Soft Whisperings

Ever and ever my thoughts escape
from the garden of living simran
to frolic and flounder
among the dead world’s illusions.
I sigh in frustration and despair.
But, ‘Just call it back,’ you whisper softly.
‘Just call it back.’
Ever and ever the devious mind
sows seeds of doubt
and tries to convince me
that my pathetic endeavours are a waste of time,
chasing after a rainbow that does not exist.
I writhe in an agony of indecision and anguish.
But, ‘Just be patient and don’t give up,’ you whisper softly.
‘Just be patient and don’t give up.’
And ever and ever I find
that the evil promptings of the mind,
no matter how loud its clamourings,
cannot drown out or overcome your soft whisperings
in the knowingness of my heart.

Our Master’s soft whisperings – they have always been there. We may have done or said something and suddenly we were made aware of the fact that it was not wise, or perhaps not kind. We may have had good intentions to do something, but some thought cropped up that prevented us. We may become frustrated when we struggle, without success, to keep the mind still during meditation – but something urges us to just keep trying. If we are receptive and listen with dedication, attention and concentration, the voice is there. It will warn, prescribe, advise and encourage.

We know when our actions are not those worthy of a disciple of a perfect Guru. We know when we can do better, when our efforts show room for improvement, when our reactions to things are stupid and unwise. That voice that keeps whispering to us tells us. It is the mind that may try to smother it, to come up with clever excuses and sage observations to justify any compromises we may make. It is the mind, the poet says, that sows seeds of doubt and tries to convince us that we will never succeed, and asks, ‘Why keep on trying?’ It is the mind that runs off from the living garden of our simran to frolic and flounder among the dead world’s illusions. But although we may sway a bit, we do not break; we return and start afresh and do not give up. Nothing is as engaging, compelling and encouraging, as sweet and wonderful, as the soft whispering of our Master in our hearts.

Those people who have come to the path, Master takes charge of them right from birth – he will never allow them to go so astray that he cannot pull them back to the path. You have seen a kite flyer flying a kite. He keeps loosening the string, but when he thinks the kite is going out of his control, he pulls it back. … We become conscious that we are being taken care of only when we see the Master within – then we know that we are being helped, we are being taken care of.
_{Maharaj Charan Singh, Spiritual Perspectives, Vol. III}