Who art Thou that walkest
before me and behind me
And in the hour of sleep
standest in watch beside me?
Wilt Thou not unveil Thy face whose
love hath already made me captive?
Freely I am bound to Thee;
Freely do I remain bound;
For Thou hast poured upon me Thy
unbounded love unasked.
Unasked will I make my offering unto Thee.
~ Swami Paramananda
Thou art born of Spirit,
Not created by thought,
Nor moulded by fancies,
Thou divine spark of unfathomed origin!
As vision Thou enterest in the heart of the prophet;
In the soul of the poet Thou dwellest as raptures of inspiration;
And in the throat of the singer as music.
Soul art Thou in our life;
Life art Thou in our body.
Who can know Thee, Thou subtlest of subtle?
How can we ever know Thee,
Save when Thou dost come to us in Thy glory
And grant unto us our sight?
~ Swami Paramananda
Disciple
Compassionate Sire, what nature is this fire
Teach me how to kindle it.
Master
It is flame, without smoke;
It burns without fuel, save what is not visible to the eyes.
It burns in the mouth of the wise.
It dwells in heart of love.
It is the perpetual altar fire where saints pour their oblation of worship.
It is eternal life.
It dwells in thee, though thou knowest it not, dormant, hidden at thy inmost recess.
When thy uncovered heart will catch the spark that cometh out from the mouth that speaketh the Fire of Truth,
Then will be lighted in thee this smokeless, eternal Flame.
~ Swami Paramananda
Master
When the Fire of Truth burns in the heart,
It purifies the heart.
When its spark comes out of tongue,
It is vibrant with life.
Lo, it falls upon the ear that is not closed to the subtle, spiritual sound,
like far-distant music,
Rousing the soul to a new world.
Fire of Truth,- When it burns in heart,
It purifies the heart.
When it burns in the mouth, it purifies the mouth,
It purifies mind, body, and glorifies the soul.
~ Swami Paramananda
Covet not pleasure.
Shrink not from pain.
Stand firm on the balancing rod of life.
He who seeketh pleasure can ne’er escape pain;
For they are coupled,- the inseparable twins.
Let thy soul live in tranquil harmony
Amid pleasure and amid pain.
~ Swami Paramananda
Love! Great immensity!
Unfathomed mystery!
Sacred current of life!
Vibrant resplendent flame
that burneth eternally,
Consuming all our imperfections,
Healing all our wounds,
And bestowing peace upon our turbulent heart!
Hail to Thee, Thou holy Spirit!
Hail to Thee again and evermore,
Thou Giver of pure sight!
Let me lie in Thy protecting arms
And sleep in the warmth of
Thy bosom,
And in waking behold
Thy beneficent face
That never changeth its tender mercy.
To Thee I turn my face.
And on Thee I fix my eager gaze
Now and let it be through eternity.
~ Swami Paramananda
~ Swami Paramananda
Walk in the rhythm of life;
Your limbs will not tire.
Sing with the rhythm of life;
Your voice will gain sweetness.
Your feet will not touch the ground.
Breathe in rhythm.
Think in rhythm.
Talk in rhythm.
Walk in rhythm.
sing in rhythm.
Dance in rhythm.
Dance in rhythm.
Let rhythmic be your life.