! ! Who? From 'Ellam Ondre' Poem by Michael Shepherd

To know the unity of all
is good for you and good for others.
Is there any better way to obtain the good?
Who can share the mental peace,
the mental freshness, of one who knows unity?
Thus, you become the good itself;
you become the God made visible.

Who are you? You are turiya:
beyond sleeping, dreaming, waking;
what is there more for you than that?
It is pure knowledge, that with which
you see the world in truth: this is
the greatest good you can gain from the world;
the greatest good you can give back to it.

Who is God? He has no name
but that we give to Him;
he has no form but that we give to Him;
but what’s the harm in that?
Unknown; yet He is known to us:
to believe that He exists
will bring you to that being, consciousness, and bliss
that cannot be separated in your nature,
in His nature; and by your efforts,
your master and your way will come to you;
then you will see nothing that is not God.

Then you will wake to peace;
you will have earned the right to act;
then you cannot help but serve the world;
the good for anyone will flow from you.
Guard the delicate flower of the mind;
its fragrance, freshness, colour:
your mind, more delicate even than a blossom;
peace will bless your mind;
with it, worship the God that is yourself;
be peace.

And in that peace, know every action to be God’s:
then you will shine forth as God yourself;
through you God’s purpose for His creation
will be fulfilled. The creation is as it should be;
all things are in order. Who can change this?
As the thief suffers as he steals,
you gain the fruits of knowledge as you act;
the law is, all is one.

Know all evils in the world as from ego;
But, oh ego! Your enemy is greater:
you are perishable; He is not -
and in truth, He is your greatest friend:
he knows, ego, how to make you
worthy of true greatness and all blessings;
he asks nothing of you but - surrender;
and at the moment of surrender – joy.
‘I am Brahman’ – were these simply words to you?
Know this, all enemies become your friend;
magnanimous, you will arise;
all names, all forms, all good, all love;
they then are none but you.’

*

[These six verses are a crude summary of the six chapters of
‘Ellam Ondre’ by Vijai Subramaniyam (19th century Tamil)
which Ramana Maharshi recommended, as guide above all, to his
closest disciples. Download at www.realization.org]