Remembrance, the meeting within separation
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
फळाची तों पोटीं । घडे वियोगें ही भेटी ॥1॥
करावें चिंतन । सार तें चि आठवण ॥ध्रु.॥
चित्त चित्ता ग्वाही । उपचारें चाड नाहीं ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे देवा । पावे ंतरींची सेवा॥3॥ ॥15॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Within the fruit itself, even through separation, the meeting takes place. The essence is contemplation, the remembrance itself. The chitta bears witness to the chitta; external gestures are unnecessary. Says Tuka, O God, inner devotion reaches You.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Within the fruit itself, even in separation, the meeting happens. So do your contemplation. The essence is just this: remembrance. One heart bears witness to the other; outward gestures are not needed. Tuka says: God, it is the inward service that reaches you.
What it means
Tukaram quietly answers the ache of being apart from God: even in separation the meeting is already taking place, the way the whole tree is present inside its fruit. The work, then, is contemplation, and its whole essence is remembrance, simply keeping God in mind. He sets inward devotion above outward ritual, saying one heart bears witness to the other directly and no ceremonial gesture is required. The teaching is plain and consoling: what reaches God is the service offered within.
The Necessity of Experience
Why direct experience of God, not mere learning, is the only path.
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