SELF AND MIND

K. SELVARAJ

Let them call me whatever name they would –

untouchable, clean, black, white, bad or good.

I’m – Sudra, Vaisya, Kshatriya, Brahmana – a whole.

And what matters to me is my mind’s role.

Well, my mind is a wild and savage beast

With three gunas: Tamas, Rajas, Sattva;

Only the first or the second of these

Predominates and determines his pace.

He gallops merrily

Down the vale of shadows that breeds agony,

He pulls wearily

Up the hill of substance that houses ecstasy.

We are at discord for he acts nonchalantly.

Whate’er flattering unction I lay gallantly,

Or howe’er I exhort him to the lofty course,

He wends his own way without any remorse.

Now I’m galled by his herd instinct and adamant nature.

It’s time to destroy the low posture of this creature.

No matter how stiff is his resistance, I shall conquer,

And veer him from dark passions to Atmadarsanayogyata.

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