A Hermit’s Prayer

                    

1)   Though multiple times I turn my rosary  round

      Thy presence divine I have not found

      What use my extensive learning profound

      Without a focused conscience clear and sound?

      Help me, Oh Lord! Shower Thy mercy I pray

      Lift me from ignorance and show true salvation’s way.

2)   What use this ochre-colored robes and dress!

       What use vain thoughts and philosophic guess!

       I can’t worldly grievances solve and redress

       The weight of temptations vex me and press;

       Help me, Oh Lord! Shower Thy mercy I pray

       Lift me from ignorance and show true salvation’s way.

3)   What use to grow matted locks and beard grey

       If I do not discover Thy mysterious way?

       Like melting cubes of ice dissolve our days

       Our worldly possessions won’t ever stay.

       Help me, Oh Lord! Shower Thy mercy I pray

       Lift me from ignorance and show true salvation’s way.

4)   And yet we cling to our tempting desires

       Like foolish moths that rush towards the blazing fire

       When can we get out of this fathomless mire?

       Subdue our passions and egos entire.

       Help me, Oh Lord! Shower Thy mercy I pray

       Lift me from ignorance and show true salvation’s way.

5)    What use to fast and pray for hours and hours?

        In silence under the darkest forest bowers

        If we can’t realize Thee and Thy godly powers

        And feel the bliss of ambrosial showers?

        Help me, Oh Lord! Shower Thy mercy I pray

        Lift me from ignorance and show true salvation’s way.

6)     In worldly affairs our bodies wear and tear

        Entrapped in crushing troublesome cares

        This Maya’s all-pervading veil when can we tear?

        Without Thy divine Grace and help none can dare.

        Help me, Oh Lord! Shower Thy mercy I pray

        Lift me from ignorance and show true salvation’s way.

7)    Great sages yielded to delusions’ hold

       Who did penance intense in fire and cold;

       My weaker instincts how can I mold

       Without Thy boundless grace and support bold?

       Help me, Oh Lord! Shower Thy mercy I pray

       Lift me from ignorance and show true salvation’s way.

8)    Even the lowest creatures broke off the worldly ties

       Though not well-versed, intelligent and wise

       Thy holy touch for us, a brilliant sunrise

       Thy mercy when we receive, we can’t surmise.

        Help me, Oh Lord! Shower Thy mercy I pray

        Lift me from ignorance and show true salvation’s way.

9)     Not due to our merits we claim Thy mercy sweet

        Like humble beggars, Thy grace we entreat

        Thy blessed touch of sin-emancipating feet

        Without Thy help our inner foes who can defeat?

        Help me, Oh Lord! Shower Thy mercy I pray

        Lift me from ignorance and show true salvation’s way.

10)   All our depth of knowledge, mere show—no gain

        All our rites and rituals reduce not our pain

        All these outer trappings will not restrain

        The powerful grip of six enemies main.

        Help me, Oh Lord! Shower Thy mercy I pray

        Lift me from ignorance and show true salvation’s way.

11)   Without devotion and patience, nothing

        Can we achieve; what use to chant and sing

        Thy thousand names and ostentatiously ring

         Bells and flaunt oneself with no sincere feelings.

         Help me, Oh Lord! Shower Thy mercy I pray

         Lift me from ignorance and show true salvation’s way.

12)    Let me lose my ego and sense of pride

         Let me in Thy presence ever abide

         Let me be free from these turbulent tides

         Of worldly woes,Oh God! Be Thou my Lord and Guide.

         Help me, Oh Lord! Shower Thy mercy I pray

         Lift me from ignorance and show true salvation’s way.

                  ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

         15th July, 2020                              Somaseshu Gutala

Note : Maya’s hold --- According to Indian philosophy the whole world is an illusion created out of Maya ( God’s power of creation). All living creatures under the spell of Maya think this world as real and think themselves as doers. But actually the three qualities of Prakriti----Dynamic aspect of God’s creative Power--(Sattwa—positive and balanced attitude, Rajas-passion and activity and Tamas—destruction and laziness)) drive them to act according to their tendencies or karmas. Only pious people who serve God with humility and devotion will overcome this power of delusion and realize that they are not doers but silent witnesses to the apparent phenomena of this world. They will control their six inner enemies(Desire, anger, lust, pride, greed and jealousy) and with balanced mind will approach God without any desires as everything in this world is transient and subject to change. Our rituals and religious karmas only serve to some extent to cultivate a proper mindset and induce a sense of discipline to approach God with a pious mind. Mere learning of religious texts will not transform our lives unless we practise what we study. Sometimes acquisition of knowledge will produce a sense of pride and lead us astray. So one has to overcome one’s egoistic nature (Ahamkara) caused by power, wealth, beauty, knowledge and other worldly possessions and think that everything happens only due to will and power of God. Our existence is nothing without his presence and motivation. But the freedom given to us by Him should not be misused and wasted. Yet to reach such noble level is not so easy and requires repeated attempts and practice and one should not feel depressed but pursue one's path without expecting quick results.

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