Tukaram’s Pointers: Part 2

 Stay focused and resolute:

Loka jaisaa oka dharitaa dharave naa

Abhaktaa jirey naa santsang 

Tuka mhane aataa aikaave vachan

Tyajuniyaa jana bhakti karaa 

Tukaram calls worldly talk as vomitus. There will be criticism from every corner no matter what you do, he says, and cites many examples while driving home this point. If you get married they say you are lost in sensual pleasures , if you don’t they say you are infertile. If you follow rituals, you are labeled ritualistic . If you don’t follow rituals, you are faulted. If you enjoy company of saints they accuse you of trying to boast wisdom. If you don’t, they deem you unfortunate. If you don’t amass wealth you are considered good for nothing. If you get rich you are portrayed as arrogant. They point fingers if you have too many children or no children.

Thus realize that it is the nature of people to talk both ways. You keep a clear head and know right from wrong and lead a life of truth and devotion. The saint teachings will guide you.

Kaaranaapey asataa drishti 

Shankaa poti upajenaa

Shoor miravey ranaangani maraneech santosh 

Paahije to kalvalaa maga balaa kaay uney 

Tuka mhane udaarpaney kaay uney manaache 

When the mind is focused on the purpose there is no room for self doubt. A soldier goes to war with the determination to fight the enemy and if he meets death during the war it brings him the ultimate satisfaction. If you have such burning desire to do something you get the strength to do it. You will lack nothing if you carry the magnanimity of heart in whatever you do.

Don’t count on the world

Relatives and friends will sooner or later abandon you, he warns. Why people? Even your body is mortal and subject to change and old age. Therefore spend your valuable time seeking the truth of the soul, seeking God. 

Jana hey sukhaachey dilyaa ghetalyaachey 

Anta hey kaalaachey naahi koni

Jaalyaa heena shakti naak doley galati 

Saandoni palati raandaa porey 

Baayil mhaney khara marataa tari barey 

Naasiley hey ghara thunkoniyaa

Tuka mhane maazi navhateela koni

Tuja Chakrapaani vaanchuniyaa 

Deha jaayil jaayil 

Yaasi Kaal baa khaayil 

Shareer sambandhaachey naatey

Bhoradyaa budaviti setaatey 

Azuni tari hoyi jaagaa

Tuka mhane pudhey dagaa 

Soyirey dhaayirey dilyaa ghetalyaachey 

Anta hey kaalichey naahi koni

Sakhyaa gotra bahini sukhaachey sangati 

Mokaluni deti antakaali 

Aapuley sharira aapanaa paarikhey 

Paraavi hotil naval kaayi 

Tuka mhane aataa soda yaanchi aasa 

Dhari re kaasa Pandurangaa 

Keep efforts ongoing 

Tukaram paid a lot of emphasis on self efforts. A beautiful example he has given is of the root of the tree. Little by little the soft root penetrates into a hard rock. What appears to to be impossible can become possible with consistent efforts. 

Oley moola bhedi khadakaachey anga 

Aabhyaasaasi saanga kaarya siddhi (#144)

Tuka mhane kaichaa baisanyaasi thaava 

Jathari baalaa vaav ekaaeki 

Asaadhya tey saadhya karitaa saayaas

Kaaran abhyaas Tuka mhane 

Contentment:

Even as you put in efforts in everything you do staying content deep inside is important.

Work hard to the best of your abilities and then leave it to destiny to bring the results. Accept the results with grace.

Hechi thora bhakti aawadati devaa

Sankalpaachi maayaa sansaaraachi 

Theviley anantey taisechi raahaavey 

Chitti aso dyaavey samaadhaan 

Vaahilyaa udvega dukhkha chi kevala 

Bhogane tey phala sancitaachey

Tuka mhane ghaalu tayyavari bhaara 

Vaahu haa sansaar devaa paayi 

Aaliyaa bhogaasi asaavey saadara 

Devaavari bhaara ghaaluniyaa

Cooperation

He believed not just in self effort but also in collective efforts for the betterment of the entire society. One lamp lights another and the next and more and the entire home light up. The results multiply when people join hands for the same goal.

Eka ekaa saahya karu 

Avaghey dharu supantha 

Realize the power of the mind 

Manaa eka kari

Mhane jaaeen Pandhari 

Mana karaa re prasanna 

Sarva siddhiche kaaran 

Naahi naahi aanudaivat

Tuka mhane dusarey 

Gati adhogati manaachi yukti 

Mana laavi ekaanti saadhu sangey 

Jatan karaa jatan karaa

Dhhavatey saira odhaal tey

Maan apamaan manaache lakshan 

Laaviliyaa dhyaan techi kari 

Tuka mhane mana utari bhavasindhu 

Mana kari bandhu chouryaashichaa 

Phutki saangdi 

Tuka mhane na pavey thadi

One must realize the power of the mind. Indeed there is nothing more powerful than our mind. Mind can uplift or pull you down. Honor and insult are tricks of the mind. The one specialty of the mind is that it gets used to the habits thrust upon it. Therefore training it to practice meditation, contemplating on the teachings of the wise, keeping it enriched with pleasant and cheerful thoughts brings salvation. Indeed such a cultivated mind can lead the way to immortality.

The mind is like a boat that will carry us through this life safely.

A boat with a hole in it never reaches the shore. Therefore secure your boat ( mind) against leaks from dishonesty, selfishness, evil and wrong thoughts, lack of faith etc.

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Saree is a bandha ( tie dye) design called bada phula ( big flower) from the state of Odisha. The lemon yellow color on the body is beautifully contrasted by the deep blue. The pallu and borders have ikat patterns on them as well . Paired it with a blue ikat blouse from Odisha.