Experience, beyond the debates
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
बहुतांच्या आम्ही न मिळो मतासी । कोणी कैसी कैसी भावनेच्या ॥१॥
विचार करितां वांयां जाय काळ । लटिकें तें मूळ फजितीचें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे तुम्ही करा घटापटा । नका जाऊं वाटा आमुचिया ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
We do not agree with the opinions of many. Each has fancies of their own. In deliberating, time goes to waste. What is false is the root of disgrace. Tuka says: you do your wrangling. Do not walk our paths.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
We do not fall in with the opinions of the crowd; everyone has fancies of their own. Endless arguing only wastes the time you have. What is false is the root of every disgrace. Tuka says: go on with your wrangling if you must. Only do not try to walk our road.
What it means
Tukaram sets the path of direct devotion against the endless debate of opinions and schools. People hold a thousand views, and arguing among them burns up a life without arriving anywhere. He names the real danger: falsehood, which is where disgrace begins. So he declines the debate entirely. Others may keep wrangling; he simply asks them not to mistake that for his road, which is walked, not argued.
The Necessity of Experience
Why direct experience of God, not mere learning, is the only path.
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