Taatiche Abhang : 1
Taatiche Abhang
Abhang 1: ( short version)
संत जेणें व्हावें
संत जेणें व्हावें ।
जग बोलणे साहावें ॥१॥
तरीच अंगी थोरपण ।
जया नाही अभिमान ॥२॥
थोरपण जेथे वसें ।
तेथे भूतदया असें ॥३॥
रागें भरावे कवणाशी ।
आपण ब्रम्ह सर्वदेशी ॥४॥
ऐशी समदृष्टी करा ।
ताटी उघडा ज्ञानेश्वरा ॥५॥
- Being a saint implies being tolerant to all scrutiny and all sorts of criticism and harsh words from the world.
- Nobility comes from discarding the ego and any excess self importance.
- Where there is true greatness there is great compassion for all beings.
- Knowing that we are the all pervading divinity,without any exclusion, who can we hold anger against or inflict our anger upon?
- Attain to such equanimity and open the door Oh Dnyaaneshwara !
As mentioned in the introduction this abhang is often a subject of controversy whether it is original or added later by another author. I have elected to include it in the series because it makes logical sense if you consider the circumstances surrounding Muktabai’s sermon to Dnyaaneshwar.
Someone’s hateful outburst had caused pain to Dnyaaneshwar and he had shut himself up in a state of anguish. So the little sister begins to console him. You can’t react like ordinary people. You are a saintly person. Saints must be tolerant of all harsh treatments. To sustain ill words and unfair behavior one must be able to put aside ego. That is the true sign of greatness. A heart without egoism nurtures immense compassion for others. The ultimate truth is that all beings are forms of the same divinity. There is no separation of them and us. Who are you going to be mad at ? Don’t be forgetful of this reality. Retain equanimity with this knowledge and give up your grudge. Come out of isolation.
Seems simple advice, doesn’t it? Only a person who gets subjected to unfair treatment or humiliation knows the pain and how the mind reacts to the situation. The ego is provoked badly under such circumstances and it is really hard to keep it in check. Much internal strength is called for to let wisdom win over the hurt ego. That internal struggle will define whether the person is ordinary or extraordinary.
It has been rightly said that anger is the punishment we give ourselves for someone else’s bad behavior. Ordinarily we don’t realize the truth in this statement. The one who matures to recognize this is in a better position to dodge anger. Truly,deeply, not get angry. Not just hide the anger on the outside.
From this point onwards there could be two paths moving forward. One is to completely block the person from your life who behaved badly. Other is what the saints would do. Treat that person with the same dignity and kindness as any other. This is rare and that’s why saints have a special place in our hearts and in the society.
There is a reason Ram is revered more than Laxman or Bharat. Laxman and Bharat were angry when Kaikeyi manipulated Dashrath to send Ram into the forest. But Ram maintained an attitude of kindness towards Kaikeyi. He was aware that she would receive hatred from everyone for her actions and also that she would soon confront personal guilt and remorse. He did not find solace in this like any ordinary person would. He was more concerned about her wellbeing and support at her hour of need.
It is easier to be a Laxman or Bharat. To be devoted to the good and not worry about hating the bad. It is much harder to be consistently and genuinely kind to bad people.
That higher standard was what Dnyaaneshwar and his siblings were familiar with and aimed for. When momentarily Dnyaneshwar slipped from it his younger sister stepped in to remind him to regain control.
One word to contemplate and meditate upon from this abhang:
समदृष्टी
We have special place in our hearts for our family members. We define family as those related to us by blood or marriage. Our attitude tends to be different to people outside of family. If we were to disregard our physical body and identify with consciousness alone then the entire universe becomes related to us. It would be impossible to treat anyone differently. That is the samadrishti Muktabai is insisting here.
Meaning of vocabulary used:
संत = saint
जेणें = by which means
व्हावें = can become
जग = the world(‘s)
बोलणे = talk( implied to be tough talk)
साहावें = tolerate
तरीच= only then
अंगी = within
थोरपण = nobility, greatness
जया = for whom, in whom
नाही = there isn’t any
अभिमान=false pride
थोरपण = greatness
जेथे =where
वसें = resides
तेथे = there
भूतदया = compassion for all beings
असें = exists
रागें = anger
भरावे = thrust, inflict
कवणाशी= at whom
आपण = we
ब्रम्ह = Divine Principle
सर्वदेशी = everywhere
ऐशी = such
समदृष्टी = equanimity
करा = do, enforce, establish
ताटी = door
उघडा = open
ज्ञानेश्वरा= Lord of Superior Knowledge or Wisdom
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