Experience, water merging with water
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
लोह कफ गारा सिद्ध हे सामुग्री । अिग्न टणत्कारी दिसों येतो ॥1॥
सांगावें तें काई सांगावें तें काई । चित्ता होय ठायीं अनुभव तो ॥ध्रु.॥
अन्नें सांगों येतो तृप्तीचा अनुभव । करूनि उपाव घेऊं हेवा ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे मिळे जीवनीं जीवन । तेथें कोणा कोण नांव ठेवी ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Iron, flux, and bellows are all prepared; the fire reveals itself in the ringing of the anvil. What can be told and what cannot? True experience arises in the chitta of its own accord. One can speak of the satisfaction of food, but one must make the effort and partake of it oneself. Says Tuka, when water merges with water, who can give a name to either?.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Iron, flux, and the bellows are all ready; the fire shows itself in the ring of the anvil. What is there to tell? What is there to tell? The knowing arises in the heart on its own. You can speak of being filled by food, but you must make the effort and eat it yourself. Tuka says: when water joins water, who can put a name to either?
What it means
Tukaram says realization cannot be handed over in words, only undergone. He uses the smith's forge: all the materials and fire are present, and the proof is heard in the strike, but the real knowing rises in the heart by itself, beyond telling. Like the fullness after a meal, it can be described, yet no description feeds you; you have to eat. His last image dissolves the question entirely: when water pours into water there are no longer two things to name, which is what union with God is like.
The Necessity of Experience
Why direct experience of God, not mere learning, is the only path.
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