Nonduality, no high or low
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
गुरुशिष्यपण । हें तों अधमलक्षण ॥1॥
भूतीं नारायण खरा । आप तैसा चि दुसरा ॥ध्रु.॥
न कळतां दोरी साप। राहूं नेंदावा तो कांप ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे गुणदोषी । ऐसें न पडावें सोसीं ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The distinction between guru and disciple is actually a sign of spiritual immaturity. In truth, Narayana dwells in all beings; the other is no different from oneself. Until one realizes the rope is not a snake, the trembling should not be allowed to persist. Says Tuka, one should not fall into the trap of judging virtues and faults in others.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
To make a difference between guru and disciple: that is a low man's mark. Narayana truly lives in all beings. The other is just the same as yourself. Until you see that the rope is not a snake, do not let the trembling go on. Tuka says: do not fall into the habit of weighing good points and faults.
What it means
Tukaram is striking at the pride that hides inside spiritual ranking. To stand on the title of guru over disciple, he says, is the sign of a small soul, because the same Narayana lives in every being and the other person is not different from you. He brings in the old image of mistaking a rope for a snake: the fear is real, but it rests on a false seeing, and you should not let it run on once you know better. The fault he points at is the habit of measuring others by their virtues and flaws, which is the same false seeing applied to people.
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