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Aham Brahmasmi - I Am Brahman - VIDEO RECITAL

“Investigate the source and mind itself will disappear.”
- Ramana Maharshi -


The Vedas’ wisdom penetrates confusion -
like medicine that penetrates the cells –
eradicating illness of illusion,
and liberating mind from countless hells.

Like this, one-pointedness of mind’s established,
and knower, knowledge, known now merge as One.
When Brahman as our own true Self is cherished,
the medicine has worked, its job is done.

But may I nonetheless inform the readers
that holding on to scripture’s not the goal ?
In Brahman, there are neither worlds nor Vedas,
nor gods, nor sacrifices and no soul.

From dual parade, senses are withdrawn.
Through empty no-mind, Brahman shall be known.

 

Author notes

inspired by  :
chapter 15, verse 15 of the Bhagavad Gita :

sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto
mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca
vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedanta-krd veda-vid eva caham

"I reside in every heart. From Me alone come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. I am to be known by all the Vedas. I am the author of the Vedanta and I alone know the Vedas."

***


I have discovered a different translation of the third line :
instead of “I am to be known by all the Vedas”, it is translated as
“The goal of all the Vedas is to know Me.”
which gives this line a whole different dimension …

I have taken into account this latter while composing my verse …
I have also integrated the essence of two verses of the
Avadhuta Gita of Dattatreya in my poem :

In Brahman there are neither the Vedas nor worlds nor gods nor sacrifices; there are neither stages of life nor castes nor race nor lineage; there is neither the path of smoke nor the path of light. Only the selfsame Brahman, the Supreme Reality, exists. (chapter I.34)

When everything in this world, including the body, becomes unreal and void like space, then truly one knows Brahman. Then there is no longer any parade of dualities for him. (chapter I.38)

***

Form :
English Sonnet in iambic meter and alternating deca- and hendecasyllabic lines, or otherwise said alternating iambic pentameter and tail-less iambic hexameter

A Shakespearean (English) sonnet has three quatrains and a couplet, and rhymes abab cdcd efef gg. It is usually written in iambic pentameter, and has a volta (pivot) in line 9.

http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/sonnet.html

***

my constantly updated video-poetry :
http://allpoetry.com/poem/show/3791503

***

In a list

A contest entry

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Comments

1 - 33 of 33

  • The Fun House silver member
    August 29

    Edit | Reply
    The skill with which this piece is written, the knowledge, the form...all is sublime. It takes you into it and wills you to understand it. Accompanied by your voice...that is indeed a treat to anyone. The light emanates from you in bountifucl measures. Gorevous! Namaste'


  • Andiness
    April 6

    Edit | Reply
    Oh, this is so beautiful!! You had me drawn in from the first line...I have SERO=IOUSLY got to read this again...and again and possibly again after that!

    -Andi-


  • Jonathan ROBIN
    April 5

    Edit | Reply

    Tell, shall Shell Spell Hell's Bells Pell Mell

    If known, unknown, enjoy a perfect fusion
    illusion in itself may contribute
    to overwrite illusions of confusion
    between ideas that sundry sects confute.

    No medecine can cure life's revolution
    as death, if death exists - strife turns to dust,
    iron to rust, while lust proves no solution
    - may bust prove boon if boom soon ends in bust ?

    Though knower, knowledge merge where light way's greeted,
    dark sable seeds need for their journey out,
    thus urge to surge, to style oneself completed,
    seems in itself crime's partnership with doubt.

    Duality denies mind void discounting
    all emptiness as horse mid-[t]race dismounting ...



  • individuality gold member
    April 5

    Edit | Reply
    ah i will read the poem only and not get bogged down with the notes whcih take the initial emotion away from reading the poem

    eradicating illness of illusion,
    and liberating mind from countless hells.

    we often go on about heaven and hell, we make it so i think, if we are livijng in dark times we say hell if good heaven, it is all a matter of perspective.

    a good poem, with a good rhyme and rhythm, i know you are a perfectionist so...

  • Mercury Rising
    April 5
    Edit | Reply
    Wise and beautiful words from a truly inspired poet.


  • BonnieQ silver member
    March 19

    Edit | Reply

    HOODWINKED!

    As an editor, it is rare to find a writer who's talent is so remarkably perfected. You are such a rare treat to this editor's eyes and mind; you create a total lack of work for me. Another exquisite poem from your golden guill. Surely, the contest host will recognize what I recognize and awared this the GOLD!

    Luv in Christ, BonnieQ


    • maa gold member
      March 20
      Edit | Reply
      what a profound and truly kind comment you have offered me this morning, dear bonnie ... I feel so blessed ... thank you from my deepest heart ...

      maa


  • Star Shine
    February 20

    Edit | Reply
    This is so enlightening and such a teaching tool. I looked to your references, since I know very little of this, and had much to ponder. Truly the Supreme Reality is all, but so difficult to quiet the senses to that concept. Thank you for sharing this in such a lyrical artful style that so easily conveys the thoughts.

    • maa gold member
      February 21
      Edit | Reply
      thank you, my lovely friend, for your kind words and precious visit on this page ... I hope you are well ...
      much love,

      marion


  • Pisces rainbow gold member
    February 19

    Edit | Reply

    truth

    if we see nothing in all, then truth can not have meaning so then can there can be no pointer to truth,

    reality as our senses perceive it to be has a truth, it has a foundation with choices.

    your poem goes deeper then senses it goes beyond reality, years ago when I read Bhagvad Gita I was confused because I could not understand the dept behind the mind, I could not get beyond the physical, today I read it again and I understand very clearly

    becoming enlightened or just being, we can not take away what is, or fight for what is and struggle for what we already possess

    complicating simplicity

    less is more

    absolute pleasure

    know thyself

     

    God bless you my sweet sister

    now this is a masterpiece

    God bless you...

     

    • maa gold member
      February 20
      Edit | Reply
      my sister,
      your comment adds another dimension to this verse, both logical and mystical ... your wisdom is both "reasonable" and concrete, yet transcending even that ... without such comments, the poem itself would probably not be sufficiently accessible because of my tendency to write in a very abstract manner ... although I always think the messages of my writes are "simple", they might not speak to everybody ...
      thank you for your precious inspirations shared,
      my poems wouldn't be the same without them ...
      marion

  • sleepinglion
    February 16

    Edit | Reply

    Profound

    You have taken this competition to a higher level
    Very good advice in the 3rd verse. So many people become enraptured with the reflection of reality.
    I love the idea of the Vedas being like medicine (for the soul)
    Brahman as our own true self is cherished, - pure magic in these words. Which is, to put it another way. - I, am LIFE EVERBECOMING

    • maa gold member
      February 17

      Edit | Reply
      YES ! I love your expression of being life everbecoming - it adds a whole different dimension to the common connotation of "becoming" ... a dimension of timelessness ...
      your comments are as precious as the dewdrops on the opening flower-buds ...
      thank you ...
      namaste

  • drhemantvinze
    February 13

    Edit | Reply

    maa

    Revered maa
    clicking on 'edit' did not work. so I sent another message.
    Well! Well! Sanskrit is my favourire language. Reading Sankhya and Geeta are my favourite hobbies. many sanskrit scholars who teach Geeta in English medium are my friends. I may not always frequent Ap, though I do frequent your page for your 'wisdom'. You can ask me on e-mail. I shall discuss with my friends, teachers etc. and send you a correct reply. Please do not hesitate, do not be embarrassed to ask about meaning of sanskrit verses.
    Hemant

  • drhemantvinze
    February 13
    Edit | Reply

    maa

    Please correct the spelling mistake 'phylosophy' to correct 'philosophy'
    Hemant

  • drhemantvinze
    February 13
    Edit | Reply

    maa

    Revered maa
    Kudos to you! You are a 'superspecialist' of vedant especially Adwait(advait) phylosophy!!
    Again not many can decipher the maxim 'Aham Brahmasmi'
    Every living being inherits some qualities of that 'Ultimate Brahman'. When do they express? Do they remain dormant in one generation and express in second or third-fourth generation? We know not! Hence (be His qualities expressed or stay dormant) the maxim 'Aham Brahmasmi' is true.
    Well as you already wrote in Author Notes:
    (I have discovered a different translation of the third line :
    instead of “I am to be known by all the Vedas”, it is translated as
    “The goal of all the Vedas is to know Me.”
    which gives this line a whole different dimension …

    I have taken into account this latter while composing my verse …
    I have also integrated the essence of two verses of the
    Avadhuta Gita of Dattatreya in my poem

    ------this is a correct translation.
    These days I am busy with my project. So I do not write poems or essays on Geeta or Sankhya Siddhanta. But do visit your page to read Vedanta from your pen.
    Hemant

    • maa gold member
      February 13
      Edit | Reply
      my dearest friend dr hemant,

      I am so grateful that, despite your limited time you are ready and so kind to visit my humble pages ... thank you from my heart ...

      I have intended to ask you for help with the translation of this particular line, but did not wish to bother you - so I relied on what resonated with truth within me ... thank you for having confirmed that my intuition was right, and that, as you already informed me, not all translations of sacred scriptures are faithful, since not only they rely in proficiency in the sanskrit language, but also on the spiritual maturity of the translator, necessary to grasp the often ambiguous signification of a line or phrase ...
      my heart beats wildly with gratitude and joy now ...

      I have received your wonderful visual poetry-presentations via email this morning and shall send you detailed feedback expressing my appreciation in return very soon ...

      I am inhaling the wisdom of the avadhuta gita at the moment, and might feel like writing a few verses in resonance with this precious text in a little while ...

      thank you for your presence in my life and on my allpoetry pages, it fills me with gratitude and joy ...

      marion


  • Ellis gold member
    February 11

    Edit | Reply

    Excellent

    I'm not ready to disappear, but I do appreciated that this is an interesting, expertly written poem!


    • maa gold member
      February 11
      Edit | Reply
      my dear friend,
      who you really are can never disappear ...
      good news, isn't it ?
      heartfelt wishes,
      marion


  • raspberry Greeters member
    February 10
    Edit | Reply
    marion.. not sure if u have read the Lingashtakam.. u ought ot hear it.. soo slow.. and soothing. lemme send u the link to it..

    • maa gold member
      February 10
      Edit | Reply
      thank you, dear ...
      I have a cd called "songs to shiva" with the lingashtakam as a chant ... it is my favorite of the whole cd ...


  • neodsouza
    February 10
    Edit | Reply
    gr8888888888888888888888................u understand sanskrit???????????


    • maa gold member
      February 10
      Edit | Reply
      only a few basic words - but without english translation I would be completely lost ...


      • neodsouza
        February 10
        Edit | Reply
        do u lyk sanskrit or indian culture?

        • maa gold member
          February 10
          Edit | Reply
          indeed ...
          I have been exploring the tradition of advaita vedanta for a couple of years, and particularly love the writings of sri adi shankaracharya ... especially his devotional hymns like bhavani ashtakam, bhaja govindam, nirvanashtakam, mahishasura mardhini stotram etc.
          I've tempted to write an essay enriched with poetry inspired by shankara's teachings called :

          "the pathless path to now here - in the light of advaita vedanta"
          http://allpoetry.com/poem/4086543


  • raspberry Greeters member
    February 10
    Edit | Reply
    far greater than what what we see..

  • raspberry Greeters member
    February 10

    Edit | Reply
    AWESOME!!!!!

    Your interpretation, the goal of the Vedas is to know ME.. How right.. How very apt and accuarte!!!! Wonderful Marion..

    You should be doing somethign else.. i mean.. u were here for a purpose..


  • Aesthete2000 gold member
    February 7

    Edit | Reply
    I shall carry away with me
    the concept of liberating the mind,
    the gem that maa has left here today
    for the unknowing reader to find.

    Much love to you. dear maa,

    M-C


  • Freelance writer
    February 6

    Edit | Reply

    Shows great involvement

    The goal of the contest is very well served by elucidating explanation you have offered to the audience who are rather not well versed in the topic and its depth. Wish you all the best in the contest.


  • Manoj Sanyal
    February 5

    Edit | Reply
    aah!... lovely.
    You have explained the spiritual details in this excellent sonnet... thanks for posting.
    Good luck,


  • Desire gold member
    February 5

    Edit | Reply

    Wow~

    Ooooooooh Beautiful One- I have missed Your words and elated to see Your quill flutter with fluency also spiritual essence of Love- message massaged within to touch the reader to core
    Also penned in a Sonnet which drops my jaw for the words You weaved certainly made a loving blanket to cover from the coldness of the world
    I learn much from You~ and am Honored
    Excellent this is
    Thank You for sharing Your Heart and Voice~
    Many blessings to You in all You do Sweet One
    Best wishes in the contest too
    with much love & light~ Desire~*~


  • Tirrell
    February 5

    Edit | Reply
    I love your sonnet here, and its vivid imagery. I am drawn to it, and relish its cadence. I have read it aloud a few times already, I will book mark it. It as well calls to mind the poem that I quote from below. I love the beauty in your sonnet.

    "If the red slayer thinks he slays,
    Or if the slain think he is slain,
    They know not well the subtle ways
    I keep, and pass, and turn again."
    R. W. Emerson (from Brahma)



  • Amera gold member
    February 5

    Edit | Reply
    I am so very proud to call myself your AP sister. You are a sonneteer extraordinaire and this poem proves it. Not only is it a perfect sonnet but it is filled with spiritual imagery that serves as a lesson to us all. To be able to melt the change of meter so fluidly is truly a gift. Standing ovations!

    Love,
    Amera♥

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