Wednesday, September 20, 2000

Garden: Where is the night...


Where is the night, when the sun is shining? If it is night, then the sun withdraws its light. Where knowledge is, can ignorance endure? If there be ignorance, then knowledge must die.

Next: This is the end of a path, but not the end of the garden. Return to the beginning: would you like to follow the FLUTE, or answer the call of the VEENA?


[Source: RT 37 (partial); 1.36. sûr parkâs', tanh rain kahân pâïye]

Here is the full poem:

XXXVII

I. 36. sûr parkâs', tanh rain kahân pâïye

  Where is the night, when the sun is shining? If it is night,
    then the sun withdraws its light. Where knowledge is, can
    ignorance endure?
  If there be ignorance, then knowledge must die.
  If there be lust, how can love be there? Where there is love,
    there is no lust.
  Lay hold on your sword, and join in the fight. Fight, O my
    brother, as long as life lasts.
  Strike off your enemy's head, and there make an end of him
    quickly: then come, and bow your head at your King's Durbar.
  He who is brave, never forsakes the battle: he who flies from it
    is no true fighter.
  In the field of this body a great war goes forward, against
    passion, anger, pride, and greed:
  It is in the kingdom of truth, contentment and purity, that this
    battle is raging; and the sword that rings forth most loudly is
    the sword of His Name.
  Kabîr says: "When a brave knight takes the field, a host of
    cowards is put to flight.
  It is a hard fight and a weary one, this fight of the
    truth-seeker: for the vow of the truth-seeker is more hard than
    that of the warrior, or of the widowed wife who would follow her
    husband.
  For the warrior fights for a few hours, and the widow's struggle
    with death is soon ended:
  But the truth-seeker's battle goes on day and night, as long as
    life lasts it never ceases."


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