Psalms From and of the Beyond. Saturday's Inspiration 16
Speaking in the Bagavad Gita, Sri Krishna tells us quite clearly that the soul is immortal:
"Weapons cannot cleave the soul;
Fire cannot burn the soul;
Wind cannot dry the soul;
Water cannot drench the soul."
In his lofty prose below, Sri Chinmoy takes it even further:
“Your soul has a special mission. Your soul is supremely conscious of it.
Maya, illusion or forgetfulness, makes you feel that you are finite, weak and helpless. This is not true. You are not the body. You are not the senses. You are not the mind. These are all limited. You are the soul, which is unlimited. Your soul is infinitely powerful. Your soul defies all time and space.” -Sri Chinmoy
Guruji then goes on to compare us with the deer who has musk in its own body, yet it goes around looking for it, not knowing that this musk is coming from itself:
“…The deer grows musk in his own body. He smells it and becomes enchanted, and tries to locate its source. He runs and runs, but he cannot find the source. In his endless search, he loses all his energy and finally he dies. But the source he was so desperately searching for was within himself. How could he find it elsewhere?
Such is the case with you. Your special mission, which is the fulfilment of your divinity, Is not outside you, but within you. Search within. Meditate within. You will discover your mission….” -Sri Chinmoy
These poems speak of the immortality and deathlessness of life. I hope that it can give hope to many who are grieving or may be crying for loved ones, now residing in the inner realms of the Supreme.
Songs of the Departed. A Sonnet by Manatita
Why do you mourn, dear one, where have I gone?
Here there is neither sorrow; nor disdain.
One’s body pales, compared to the Beyond --
The sweetest song of Heaven’s dancing gain.
This frame which once a peerless pearl did hold,
No more a caged bird fettered, free I fly.
Cannot enforce new shackles on the soul,
Now in resplendent Heaven’s soaring sky.
The priceless fragrance in my mother’s love,
His breath did kiss and mercy glowed within.
Your toil and sacrifice, below, above,
Grace from His body flowed to kith and kin.
Why do you mourn dear one; cute mother cries?
The soul’s immortal Spirit never dies.
-Manatita, The Lantern Carrier. 4th December, 2018.
Awakening The Inner Light
Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep. (Mary Elizabeth Frye)
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave bereft
I am not there. I have not left.
Mary Elizabeth Frye
Come, Sweet Death by Manatita
Come, sweet death,
Let us continue our game of hide and seek.
You veil thyself in winter’s night;
Come ablaze in the temple of the sun.
I yearn for a goblet of wine,
The taste of which will seize this breath,
Carrying a river of perennial joy to Jordan.
Long have I traversed this stream of current,
Punched and battered by turbulent waves.
Stripped naked of all pretensions,
My travails with pain and sorrow,
Has worn my ego thin.
Now I rise in the darkness;
Give glory to fireflies and shooting stars.
Come, sweet death!
On the Elysian lap of Love, I rise.
I hear the bugle blow, as the minstrels chant your glory.
I float on visionary memories for the bliss to come.
Come, sweet death!
My silvery cord’s unanchored.
An ocean of rapture now engulfs my Soul;
I’m coming HOME once more. -Manatita
The Immortality of the Soul
Is this real to you?
© 2018 manatita44
Comments
AUTHORThanks Peggy.
I'm hoping to start my books soon, so I'll have to take a rest from here. God's willing, I will do about 3 poetry books and one for our children from the scriptures.
Yes, great insight! Thanks for your support. Happy Easter!
I agree that we only shed our mortal remains when we die and that our souls are still alive. So death in that sense is merely a rebirth into a new realm of existence. It is like the lifting of a veil that has obscured our sight. I like what is promised to be ahead of us.
- AUTHOR
Yes, Peggy. Why death? The soul is immortal. The physical sheath will be shed but you remain alive. Don't we talk about seeing our loved ones in the after life? So we unconsciously know that we are immortal. Thank you so much. At least I can now see a comment from Eric, which seem to have been there for 11 months. Funny.
Hi Eric,
Yes, I know Sensei. God has been so good to me! Some funerals are joyful and quite moving. Much Love and I hope that you are well.
It is so lovely to think that our death is only the beginning of our journey into the next life.
K. I leave my friends on "follow" for each article they write so Dianna brought this back "up". What a treasure it is to read your "work" which is devotional to love. We have great Sensai. Yes this is known as a "martial" art. I think of it as a battle to do the love thing.
I do not normally go to funerals as they are bothered by my happiness, joy and celebration that the soul is more free. Call me crazy but the Sensai has done her work to prepare.
- AUTHOR
Much appreciated Diana. I am a little inactive right now. Recuperating. Gratitude.
Your poetry is inspirational. I agree that death is not the final step, we live on beyond the grave.
- AUTHOR
True.
if I go to Grenada, though, chances I will visit my mom's grave. I think we do these things for ourselves and in Sri Chinmoy's teachings, grieving helps us. Much Love, my sweet.
"Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there" I would go to the cemetery all the time and sit at my family's plot. Once day I asked a relative of mine why no one but me visited the family gravesite. He said " There is no need to visit they are not there"
I thought it was odd he would say that and felt maybe my family just didn't grieve as hard as I did. Now, I know exactly what he means. There are many beautiful ways to remember your loved ones. You can reflect on the beautiful memories you have and not on the grave because after all they're not there.
- AUTHOR
Yes, in some ways you are quite similar. In a loving way, of course. Thank you so much!
Your poems and the words and poetry of others are beautiful. I'm glad that I read your article. As far as the message that you've shared goes, I have to say that like Chris I continue to seek. I hope the week ahead is a great one for you, Manatita.
- AUTHOR
Yes, the Soul - which You are - the real You, returns to the soul's region as Guruji calls it. Actually, there is a kind of 'purgatory' although I don't usually speak of it. All souls end up in the soul's region, but depending on the earthly experiences, the soul can go quicker or slower.
Spiritual Masters come and take the souls who have been 'good' on earth if you like, so their passage is easier.
The soul returns, usually after a few years, although, interestingly enough, the spiritual ones can stay longer. It takes a new Heart, mind, vital and body and retains the experience of former years. They are stored with the soul.
Generally the soul evolutes and it is the natural trend, that is to say, each incarnation - except a few cases - goes higher than the other until the soul is fulfilled and merges with God itself. He/she falls off that spinning wheel of reincarnation.
In Sri Chinmoy's philosophy the journey isn't over even then. There is
1. Realisation
2. Revelation
3. manifestation and final satisfaction. Manifestation is what the Christ or Buddha did, in other words, some souls chose to return to serve God in mankind. Confusing? Ask me about this, if you like.
It is important to point out that the soul is actually a spark of God and not separate. The whole purpose here is one of experience, necessary for the growth and evolution of the soul.
"There is that of God in every man." This is a quote by George Fox, the founder of Quakerism, the form of Christianity in which I grew up. Although the particular Quaker church I grew up in was much more Evangelical. But I thought of that quote as I listened to the video of your teacher. That is echoed in the part about the deer and musk. In this sense, when a person dies, as you express in the final poem, they return to one they have known throughout their life. I continue to seek.
- AUTHOR
Gratitude … Thank you, my Brother. have a pleasant Sunday evening.
I'm sort of have "writers' block" at the moment, so many things are going on and every time I start something I might get a fairly decent start then my mind begins to wonder so put it down. When I feel it again the block comes back so I spend most of my time meditating on what destiny has in store for me. When time comes for fee to write something new it will flow from beginning to end, as they usually do, I just have allow them to set for a day or so before proofing it for publication.
I read almost all of your work but only reply when I feel it. Thanks for checking me.
- AUTHOR
Elijah, interestingly enough, I just visited you and saw that you had not done anything new.
Yes, the soul is immortal and does re-incarnate, if that's what you are saying. As to how it does this, there are different viewpoints. Our way is that when the time is right, or if you like at God's choice hour, it enters into a new form for manifestation.
But yes, a different soul can enter another body but that's advanced metaphysics and not common. I'll leave that one alone. Good to see you.
Thanks Dee.
The spirit and energy are rich at this time. May God's Peace be yours, always … -Lantern
I concur with the in-destructiveness of the soul but I also know no one body is ever destroyed. They are re-inhabited by another soul that has the karma of it to reap and sow until wed enters an eternal body. The eternal body is like an evergreen tree, it lives through the four seasons and produces it's fruit in its season while still growing until it's destiny is completed before discarnating two begin another cycle of birth and death. Eternity has no end, it has only new beginnings.
Thanks for sharing.
Elijah
I like the illustration of the deer chasing the musk within itself. Your poem promotes the message eloquently. wonderful new week to you
- AUTHOR
Bill,
You make me laugh so I'll answer you first. Actually, what you are saying is very logical. Truth is sometimes very logical. Who would not like to live forever? It is a beautiful Divine game
Eric, Yes yes. Love is everything! We switch between Love and Light and God but it is Love that sends the Spiritual Masters back into this world to manifests God's Light.
Yes again, The Supreme is the only Guru. My Guru, Your Guru, everybody's Guru. Real Spiritual Teachers sometimes speak of that 'Thing' inside them as they know that we belittle God by saying He is 'this' or 'that.' or in such a place. How can we limit the ever-transcending Love? Still, even these guys use words. What else can we do, eh?
You write with a lot of simplicity sometimes. I love this, Bro.
Chinmoy and I share some good stuff. Meditation last Thursday was great. I think your poetry celebrates the Only God. The God of love. And I think my buddy Sri shines on you so you can reflect that light on me. (OK others too) Like a planet in our sky? I will give that notion some love and see what?
I don't know about you, brother, but I rather like the idea of immortality. :) In whatever form it takes, it is comforting to know that it does not end with that last breath. :)
Peace and love always
- AUTHOR
Thank you, Thank you, Jason.
I have noticed you and others. I will catch up today. Yes, I also find the poetry and video very soothing. Fondest regards.
The song "Do not stand at my grave and weep" is very soothing to my deepest sense. It caused much emotion while reading your poem and the rest of the poetry. It was a nice expression of the belief about life after death. I am a believer in it. Thanks for this poem.
- AUTHOR
Yes, Jodah.
I love it too. So much beauty! The videos are extremely touching! I have a few more like that of my own compositions. A bit longer, though. Thank you so much!
Li-Jen, my Sweet. Hi.
Yes, the soul does travel. We do not encourage it, as the soul can leave the body if it stays out too long. So nice to see you this Sunday! Peace.
Ioannis,
A very beautiful, indeed exquisite piece by Mc Creery. Don't know him, but he shows insight and this is a great poem. Gratitude as always, Bro … much!!
What a beautiful compilation of wise words, poetry and images, manatita. I love Sri Chinmoy's quote about the deer searching for musk when it was in itself. Also, the poem by Elizabeth Frye is wonderful as well as your own.
Hi manatita. Touching poem. It makes death peaceful. The soul still lives on after death, I see. I have heard of astral travelling...out of body experience. I wonder how that happens. I have experienced something similar in my sleep. Thanks for sharing.
What can I say for your Light my dear Lantern? Thank you for the "window" and the hope you are giving to people! The words of the Master are divine too! An excellent way to start my Sunday remembering my beloved ones who have returned to our Home!
"There is no death! the stars go down
To rise upon some other shore,
And bright in Heaven’s jeweled crown,
They shine forevermore.
...
And ever near us, though unseen,
The dear, immortal spirits tread —
For all the boundless universe
Is Life — there are no dead!" - J.L. McCREERY
Sean
- AUTHOR
Ah Mary.
I actually wrote it for someone else, but yes, yes … it applies to you too, indeed all those who have lost dear departed ones. I know your husband was such a great soul and very meaningful to you. My very sincere love and once again much condolences.
So beautiful. It's a comfort at the same time, it brought tears to my eyes. I am happy to be reinforced in my belief that we are souls and made in the image of God.
- AUTHOR
Yes. Reinforced by our Scriptures, of course. It tells us that we are the temple of the Spirit ... that we are made in the image of God (Spirit) that He dwells in us and that we are not our own.
The Earth is the Lord's and its fullness thereof and they that dwell there in it. Thank you so much!
Simply beautiful. I believe it was C.S. Lewis who wrote "You do not have a Soul. You are a Soul. You have a body."
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