Lalla-Naked-Song
Lalla lived in Kashmir in the 14th century, when many doctrinal streams were merging: Shaivism, sufism, Vedantic non-dualism, and other -isms, but Lalla is beyond religious categories, a living combination that cannot be described in those terms.
Lalla lived in Kashmir in the 14th century, when many doctrinal streams were merging: Shaivism, sufism, Vedantic non-dualism, and other -isms, but Lalla is beyond religious categories, a living combination that cannot be described in those terms.
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Again, the chief pun in this pair is "onion" and "breath."<br />
I locked the doors and windows.<br />
I grabbed the onion-thief<br />
and yelled for help.<br />
I tied him up in an inside closet<br />
and threatened him with Om. Om.<br />
I shut the body openings<br />
and found out what steals<br />
the even-breath, the truth<br />
of Who we are.<br />
If you want a kingdom and get it,<br />
you'll have no peace.<br />
If you give it away,<br />
still you won't be content.<br />
Only a soul free of desire<br />
can taste eternity.<br />
Be living, yet dead!<br />
Then knowing comes<br />
to live in you.<br />
* * *<br />
Let them throw their curses.<br />
If inside, I am connected<br />
to what's true, my soul<br />
stays quiet and clear.<br />
Do you think Shiva worries<br />
what people say!<br />
If a few ashes fall on a mirror,<br />
use them to polish it.<br />
There are those sleeping who are awake,<br />
and others awake who are sound asleep.<br />
Some of those bathing in sacred pools<br />
will never get clean.
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