Experience, before and after the joy
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
त्याचें सुख नाहीं आलें अनुभवा । कठिण हें जिवा तोंचिवरी ॥१॥
मागिलांचे दुःख लागों नेदी अंगा । अंतर हें संगा नेदी पुढें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे सर्वविशीं हा संपन्न । जाणती महिमान श्रुति ऐसें ॥३॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
His joy has not yet come into experience. It is hard on the soul until then. He does not let the sorrows of the past touch the body. This distance he does not let grow further. Tuka says: in all respects, he is complete. The Vedas alone know such greatness.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Until his joy has actually been tasted, it is hard on the soul, this waiting. But once he is near, he does not let the old sorrows touch you, and he does not let the gap between you widen again. Tuka says: in every way he is complete. Even the Vedas only just manage to know a greatness like his.
What it means
Two stages, named plainly. Before God's joy is felt, the soul has a hard time of it; the waiting is real and is not glossed over. But once that joy arrives, God himself does the guarding: he keeps the sorrows of the past from reaching you, and will not let the distance between you grow again. The closing line sets God beyond full measure. He is complete in every respect, so great that even the Vedas, the highest authority Tukaram can name, only barely take it in.
The Necessity of Experience
Why direct experience of God, not mere learning, is the only path.
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