धर्म-ग्रंथ सब जला चुकी है
dharm-grant sab jalaa chukee hai
जिसके अन्तर की ज्वाला,
jiske antar kee jwaalaa,
मन्दिर, मस्जिद, गिरजे-सबको
mandir, masjid, girje - sabko
तोड़ चूका जो मतवाला,
tod chuka jo matwaalaa,
पंडित, मोमिन, पादरियों के
pandit, momin, paadariyon ke
फंदों को जो काट चूका,
fandon ko jo kaat chuka,
कर सकती है आज उसी का
kar saktee hai aaj usee kaa
स्वागत मेरी मधुशाला
swaagat meri मधुशाला
This is the third of a trilogy of consecutive verses, and perhaps one of the most important. I therefore decided to attach a small addition to the subject line.
The verse is also extremely controversial, for Bachchan suggests that if you want to learn from life, then you have to shun all organized religions, all priests, and shun all churches. Why does Bachchan say that? It's because if you truly think about it, any religious dictum or dogma is actually a barrier to salvation. Let me try and explain why, as I understand it.
In order for you to get enlightenment, you have to take off your blindfolds. Enlightenment, or salvation, is simply the ability to see reality the way it is, without the filters of preconceived notions. In order to do that, you have to have an insatiable curiosity, and an open mind.
The problem is that if you learn from a religious text, or a guru, or a master, then you will form conclusions that will "prevent" you from having an open mind. You'll have a lot of intellectual understanding, but an intellectual understanding prevents further direct examination.
Let me give you an example. We have all heard the phrase, "Honesty is the best policy". You may understand this very well, intellectually, but that understanding will NOT make you an honest person. The only way you can become an honest person when you clearly see, and have a direct experience of the futility of dishonesty. No guru can give you this direct experience; no religion can give it to you. And the knowledge of the maxim, "honesty is the best policy" will prevent you from experiencing the uselessness of dishonesty directly.
You see, the gurus and teachers are not usually wrong. What they tell you is the truth. However, learning that truth from that teacher does not help you.....you have to undertake the project of salvation on your own, by examining your dishonesty, your prejudices, your pettiness, your stupidities, your idiocy. Then and only then, will you become honest, open-minded and intelligent.
Intellectual knowledge, or knowledge acquired from someone else, is a barrier to understanding. Shun all that. Live life. That's the only way you can be enlightened. Otherwise, you'll only be entertained by spiritual masters - nothing more. You'll say, "wow" to their profoundness - and go right back to your unfortunate ways. If you want to be entertained, listen to a song sung by Mohammed Rafi - he didn't pretend to do anything else.
As a matter of fact, you have a greater chance of being enlightened being immersed in the beauty of a Rafi song than by listening to a "path" to the truth. Truth is a pathless land.
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2 comments:
Thanks Gan for your meaningful comment that one has a greater chance to be enlightened by listening to a Rafi Song. We all know that Rafi Sahaab was a saint who lived among us following his vocation of singing. But that he did with a single-minded of purpose without regard to any monetary benefit. This saint was no Bikshuk but rather earned his bread by the sweat of his brow. At times, he did the job without even getting his due back. Despite being a Muslim, he sang Bhajans with such melody, sweetness, emotions and anguish that they have assumed the shape of the daily prayers. I have still not heard anyone else singing a bhajan with such power. Manna Dey comes a second. In fact, when he died it was just after recording a Bhajan for the Kaali Pooja for people who had come allthe way from Calcutta. He did not want anyone to return empty-handed from his door. Yes, he's the right person about whom it's quoted: Kar Sakti Hai aaj usee kaa Swaagat meri Madhushala.
Nasir.
Nasir saab,
Thank you for your comment!! Yes, the greatest thing anyone can do is to be of help to others, and to do it ithout expectation of return. Rafi saab certainly fit that bill.
Thanks for reading my post, and commenting on it...
Gan
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