morning realisation:Receive from God, receive.
My noon realisation:
Achieve perfection in your life, achieve.
My evening realisation:
Conceive God-satisfaction, conceive.
144. I realised God
I slept in victory's room.I dreamt in glory's room.
I worked in discipline's room.
I realised God in surrender's room.
145. No mind can achieve
No mind can achieveWhat the heart has already achieved.
No heart can attain
What the soul has already attained.
No soul can reach
What Silence has already reached.
146. O worshippers!
O kneeling worshippers,Be sincere.
What you precisely need
Is sincerity.
O adoring worshippers,
Be pure.
What you unmistakably need
Is purity.
147. Yesterday, today and tomorrow
YesterdayI saw the sleeping triumph of my total doom.
Today
I see the glorious triumph of my dedication-life.
Tomorrow
I shall see the precious triumph
Of my all illumining perfection-soul.
148. Love God, serve God
You do not have to love me.Love God.
He is my Eternity's Soul.
You do not have to serve me.
Serve God.
He is my Reality's Goal.
149. Search
Search God within.You can become
His Heart of celestial Beauty.
Search God without.
You can become
The pride of eternal Reality.
150. Earth
O aged earth,My heart of love
Suffers for you.
O caged earth,
My soul of freedom
Suffers within you.
In me you can find
Your heart-brother.
151. He is really divine
He thinks of God;Therefore
He is really divine.
He meditates on God;
Therefore
He is three times unmistakably
More divine.
He has surrendered
His Heaven-dream
And
Earth-reality to God;
Therefore
He is seven times supremely more divine.
152. To the teachers
To the mind-teacherI say:
"Don't teach
since you do not know."
To the Light-teacher
I say:
"Teach always
since you want to know more."
To the soul-teacher
I say:
"When will you start teaching?
I am all ready."
153. The full staff of faith and the full staff of doubt
Here is the full staff of faith:Determination, Aspiration,
Realisation and Perfection.
Here is the full staff of doubt:
Temptation, deception,
Frustration and destruction.
154. Revive
O my heart,Revive your old devotion.
O my life,
Revive your old determination.
O my world,
Revive your old satisfaction.
O my God,
Revive Your old Compassion.
155. Heaven-dream, earth-reality
From fear of deathyou suffered.
From fear of life
you are suffering.
Soon,
You will be suffering
From fear of your
Heaven-dream
And
Earth-reality.
156. Only three ways
There are only three ways of serving God.By constantly obeying God,
By soulfully smiling at God,
By unmistakably becoming
Another God.
157. I forget, I remember1
I always rememberTo forget my ignorance-friend.
If I am not great,
Who else is then great?
I always forget
To remember my wisdom-sun.
If I am not stupid,
Who else is then stupid?
FDP 157. Note: The words "wisdom-sun" were originally typed as "wisdom-son"↩
158. Two and one
Two benedictive Handson your
One contemplative heart.
Two compassionate Feet
on your
One passionate life.
159. Lord, give me
Lord, do give me the inspiration to speak.Needless to say,
I shall speak only about You.
Lord, do give me the realisation to write.
Needless to say,
I shall write only about You.
160. They enjoy
My earth-life enjoysInfant slumber,
Infant cry.
My Heaven-life enjoys
Infant awakening,
Infant smile.
My God-life enjoys
Infant song,
Infant love.
161. The pride
The pride of the nobleIs constant self-giving.
The pride of the ignoble
Is constant truth-denying.
The pride of God
Is constant oneness-fulfilling.
162. Thought and will
A life of thoughtHas a perishable face.
A life of will
Has an imperishable smile.
Make your own choice
And
Immortal make your own life.
163. Who needs
Who needs the animal past?The vital in me.
Who needs the human present?
The mind in me.
Who needs the divine future?
The heart in me.
Who needs the Eternal Now?
The soul in me.
164. Aspiration
In the morning,God in me is the giver
Of aspiration.
At noon,
God in me is the liver
Of aspiration.
In the evening,
God in me is both lover
And fulfiller
Of aspiration.
165. I love
I love the distant saint.I do not want to expose
His impurity.
I love the distant yogi.
I do not want to expose
His insincerity.
But
I do not love the distant God.
I want Him right beside me.
I want to reveal His supreme Divinity.
166. An impossible task
Imagine you know nothing.I know this is a difficult task.
Imagine you have nothing.
I know this is a most difficult task.
Imagine you are nothing.
I know this is an impossible task.
167. A peculiar power
You have a peculiar powerTo carry you through ignorance-night.
He has a peculiar power
To save him from earth-ingratitude.
I have a peculiar power
To free me from life-failure.
168. Children, I am already old
Children, I am already old.Do not expect
Anything great from me.
Children, I am no more bold.
Do not expect
Anything spectacular from me.
Children, my heart is no longer gold.
Do not expect
Anything ambrosial from me.
169. I never betrayed God
It never happened.I never betrayed God.
It never happens.
I never ignore man.
It shall never happen.
I shall never eat
my realisation-fruit
all alone.
170. Three messages
The message of the West:"Let me be the winner."
The message of the East:
"Let me see the loser."
The message of God:
"Let me see the truth-lover.
Let me see the life-builder.
Let me see the love-fulfiller."
171. You want to know
You want to knowWhy I love my heart.
I love my heart
Because of its intensity.
You want to know
Why I love my soul.
I love my soul
Because of its immensity.
You want to know
Why I love my God.
I love my God
Because
Of His earth-liberating Duty.
172. Everybody watched me
Everybody watched meWhen I lost faith in God.
But now I have regained
All my faith in God.
But nobody comes to watch me.
They want me to be bound to ignorance-night.
And what do I want?
I want them only to be devoted
to the Light.
173. Forget and forgive
What to forget?Nothing.
Whom to forget?
None.
What to forgive?
Everything.
Whom to forgive?
Everyone.
What to illumine?
Ignorance.
Whom to illumine?
Your own self.
174. Who
Who is your unknown enemy?The hungry animal in you.
Who is your unknowable enemy?
The angry human in you.
Who is your unknown friend?
The soulful lover in you.
Who is your unknowable friend?
The ever-forgiving Mother in you.
175. God-Compassion
God-CompassionHas crowned my prayer.
God-Perfection
Has crowned my meditation.
God-Satisfaction
Has crowned my surrender.
176. Do better things, say better things
Do better things.Prove to Divinity
That your earth-life is something.
Say better things.
Prove to humanity
That your Heaven-realisation is something.
177. My earth-friends and my Heaven-friends
My earth-friends warn meNot to mix with Heaven-lovers.
They say: Heaven-lovers are all rogues.
I do not know what to do.
My Heaven-friends warn me
Not to mix with Heaven-doubters.
They say: Heaven-doubters
Are all impossible fools.
178. Do not suggest, just command
O my heart, do not suggest,Just command.
I am ready, more than ready.
O my mind, do not command,
I allow you only to suggest.
I am not ready
And
I shall never be ready
to listen to your ignorance-commands.
179. The reason why
The reason why I write:I long to correct myself.
The reason why I speak:
I long to perfect myself.
The reason why I love:
I long to fulfil myself.
The reason why I serve:
I long to transcend myself.
180. Believe it or not
Believe it or not,The song of self-discipline:
Satisfaction-dawn.
Believe it or not,
The song of silver patience:
Perfection-sun.
Believe it or not,
The song of golden surrender
Is God-Smile.
181. You think, you live, you love
You think like a GodAlthough
You do not live like a God.
You live like a God
Although
You do not love like a God.
You love like a God
Although
You are a false God.
182. Who argues
Who argues?He who is a stranger
To oneness-light.
Who argues?
He who is a fond child
Of bondage-night.
183. Don't argue
Don't argue with truth.You will be compelled
To heave a sigh
Of an unreasonable mind.
Don't argue with love.
You will be compelled
To heave a sigh
Of an unthinkable heart.
184. Matchless and priceless
Matchless is her mind.It perfectly shelters
Earth's excruciating pangs.
Priceless is her heart.
It perfectly houses
Eternity's Height
And
Infinity's Light.
185. Three days and three nights
Three good days:A day of true aspiration.
A day of pure dedication.
A day of total surrender.
Three good nights:
A night of sound sleep.
A night of sweet dreams.
A night of august silence.
186. For You alone
Father, here is my crying heart.It is all for You,
For You alone.
Daughter, here is My shining Pride.
It is all for you,
For you alone.
Father, here is my smiling soul.
It is all for You,
For You alone.
Daughter, here is My ever-transcending Height.
It is all for you,
For you alone.
187. Think the right thing, say the right thing
Do what you think is right.Only do not think
You are very great.
Say what you know is right.
Only do not say
You are either
Another God
Or
A future God.
188. Revenge-life and forgiveness-heart
Revenge-life,If that is wisdom-light,
I definitely do not need it.
Forgiveness-heart,
If that is not perfection-height,
No harm, I shall all my life
Stay with it.
189. Four things
Four things of my lifeI sincerely admire:
My angel-smile
My angel-infancy
My angel-flight
My angel-dependence.
190. Who wants, who needs
A life of independenceWho wants, Father, who wants?
Not I, not I, not Your daughter.
I long for a life of prayerful dependence.
A life of independence
Who needs, Father, who needs?
Not I, not I, not Your daughter.
I long for a life of unconditional surrender.
191. I must set you free
Fear, I must set you free.How long will you remain
In a foreign country?
You should go back to your own country.
Your brother Death,
What will he be thinking of you?
Doubt, I must set you free.
How long will you remain
In a foreign country?
You should go back to your own country.
Your friend Satan,
What will he be thinking of you?
192. Because
BecauseYou are not sincere
Heaven's smile
Is barren in your heart.
Because
You are not sincere
God's Promise-Light
Fails to kindle
Your aspiration-life.
193. Perfect strangers
Since you and sincerityAre perfect strangers
You have to climb
A greased pole
Before you see the face of God.
Since you and sincerity
Are perfect strangers
Your God-realisation
Will entirely depend
On God's infinite Bounty
And not your incapacity's capacity.
194. Fights
You had a mental fightWith God the Light.
You had a vital fight
With God the Power.
You had a psychic fight
With God the Delight.
You had a physical fight
With God the Compassion.
195. From now
From now on, Father, I shall love YouMore than I love myself.
I am happy to hear that.
But do you want to make Me happier?
Certainly, Father, but how?
Just forget to love yourself.
I shall love you
Most soulfully
And
Most devotedly
On your behalf.
I give you My Word of Honour.
196. A night of sorrow
To think is to inviteA night of sorrow.
To pray is to invite
A day of hope.
To meditate is to invite
A sun of power-light.
197. Father and daughter
From now on, Father, I shall think of YouMore than You think of me.
Daughter, I am happy to hear that.
But do you want to make Me happier?
Certainly, Father, but how?
Just do not think of yourself.
I shall gladly and devotedly
Think of you on your behalf.
198. Power
The power of harmonyGives birth to peace.
The power of peace
Gives birth to God-manifestation.
The power of God-manifestation
Gives birth to satisfaction.
What is satisfaction?
Satisfaction is the stark necessity
Of both God and man.
199. I love
I love the presenceof Mother Earth.
She tells me
She will give me
Everything she creates.
I love the presence
of Father Heaven.
He tells me
He will give me
His Light-Power
to equal Him.
200. It does not last
The pomp of powerDoes not last.
The throes of submission
Do not last.
The reign of ignorance-night
Cannot last.
The apparent defeat
Of Knowledge-light
Cannot last,
Nay, can never last.
201. Discovery and invention
YesterdayMy sterling faith
Discovered God.
Therefore I was happy.
Today
My unknown fear
Has invented God.
Therefore I am proud.
202. Three messages
Death has a messageFor you:
"Do not try.
Just cry."
Life has a message
For you:
"Do not give up.
Continue."
God has a message
For you:
"Smile, always smile."
203. Why
Why fear life?Why fear death?
Life is your older brother
Who inspires you to transcend
Your puny self.
Death is your younger brother
Who warns you not to embrace
Pleasure-life.
204. Duly and daily
Duly and dailyMy heart loves God.
Duly and daily
My life needs God.
Duly and daily
My soul reveals God.
Duly and daily
My surrender becomes God.
205. I know
A life of disgraceIs a voiceless grave.
I have known it.
A life of grace
Augments the pride of God's Face.
I know it.
206. Don't be
Don't beIn the luxury of power.
Destruction-shower will greet you
Without fail.
Don't be
In the luxury of light.
Night-frown will torture you
Without fail.
207. Eternity's fastest train
You have snappedYour vital chain.
Lo, you are in the kingdom
of supreme gain.
You have snapped
Your mental chain.
Lo, your life is in
Eternity's fastest train.
208. Your
Your mind knowsWhat fear of darkness is.
Your heart knows
What fear of light is.
Your soul knows
What fear of ignorance is.
Your God knows
What fear of non-acceptance is.
209. Powers
His Love-PowerIs the keeper
Of my earth-necessities.
His Light-Power
Is the keeper
Of my Heaven-necessities.
His God-Power
Is the keeper
Of my soul-necessities.
210. Who
Who saves my life?My deep humility-friend.
Who saves my heart?
My high hope-brother.
Who saves my soul?
My shadowless confidence-sun.
211. Where is he
Where is he?I know not.
Where is his body?
In the land of death.
Where is his life?
In the land of the immortals.
Where is his soul?
In the gratitude-breath of humanity.
212. Beauty
The love of beautyIs
World-power.
The beauty of love
Is
God-Power.
The love of truth
Is
Man-power.
The truth of love
Is
God-Power.
213. Mother and father
Who is Heaven's mother?Light-sea.
Who is Heaven's father?
Consciousness-sky.
Who is earth's mother?
Patience-moon.
Who is earth's father?
Knowledge-sun.
214. When
WhenYour outer spirit sings
You declare the pride
Of your vital glory.
When
Your inner spirit sings
God Himself declares
Your achievement-heights.
215. You
You are dear to meBecause
You love me.
You are dearer to me
Because
You love meditation.
You are dearest to me
Because
You love God.
216. Unreserved forgiveness
Unreserved forgiveness,Unmeasured bliss.
Perfect soul,
Perfect goal.
Transformed humanity,
Immortalised necessity.
217. God-Light
He died before he sawThe face of truth.
He died before the birth
Of love in his life.
He died before he claimed
God-Light as his very own.
218. Hope
Hope, my pilot-star, hopeI have seen your face.
I have felt your heart.
Therefore
In ignorance-night
I shall no more grope.
Hope, my pilot-star, hope
You are humanity's peerless rope
For human souls to climb
God's Transcendental Height.
219. Three songs
The song of Heaven-lightI immensely enjoy.
The song of earth-night
I boldly reject.
The song of God-Delight
My heart accepts,
My vital rejects,
And my mind,
In this case,
Wants to remain neutral.
220. What do I need
What do I need?The seed of wisdom-light.
What do I need?
The flower of satisfaction-smile.
What do I need?
The fruit of God-attainment.
221. The first morning and the last morning
The first morning of creationHeralded God's Compassion-Height.
The last morning of creation
Shall proclaim God's Justice-Might.
222. Life's thirst
To possess GodIs life's secret thirst.
To love God for God's sake
Is life's sacred thirst.
To please God
Always
Is life's supreme thirst.
223. Not once but thrice
Not once but thriceI danced with death.
When I fell in love
With self-doubt;
When I touched the tail
Of jealousy-snake;
When I swam in the anxiety-river.
224. I admire, I love
O dreaming Heaven,I admire your dream-boat,
I admire.
O bleeding earth,
I love your reality-shore,
I love.
225. He prays
He praysBecause
He loves.
He loves
Because
He has.
He has
Because
He is.
He eternally is.
226. Leave some room
O pilgrims of eternity,Leave some room for me.
I shall join you.
O heart-smile of infinity,
Leave some room for me.
I shall join you
In your cosmic game.
227. Pure essence
Pure essence of life:Love-might.
Pure essence of love:
Silence-height.
Pure essence of silence:
Oneness-light.
228. Don't tell me a lie
Don't tell me a deliberate lie:God loves you.
Don't tell me a half lie:
I clearly see
Your love of God is not totally
sincere.
Don't tell me a complete lie:
I tell you,
God does have the time
In measureless measure
To think of you,
To love you
And immortalise you.
229. O my noisy world
O my noisy world,Why do I love you?
"You love me because
My vital is surcharged
With hero-energy
With love-vision
With life-emancipation."
Yes, you are perfectly right.
230. Serious
The life of your pride,Serious.
The breath of your pride,
Dangerous.
The life of your sincerity,
Generous.
The life of your humility,
Precious.
231. Lost and gained
Earth-liberty lost,Heaven-beauty lost.
Earth-transformation gained,
Heaven-satisfaction attained.
Earth-perfection manifested,
Heaven-promise executed.
232. Four lives
Human lifeIs endless limitation.
Divine life
Is endless illumination.
Earth-life
Is endless caution.
Heaven-life
Is endless compassion.
233. What do you want
What do you want?I want a night without darkness.
What do you want?
I want a day with the sun.
Why?
Why?
Because I want to hear
The song of independence,
I want to see
The dance of independence.
234. Truth, Heaven and God
Truth, my truth,You are still unemployed.
Heaven, my Heaven,
You are still ignored.
God, my God,
You are still unsought.
235. Yesterday, today, tomorrow
YesterdayI saw your soul-flames.
You cannot imagine
How beautiful they are.
Today
I am seeing your soul-fire.
You cannot imagine
How powerful it is.
Tomorrow
I shall be seeing your soul-sun.
Both you and I
Will fail to know
How fruitful it is.
236. Not alone
I play not alone.When I play
The sun and the moon join me.
I sing not alone.
When I sing
Light and Delight join me.
I dance not alone.
When I dance
The sky and the sea join me.
237. The utmost force of humanity
Sacrifice:The utmost force of earth.
Smile:
The utmost force of Heaven.
Sorrow:
The utmost force of humanity.
Assurance:
The utmost force of divinity.
238. Traveller-seeker-lover
The traveller in me dreamsOf God's limitless Beauty.
The seeker in me dreams
Of God's fathomless Light.
The lover in me dreams
Of God's Victory-garland
Adorning His universal Necessity.
239. Tell me the difference
Tell me the differenceBetween
Desire-life and danger-death.
Tell me the difference
Between
Aspiration-love and realisation-life.
240. His
His eyes areAs swift as clouds.
His feet are
As slow as a tortoise.
His will is
As fast as bullets.
His thoughts are
As slow as death.
241. Come
O Lord of inseparable Oneness,Come to me first.
O Lord of supernal Love,
Come to me next.
O Lord of supreme Glory,
Come to me last,
very last.
242. The captains
O my earth-lifeYou want beauty
To be the captain of your body.
That is perfectly fine with me.
You want purity
To be the captain of your vital.
That is perfectly all right with me.
You want luminosity
To be the captain of your mind.
That is excellent with me.
You want divinity
To be the captain of your heart.
That is more than perfect with me.
243. Father and daughter
To love You, Father,I have discarded
My arrows of desire.
"Thank you, daughter."
To please You, Father,
I have stopped eating
With ignorance-life.
"Thank you, daughter."
To become inseparably one with You,
I am challenging
The pride of my brooding night.
"Thank you, daughter."
244. Not because I do not love You
Father, it is not becauseI do not love You
That on rare occasions I wish
To stay all alone,
But because at times
I immensely enjoy the core of solitude.
But Father, if You think
What I am doing is wrong,
Unpardonably wrong,
Then I am running towards You,
I am flying towards You,
Father, for You alone are my Eternity's All.
245. No life, no God
No health, no hope.No hope, no love.
No love, no joy.
No joy, no life.
No life, no God.
246. Why
I do not sing.Why?
Because my Lord Supreme
Sings so soulfully.
If I sing, I shall only embarrass Him.
I think that is not fair on my part.
I do not dance.
Why?
Because my Lord Supreme
Dances so charmingly.
If I dance, I shall only embarrass Him.
I think that is not fair on my part.
247. Bread
Man's bread:Soul's smile.
Soul's bread:
Man's acceptance.
God's Bread:
Man's freedom.
Man's bread:
God's Assurance.
248. Although
Although you areA thoughtless youth,
God's Compassion-sea will forgive you.
Although you are
A senseless youth,
God's Compassion-sky will forgive you.
Although you are
A reckless youth,
God's Compassion-moon will forgive you.
249. Confusion and aspiration
To him,Confusion worse than depression.
Confusion worse than frustration.
Confusion worse than destruction.
To him,
Aspiration better than realisation.
Aspiration better than revelation.
Aspiration better than manifestation.
250. When I called
When I called manHe was so upset
That I did not take his advice
In world-transformation-game.
When I invoked God
He was so upset
That I did not take a conscious part
In His Heaven-manifestation-game.
251. Life, love and God
Life is a challenging fact.Both you and I know it.
Love is a revealing truth.
Both you and I know it.
God is an ever-transcending Reality.
Both you and I do not know it
And
Do not want to know it.
Alas!
Alas!
252. O fire of light
O fire of light,Burn me, burn my desire-night.
O light of fire,
Illumine me,
My life of aspiration.
Fulfil me,
My heart of dedication.
Immortalise me,
My body of transformation.
253. Be sincere
Be sincere.If not, yours will be
A pathless journey.
Be sincere.
If not, yours will be
A goalless shore.
Be sincere.
If not, yours will be
A soulless goal.
254. She
To see her eyesIs to enter into the world's
Beginningless beginning.
To feel her heart
Is to enter into the world's
Ever-transcending ending.
255. In the soul's world
In the soul's worldHe is quite healthy.
He never falls sick.
How?
Because there is no time
For him to be sick.
He keeps busy,
Devotedly busy,
Cheerfully busy,
Unconditionally busy.
256. Four sisters
Four harmonious sisters:Purity and luminosity,
Beauty and duty.
Great is purity's breath.
Tall is luminosity's heart.
Inspiring is beauty's soul.
Aspiring is duty's role.
257. The difference
The differenceBetween
You and me is this:
You fast on earth
And
You feast in Heaven.
I feast on earth
And
I fast in Heaven.
I feel
Earth-food: fear, doubt, jealousy,
Are most delicious.
You feel
Heaven-food: peace, light and bliss
Are most delicious.
258. Unconditionally
UnconditionallyGod stores up for my soul to use.
My soul lavishly stores up
For my heart to use.
His Heart soulfully stores up
For my life to use.
259. Imperfect and perfect gifts
Three imperfect giftsFrom the core of earth:
Desire-life
Ignorance-night
Doubt-poison.
Three perfect gifts
From the core of earth:
Aspiration-cry
Realisation-smile
Perfection-light.
260. My hopes
MyDesire-hope
Wants to possess.
My
Aspiration-hope
Wants to progress.
My
Perfection-hope
Eternally is.
261. Do you want power
Do you want power?Then go to the outer temple.
Do you want peace?
Then go to the inner temple.
Do you want love?
Then go to God-temple.
Where is it?
It is inside
The sea of your climbing eyes.
262. Beauty
Sincerity is an inspiring beauty.Humility is an illumining beauty.
Purity is a feeding beauty.
Generosity is a bleeding beauty.
Divinity is an immortalising beauty.
263. He eats
He eats only twice a day.His morning meal:
God's Compassion-Heart,
God's Meditation-Face.
His evening meal:
God's Perfection-Feet,
God's Satisfaction-Soul.
264. His prayers
His morning prayer:Lord, come near me.
I shall never breathe a word
Against You.
His evening prayer:
Lord, I have emptied
My ignorance-sea
Before You.
It is all to You
To leave it empty
Or fill it with Your
Compassion-Light.
265. Not because I love You less
Father, not becauseI love You less
That often I think
Of ignorance
But because
I have formed a bad habit.
Don't worry, my Lord,
I shall soon get rid
Of this bad habit.
266. Alas
Alas,My native seas tell me:
I have lost my heart's depth.
Alas,
My native skies tell me:
I have lost my mind's vastness.
Alas,
My native sun tells me:
I have lost my life's divinity.
Alas,
My native gods tell me:
I have lost my soul's immortality.
267. Nowhere to be found
An iota of happiness I want.But where is it?
Nowhere to be found.
Frustration I do not want.
But where is it not?
Alas, it sighs
Even in my victory's crown.
268. I love a holy tree
I love a holy tree.It inspires me to shelter
My earth-friends:
Impurity and insecurity.
I love a holy man.
He inspires me to invite
My Heaven-friends:
The cosmic gods.
269. Desire and aspiration
A life of desire-fireIs an incomplete life.
A life of aspiration-sun
Is not only a complete life
But God's own Life.
270. My body-life
My body-lifeAnd
Earth-consciousness
Enjoy mutual recognition.
His heart-life
And
Heaven-consciousness
Enjoy simultaneous recognition.
My soul-life
And
God-Consciousness
Enjoy constant recognition.
271. Pilgrims
O my body-pilgrim,I see you are totally exhausted.
But look, your goal's fast approaching you.
O my soul-pilgrim,
Are you not sick
Of Eternity's Road
Infinity's Soul
And
Immortality's Goal?
272. My earth-years
My earth-years have taught meMore than countless books.
My earth-years have taught me
More than Heaven's repeated instructions.
My earth-years have taught me
More than they actually promised.
273. Your best friend
Your best friend is conviction.Her best friend is discussion.
My best friend is hesitation.
Earth's best friend is dedication.
Heaven's best friend is illumination.
God's best friend is Compassion.
274. Remain not unrealised
Remain not unrealisedIn the sunlight of optimism.
Remain always realised
In your quiet and sweet optimism.
Optimism is the only ladder
To climb up God's
Ever-transcending Height.
275. Lord, I love your Sovereignty
Body, I love your necessity.Vital, I love your temerity.
Mind, I love your clarity.
Heart, I love your spontaneity.
Soul, I love your divinity.
Lord, I love Your Sovereignty.
276. Our Golden Boat
Our Golden BoatInvites the passengers
Who are freed from
Ranklings of jealousy
And who have learnt
The art of spreading purity
Lovingly and devotedly.
277. Humanity's face
In offering, we learn.In learning, we become.
In becoming, we perfect
Humanity's face
And
Accelerate God's Grace.
278. Do you know
Do you know why God has patienceIn boundless measure?
Just to make me His representative on earth.
Just to make me His prototype.
Just to make me His equal.
Just to make of me another God.
279. When
WhenIt is a matter of God-realisation
Everybody belongs to the same boat.
When
It is a matter of world-salvation
Everybody is a saviour supreme
In his own inimitable right.
280. Do not carry your passport
If you really wantTo carry peace of mind
Wherever you want to go,
Then do one thing:
Do not carry your passport
Of self-importance.
No, not even by mistake.
281. I am tired
O body, I am tiredOf your constant lingering.
O vital, I am tired
Of your constant boasting.
O mind, I am tired
Of your constant whispering.
O heart, I am tired
Of your constant delaying.
O soul, I am tired
Of your constant dreaming.
282. Earth-born and Heaven-born souls
O earth-born souls,You know how far to go
But
You know not where to go.
O Heaven-born souls,
You know when to love
But
You do not love adequately.
283. Your silence-self
True,Your earth-life,
A portion of fallen divinity.
But do not be doomed
To disappointment-night.
You will gain back
What you had
And what you were.
Just give one more chance
To your silence-self:
God.
284. Terrestrial chart and celestial chart
When her terrestrial chartWas unrolled
She realised how important
Her presence on earth was.
When her celestial chart
Was unrolled
She realised how desperately
Heaven needs her support,
Soul-support.
285. Three messages
Faith has three messages to offer.First message:
God is necessary.
Second message:
God-realisation is indispensable.
Third message:
God-Perfection is attainable
At God's choice Hour,
It is unmistakably attainable.
286. Measurement
The other dayI measured my desire's height.
My vital was shocked.
My soul was thrilled
After I took the measurement.
A pigmy's height
Was my desire's height.
287. Lord, I enjoy
Lord, I enjoy Your juggling Eyes.Lord, I love Your climbing Eyes.
Lord, I adore Your glowing Eyes.
Lord, I worship Your forgiving Eyes.
Lord, I need Your life-transforming Eyes.
288. Do you love Me
Do you love Me?If so, why then do you love
My arch enemy: fear?
That means when you say
You love Me,
You do not actually mean it.
Do you love Me?
If so, why then do you love
My hostile enemy: doubt?
That means when you say
You love Me,
You do not actually mean it.
289. Love is a flower
Love is a flowerThat grows in every
Heart-garden.
Doubt is a flower
That grows in every
Mind-garden.
Progress is a flower
That grows in every
Life-garden.
God is a flower
That grows in every
Gratitude-heart.
290. Go out
Go outIf you want to widen your mind.
Stay inside
If you want to maintain
The purity of your heart.
Go out and come back soon
If you want to conquer the world
Yet sustain your God-like beauty.
291. My supreme secret
I tell youMy supreme secret:
I used God's Breath
To declare
My ignorant body's
Ignorance-death.
You can also try.
Your success is guaranteed
For two million years
At least.
292. Only three human beings
God saysIn His creation vast
Only three human beings
Will never be old:
A God-lover
A truth-server
A perfection-builder.
293. Our present century
Our present centuryHas discovered
Three undeniable but deplorable things:
Indifference-ocean
Confusion-sun
Falsehood-perfection.
294. Silence-life, sound-life
His silence-lifeIs quite audible.
His sound-life
Is quite inaudible.
Why?
Because in his silence-life
Is God's great preparation
And God's dynamic creation.
And in his sound-life
Is God's silent frustration,
God's silent Compassion.
295. He knows
He knows,He knows the virtue of silver patience.
He practises it, too.
But he does not unnecessarily
Sit and wait,
Scheme and dream.
His inner light fixes
God's choice Hour.
So, at God's Hour he runs
And easily and unprecedentedly
Wins the race.
296. Fruitful is God-Duty
Hopeful is sunrise.Thoughtful is moon-beauty.
Soulful is love-purity.
Truthful is life-necessity.
Fruitful is God-Duty
Beyond sunrise.
297. You pray to God
You pray to GodIn a time of necessity.
You do not want to learn
The lessons offered
By regularity and punctuality.
I tell you what regularity
Can and will do for you:
Regularity will show you
Your victory's crown
And punctuality will crown you,
Your achievement's glory.
298. Three voices
A thunderous voice,Who needs it?
I need it when I speak to Satan.
A generous voice,
Who needs it?
I need it when I speak to poor earth.
A glorious voice,
Who needs it?
I need it when I speak to Heaven.
299. Certitude and gratitude
My soul, you have for meRoyal certitude
And I have for you
Real gratitude.
My soul, you have for me
The message of the sky
And I have for you
My inner beauty's cry.
300. Hopeless and useless
Father, I know I am hopelessAnd useless.
But since You have taken me
Into Your inner circle
Will You not help me to be worthy
Of that intimate circle?
I feel You certainly can.
Daughter, I certainly must.
301. Be careful
Be careful!If you do not meditate
A voracious earth-hour
Shall devour you.
Be cheerful.
Since you meditate
A precious Heaven-hour
Is bound to feed you,
Love you
And
Immortalise you.
302. I love you
Father, I love You.Daughter, that is not enough.
Father, I love You only.
Daughter, that is not enough.
Father, I need You.
Daughter, that is not enough.
Father, I need You only.
Daughter, that is not enough.
Why do you love Me?
Why do you need Me?
I love You, I need You
Because You, You alone are
My Eternity's All.
303. Because
BecauseHe went to God
With a timid heart
God did not accept him.
Because
He went to man
With two timid eyes
Man did not accept him.
Because
He went to Heaven
With two timid feet
Heaven did not accept him.
304. God-realisation
God-realisationIs the most difficult attainment.
Who denies it?
Nobody.
Life-perfection
Is the most difficult achievement.
Alas, nobody wants to admit it.
Nobody wants to try it.
305. Choice Hour
Sacrifice-starYou have it.
You do not need any more.
Love-moon
You do not have.
You need it ever more.
Perfection-sun
God has kept aside for you.
He is just waiting
For His choice Hour.
306. If and when
If and whenI have the power,
I shall definitely speak
To humanity.
If and when
I have the love,
I shall unerringly love divinity.
If and when I become
Another God,
I shall speak to myself
And never before.
307. Three temples
In the temple of NightI saw who I was.
In the temple of Light
I have seen what I can
Eventually be.
In the temple of Delight
I see what I eternally am:
God's own Dream-boat.
308. Limited and unlimited
Limited is the power of the vital.I am sure by this time
You have known it.
Equally limited is the power of the mind.
I am sure by this time
You have realised it.
But unlimited is the power of the heart.
You will realise it
Before long.
309. He just barks
He barksBut
He does not bite.
What I am telling is true.
But, if he ever bites,
His bite will be no match for his bark.
He is clever
Therefore he does not bite.
I tell you,
This is the only reason
Why he does not bite.
310. Prayer, meditation, realisation
Each prayerHeralds a new day of hope.
Each meditation
Heralds a new day of promise.
Each realisation
Heralds a new life of the Supreme.
311. Power-kingdom and love-kingdom
Your power-kingdomIs bound to be overthrown
If you fail to feed
Humanity with love.
Your love-kingdom
Is bound to flourish
If you serve the body and soul
Of humanity
With your oneness-light.
312. Perfect satisfaction
Your vital is a connoisseurOf wild confusion.
Your mind is a connoisseur
Of mild confession.
Your heart is a connoisseur
Of true illumination.
Your soul is a connoisseur
Of perfect satisfaction.
313. God, I need
God, I needYour old Kindness.
God, I need
Your new Forgiveness.
God, I need
Your old Intimacy.
God, I need
Your new Promise.
314. Outer and inner temples
My outer body-templeFrom time immemorial
Has been expecting God's Arrival.
My inner heart-temple
From time immemorial
Has been feeding God's Body
And treasuring God's Soul.
315. I believed therefore I conquered
I believed I could conquer,Therefore I conquered.
What did I conquer?
Heaven's indifference and earth's pleasure,
God's Crown and death's pressure.
316. Original foes
Humanity'sOriginal foes:
Separation-night,
Ignorance-dream.
Humanity's
Original friends:
Self-giving,
Truth-search.
317. Came and left
Silver victory came,Gold humility left.
Gold humility returned,
Diamond God followed.
318. Father
Father, at times why do IBecome hostile to You?
Is it because I feel
That You love others more
Or
Because You are not
Helping me to conquer
My insecurity's life
And
My jealousy's eyes?
Father, I know these are difficult questions.
You may take Your own time.
319. Permanent
Only four songsAre permanent
In God's creation:
Man's song of procrastination
God's song of Compassion
Earth's song of dedication
Heaven's song of satisfaction.
320. The mind-man and the heart-man
Lord, the mind-man in meIs unwilling.
Shall I force him?
Or
Shall I leave him?
Lord, the heart-man in me
Is more than willing.
How shall I thank him?
And
How shall I pilot him?
321. My aspiration-ladder, my desire-ladder
My aspiration-ladderTook me up to show me
My face of golden ray.
My desire-ladder
Brought me down to show me
My feet of inconscience-clay.
322. Do you believe
Do you believeIn the life of reality?
If you believe
Then do not renounce life.
Do not indulge
In quitting activity
As long as you believe in reality;
God's omnipresent Reality.
323. Enemy and friend
He who has a single desireHas a sure enemy.
He who has a little aspiration
Has a true friend.
He who has an iota of love
Has a pure mother
And
An eternal friend.
324. If you say
If you sayHe is old
I shall not object.
But I shall appreciate it
If you just add a pithy line:
His earth-face
Is lined with the roadmap
Of Heaven-history.
325. Who says
Who saysYou have to become
A God-believer first
If you want to be
A conscientious objector?
It is not at all true.
You just need firm faith
In your discovery
Of wisdom-light.
If that is done,
You do not have to bring God into the picture.
After all, poor God,
He has many more important things to do.
326. He is wise
He is wiseBecause
He knows how far he can run
In this world of limited boundaries.
327. No more victory
O my vital,You cannot have a sweeping victory
Any more.
My mind, sharp as shark's teeth,
Now vehemently challenges you.
And
My heart, vast as the blue sky,
Condemns your age-long supreme authority.
328. He is wrong
He thinks his outer yearsWill offer him wisdom-light.
Alas, he is totally wrong.
He thinks his mental capacities
Will offer him wisdom-light.
Alas, this time, too, he is wrong.
Finally, he comes to realise
That it is God's Compassion-Flood
That offers him the wisdom-light.
329. Use him
Use him to please you.He will do it.
Use him to love you.
He will do it.
Use him to show you
The Face of God.
He will do it.
He will gladly do it.
He will devotedly do it.
Why?
Because in your joy
He achieves the peerless satisfaction
Of God-manifestation.
330. There was a time
There was a timeWhen I ventured to change
The face of the world.
And now I consider the case.
No more shall I be
A self-styled reformer.
I shall become only a God-lover
To please Him in His own Way.
331. To humanity
To humanity,Your heart of light
Has brought the greatest
Blessing-light.
To divinity,
Your mouth of abysmal darkness
Has brought the unparalleled curse.
332. Why does he need
Why does he need weaponsTo accept the challenge
Of world-gloom?
His wisdom-light
Far transcends the power
Of world-doom
And
Heaven-bloom.
333. Walk by faith
"Walk by faith, not by night."This is the only way
To reach God's
Ever-transcending Heights
And
Ever-deepening Depth.
This method I have tried
And I have succeeded,
More than succeeded.
334. All is uncertain
All is uncertainBetween womb and tomb.
All is uncertain
Between man's Heavenly promise
And earthly hope.
All is uncertain
Between man's aspiration-cry
And realisation-smile.
335. Control and increase
Control your earth-desires.Don't you see
That you are injuring
Your Heaven-aspiration?
Increase your Heaven-aspiration.
Don't you see
That your human incarnation
Is about to surrender
To your animal incarnation?
336. God's God-Decision
MyDesire-friend
What can I do?
My Lord wants me to play with you.
He wants me to win,
He wants you to lose.
If not, I would have easily allowed you
To win at times, at least.
As you know I have taken
A solemn vow:
"God's God-Decision is always final."
337. Dear Doubt
Dear Doubt, after I have passedBehind the curtain of eternity,
I might visit your country.
But now, during my earth-sojourn,
I shall stay only with my bosom friend
Faith.
Once more, if you
Darken my mind-door,
I shall never leave
My Faith's immortal shore.
So, be careful,
Doubt, my dear.
338. He
He who loves nothingKnows nothing.
He who knows nothing
Is nothing.
He who is nothing
Is either God's inimitable creation
Or man's insurmountable frustration.
339. Easy
Everything is easy to the willing.Father God and brother Heaven
Are shining examples.
Nothing is easy to the unwilling.
Your Himalayan ego
And
My Pacific insincerity
Are shining examples.
340. Yet God loves you
Exception proves the rule;You do not need God,
Yet God loves you.
His hour for Heaven
Has not yet struck;
Yet he has left for Heaven
Out of bitter disgust for earth.
Needless to say,
God has forgiven him
And has accepted the fact.
I have brought God down
And placed Him before human beings
Quite unexpectedly.
Yet God loves me.
341. Seeker-lover-master
The seeker in meNever fears investigation.
The lover in me
Never fears desertion.
The master in me
Never fears humiliation.
342. All about God
I thought about GodOnly to satisfy me.
I spoke about God
Only to glorify me.
I wrote about God
Only to justify me.
343. He is my real Friend
God shook hands with meOnly to prove that He is my real Friend.
God blessed me on my head
Only to prove that He is my true Father.
God embraced me powerfully
Only to prove that He is my eternal Lover.
344. Four men
The desiring manIn me declares:
"Action, action."
The aspiring man
In me declares:
"Intention, intention."
The surrendering man
In me declares:
"God-satisfaction,
God-satisfaction."
The realised man
In me declares:
"Eternal-perfection,
Eternal-perfection."
345. Problems
You have some mental problems.Go to a psychiatrist.
I am absolutely the wrong person.
You have some physical problems.
Go to a doctor.
I am absolutely the wrong person.
You have some legal problems.
Go to a lawyer.
I am absolutely the wrong person.
Come to me only when
You have God-realisation problems
And
God-manifestation problems.
346. I am a fool
They say I am a fool.I tell the world everything I know.
But what can I do?
How can I be mean?
I must share my knowledge with others.
After all I am practising
What I have been taught by the Supreme.
Did He not empty His Knowledge-Sun
Before me?
Whom shall I follow
If not my Father Supreme?
347. Confession, purification, satisfaction and perfection
ConfessionIs good for a Christian soul.
Purification
Is good for a Hindu soul.
Satisfaction
Is good for a surrendered soul.
Perfection
Is good for a realised soul.
348. Satisfaction glows supremely
Confidence growsSlowly.
Realisation spreads
Steadily.
Perfection flows
Eternally.
Satisfaction glows
Supremely.
349. A truth and a lie
What is a truth?What is a lie?
A lie is the false protection
Of my clever deception.
A truth is the sure revelation
Of my pure perfection.
350. I have compared
I have compared myselfWith God.
He has only two things
More than I have:
Compassion
And
Forgiveness.
I have compared myself
With man.
I have only two things
More than he has:
Self-deception
And
Self-gratification.
351. Confess and progress
Confess, confessIf you have nothing else
To do.
Progress, progress.
Indeed,
This is the only thing
To do.
352. Confidence
Confidence, confidence.God has confidence in me
And
I have confidence in God.
God feels I shall be able
To equal Him.
I am sure God will help me
In this matter.
I feel I shall be able
To manifest Him.
I am sure God will help me
In this matter.
353. He and she
He is a cloud-born man.What can you really
Expect of him?
She is a sun-born soul.
Is there anything
That both on earth and in Heaven
You cannot expect of her?
354. Teeming spots
Even the world-illumining sunHas teeming spots.
Why do you worry
About my life's blackspots,
Mother Earth?
Son, I want you to be
As perfect as Eternity's
Father-sun
And not the time-born
Planet-sun.
355. My added contribution
I have carefully readGod's Biography,
Therefore
I know practically everything
About God.
But one thing even now
I do not understand.
Is God responsible for this miserable creation
Or
Am I responsible for my added contribution?
356. Since
SinceAsking costs nothing
I ask God to love me more.
Since
Loving costs nothing
I love God more and more.
Since
Making costs nothing
I make God of my own sweet will.
357. God alone knows
Talk to others,You will learn.
Talk to yourself,
You will learn more.
Stop talking,
Remain silent.
God will talk and God will learn
For you.
You will learn everything
That God alone knows.
358. Only one question remains unanswered
All the questionsHave answers.
Only one question
Remains unanswered:
Does God ever think
If He has made
A serious blunder
In creating this
Animal universe?
359. Indeed
Indeed,You are a real clever Master.
Just because I do not follow
Your path, you secretly
Tell your people
That I am not ready for the spiritual life.
Just because I have not taken you
As my Master, you openly say
That I am not meant to be your disciple.
Indeed,
You are a real clever Master.
360. Love
Love your earth-adversariesBut tell them not
What you have:
You have shadowless God-realisation.
If you breathe your realisation
They will refute your proclamation,
They will delay your manifestation.
Love them
But tell them not
What you have
And what you eternally are.
What you have
Is a glowing realisation.
What you are
Is an ever-ascending aspiration.
361. Failure
What has failed you?Your mind of wild confusion
Has failed you.
Blame not others.
What has unnecessarily failed you?
Your life of mean seclusion
Has failed you.
Blame not others,
Emphatically.
362. Victory-speed
Supreme,We try so hard,
We cry so often,
How is it that
We never succeed?
Daughter, My daughter,
Try not to succeed
But
Try only to proceed.
Lo, your victory-speed
Is fast approaching you,
My daughter sweet.
363. It never ends
It never endsMy ignorance never ends.
It never begins
My aspiration never begins.
It never cries
My stupidity never cries.
It never smiles
My fear never smiles.
364. The best is yet to come
The best is yet to come.Therefore
Give me another chance.
The best is yet to come.
Therefore
I can begin to dance.
365. Closest, closer, close
You are closest to GodBecause
You never play with the role of God.
He is closer to God
Because
His disciples compel him
To play the role of God.
I am close to God
Because
On my own, I play the role of God.
Editor's introduction to the first edition
Sri Chinmoy wrote these 365 poems in honour of Father's Day, June 16, 1974. They were written during the 72-hour period from 6:00 p.m. June 10th (while he was on the plane to Puerto Rico) to 5:45 p.m. June 13th during the time of his visit to the San Juan Sri Chinmoy Centre.The Master offered this prayerful gift to his spiritual children of the Puerto Rican Sri Chinmoy Centres, and to his Centres in all other parts of the world. On Father's Day a special dedication of this volume was made to the Guru by the disciples who worked in the printing of the book. On that occasion, each of the 365 poems was recited to the accompaniment of soulful music.
Sri Chinmoy expressed his deepest and most loving gratitude to the disciples who worked for three days and nights on the book, many of them staying up all night for three consecutive nights, and getting only snatches of sleep during the day, typing, varietyping, proofreading, making plates and negatives, masking, printing, collating and binding this book of poems. The temperature hovered near 98° all during this time.
The Guru is extremely proud of his Puerto Rican children.