Beads Without the One They Count Toward
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
You sit on a deer-skin and count your basil-wood beads.
You put the sacred mark, the tilak, on your forehead.
You wear Shiva's rudraksh beads around your neck, but your heart is full of falsehood.
You who chase whatever you crave — you never chant the name of Krishna, the beloved One.
The tools of remembering stay empty until you remember.
Now come the signs of the holy life. Marig aasan: a deer-skin seat. Tulsee maalaa: a string of basil-wood beads. The tilak is the mark on the forehead. The rudraakh beads are worn for Shiva. Each sign is correct, and each is in its place.
But underneath is ridai koorh, a heart full of falseness. Beni's picture is exact and gentle at once. These are tools for remembering the One, held by someone who has forgotten to remember. Beads are meant to carry your attention toward the One. Ray lampat krisan abhaakhaN: you who chase your cravings never speak the name of Krishna, the One. It is like a birthday card with no name written inside. The card is lovely, and it is for no one.
What helps you mean what you do, instead of just going through the motions?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI