I ask for a moment’s indulgence
by
Rabindranath Tagore
(Text
& Summary)
In
this poem Rabindranath Tagore is having a conversation with himself about
having to dedicate some time to God and what joy it will bring him. He says,
that we have to give up work to reach the Almighty.
I ask for a moment’s indulgence
I
ask for a moment’s indulgence to sit by thy side. The works
that
I have in hand I will finish afterwards.
Away
from the sight of thy face my heart knows no rest nor respite,
and
my work becomes an endless toil in a shoreless sea of toil.
Today
the summer has come at my window with its sighs and murmurs; and
the
bees are plying their minstrelsy at the court of the flowering grove.
Now
it is time to sit quiet, face to face with thee, and to sing
dedication
of life in this silent and overflowing leisure.
Summary
In this
song, Tagore says, that the most beautiful of all indulgence is the indulgence
with one’s own being. He dedicates himself for such experience by meditation. He
says, that there is no other bigger purpose in life than to meditate and to be
with one’s own being. A man, who has realized this, understands, that rest of
all his other work can wait, because meditation is the only real work. The poet
says, that Life without meditation is unconscious living. He says, that when he
doesn’t meditate, he is far away from his soul. He becomes restless without
meditation. Without meditation, whatever he does, becomes meaningless and endless
suffering.
Tagore
says, that the beauty of meditation has lot of difficulties. His heart has
found its music in my soul. There is harmony, silence and bliss in his heart.
In the
last part of the poem, Tagore says that, now it is time to sit quiet. Not
today, but now, this very moment, you have to sit down quiet. In this very
moment, face your own being and dedicate your song of life. This song can only
be sung in silence. Only in your silent song, you will be able to experience
the ultimate bliss which is overflowing like an ocean.
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