Brahma by Ralph Waldo Emerson

December 16, 2012

I came across a reference to this wonderful poem "Brahma" by Ralph Waldo Emerson, in the first volume of His Holiness Swami Ranganathanandaji's excellent set of three volumes titled Universal Message of the Bhagavad Gita. The poem is filled with beautiful references to the Bhagavad Geeta Chapter 2!

Brahma

BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON

If the red slayer think he slays,

Or if the slain think he is slain,

They know not well the subtle ways

I keep, and pass, and turn again.

Far or forgot to me is near;

Shadow and sunlight are the same;

The vanished gods to me appear;

And one to me are shame and fame.

They reckon ill who leave me out;

When me they fly, I am the wings;

I am the doubter and the doubt,

I am the hymn the Brahmin sings.

The strong gods pine for my abode,

And pine in vain the sacred Seven;

But thou, meek lover of the good!

Find me, and turn thy back on heaven.

Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post

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