Experience, the untainted crystal
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
ब्रह्मरूपाचीं कर्में ब्रह्मरूप । विरहित संकल्प होती जाती ॥1॥
ठेविलिया दिसे रंगाऐसी शिळा । उपाधि निराळा स्फटिक मणि ॥ध्रु.॥
नानाभाषामतें आळविती बाळा । प्रबोध तो मूळा जननीठायीं ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे माझें नमन जाणतियां । लागतसें पायां वेळोवेळां ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The actions of one established in Brahman are themselves Brahman, arising and passing without sankalpa. Just as a crystal appears to take on the color placed near it, though it is itself without taint, so it is. Children are called by many names in many tongues, but the true awakening lies in the mother alone. Says Tuka, I bow before the wise. Again and again I fall at their feet.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The actions of one settled in Brahman are themselves Brahman, rising and passing with no self-will behind them. A crystal seems to take on the color set beside it, yet the jewel itself stays untouched. Children are called by many names in many tongues, but the true waking is in the mother alone. Tuka says: I bow to the wise. Again and again I fall at their feet.
What it means
Tukaram is describing the one who is established in Brahman. Such a person's deeds are Brahman itself; they arise and fall away without any private willing driving them. He gives two images: like a clear crystal that seems to glow with whatever color is held near it while staying colorless in itself, the sage acts amid the world yet is untainted by it; and like a child known by many names in many languages while the real recognition rests in the mother, the many forms point back to one ground. Recognizing this, Tukaram bows again and again at the feet of those who truly know.
The Necessity of Experience
Why direct experience of God, not mere learning, is the only path.
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