Out of the Woods Into the Realm of Beauty

Sunk in the illusion of self-deception
Slimy creatures
unable to breathe
in the invigorating air
of open spaces
creeping and crawling
grub and grovel
shrink and shrivel
in slush and slime
Steeped in self-delusion
and fake pride
drivel and snivel
in nescience-abide.

But the men of moral integrity
unruffled without
and fortified within
stand calm and self-contained
serene and unsullied
lotus-like inebriated
with the immaculate beauty
of its own contemplation.

And they know not
and I forgive them for not knowing
that life is too short to waste
in tittle-tattle or silly prattle
Perhaps they know not
and i blame them not
for not knowing
that leaves wilt and wither
flowers droop and fade
and the wheel of life moves on
relentlessly at a stormy pace
and the man engrossed in
trivia of existence
trails behind the race
and that the curtain will fall
engulfing one and all
in its sweeping cold embrace.

And they know not alas!
and I have no quarrel with them
for not knowing -
that knowledge is freedom
knowledge is enlightenment
that this life is an adventure
an adventure into the cosmos
an adventure into the unseen
regions beyond
It's a sudden leap
into the unfathomable depths
of the dormant mind to know
that your own 'self' is the seeker
that your own 'self' is the knower
that your own 'self' is the see-er
that your own self possesses
the cosmic energy -
that hidden flash of intuitive insight
that auspicious moment of
inner illumination
to know the meaning of existence
to know the meaning of being 'awake'
the rapturous ecstasy of being aware
to listen to the still small voice within
to realise the invisible bond of unison
betwixt the finite and the Infinite.

And it has ever been
from the times immemorial
an eternal quest
of a restless inquisitive, anguished soul
pregnant with beauty of thought
to know the genesis of creator's myriad creation
to unravel the inscrutable mystery of the universe.
to penetrate the impenetrable
to tear off the mask of appearances
and lift the curtain of ignorance
to know the Reality behind the phenomena
and to have the radiant vision of the sublime
in the Realm of Beauty within
and a better, fairer and higher
panoramic glimpse of the world beyond
and thus attain a state of inner beatitude
the quintessence of harmoniously integral life
Where inner freedom of soul triumphs
Over the outer world of human bondage.

And when the mind outward bound
returns 'Home' into
the sanctum of its 'inner being'
to him is revealed
in full splendour
sparkling glitter of 'goodness'.
heavenly glow of 'truth'
luminous gleam of 'beauty' -
Satyam, Shivam, Sundram - the Trinity
enshrined in the golden temple
of our cultural heritage.