Subtler meaning of the Poem 'Even this will pass away' -The King of Persia

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parameswaran ramaswamy

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Dec 26, 2009, 5:38:31 AM12/26/09

to Devotees of holy trio

Respected Devotees,

Nameshkar

Poem

EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY

Once in Persia reigned a king,

Who upon a signet ring

Carved a maxim strange and wise,

When held before his eyes,

Gave him counsel at a glance,

Fit for every change and chance:

Solemn words, and these were they:

'EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY."

Trains, of camel through the sand

Brought him gems from Samarcand;

Fleets of galleys over the seas

Brought him pearls to rival these,

But he counted little gain,

Treasures of the mine or main;

'What is wealth?' the king would say

"EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY."

'Mid the pleasures of his court

At the zenith of their sport,

When the palms of all his guests

Burned with clapping at his jests,

Seated midst the figs and wine,

Said the king: 'Ah, friends of mine,'

Pleasure comes but not to stay,

"EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY."

Woman, fairest ever seen

Was the bride he crowned as queen,

Pillowed on the marriage-bed

Whispering to his soul, he said

"Though no monarch ever pressed

Fairer bosom to his breast,

Mortal flesh is only clay!

'EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY."

Fighting on the furious field,

Once a javelin pierced his shield,

Soldiers with a loud lament

Bore him bleeding to his tortured side,

'Pain is hard to bear," he cried,

But with patience, day by day,

"EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY.'

Towering in a public square

Forty cubits in the air,

And the king disguised, unknown,

Gazed upon his sculptured name,

And he pondered, "What is fame?'

Fame is but a slow decay!

"EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY."

Struck with palsy, sore and old,

Waiting at the gates of gold,

Said he with his dying breath

'Life is done, but what is Death?"

Then as answer to the king

Fell a sunbeam on his ring;

Showing by a heavenly ray,

"EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY."

Theodore Tilten

When one reads the above poem, on the out set ,one may say,’ I know that everything will pass away’. It will look as if one understood the above passing phenomena. In fact one does not. Here the King of Persia did not make that passing statement, the way a common people normally understands. It has a deeper and subtler meaning in it. Spiritual evolution lies in constant Awareness of the of the following by gaining Spiritual Knowledge.

Nitya, Anitya, Viveka and Vichara.

Nitya ,Anitya ,Viveka and Vichara -- The clear distinction between what is passing and what is permanent after thorough inquiry.

At the outset every body will think that they know this distinction . Whereas the important factor lies in knowing what is permanent and keeping constant focus on that. That constant remembrance and awareness of what is permanent, makes the person detached from what is passing. That is called Spiritual Knowledge. College professor while teaching has answer and he has no questions. Whereas Philosopher has no answer and he has constant questions and inquiry. That is Jnanam. He cannot accept the general term of ‘God’ just like that. The constant inquiry and questioning will take oneself to the point of permanency which is ‘I AM”, the depth God and make him to focus on that.

In the above poem, the King of Persia by saying ‘Even this will pass away’, he is not acting like a pessimist. He enjoys each and every thing which was said in the poem but he does not develop dependency, which is called intelligent way of detachment.

The real bakthi lies in acute awareness of one’s ignorance. i.e I am aware that I don’t know .That is the first step

Step2: Then having urge to overcome that limitations. i.e I understand that I cannot live without overcoming that limitations.

Step 3: Then finding or locating the source of help.

Step 4: Surrendering . Overcoming the resistance to learn without allowing one’s likes and dislikes interfering,

Thus the real devotion gets established. Establishment of real devotion is based on proper surrender, which contain all the above 4 steps.

Thanks with regards,

R. Parameswaran.

Bharat Churiwala

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Dec 26, 2009, 5:59:26 AM12/26/09

to Devotees of Holy Trio

Respected Parameswaranji,

Saadar Pranaam.

It was really matter of great joy and bliss to have read your posting " EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY "!!!!

Every time I used to think that Why we are deprived of your great intellect, knowledge and Devotion, and I also used to think that ONE DAY THIS WILL PASS AWAY and we will definitely start getting your marvellous INSIGHT in matter of SPIRITUALITY and specially about HARMONY OF RELIGIONS.

Once again Humble Pranaam and a request to keep on bestowing your knowledge...

a devotee of Devotees of Holy Trio