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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Ascetics wander shrine to shrine,<br />
looking for what can only come<br />
from visiting the soul.<br />
Study the mystery you embody.<br />
When you look up from that,<br />
the dub grass looks fresher<br />
a little ways off, and even more<br />
green farther on. Stay here.<br />
If you've melted your desires<br />
in the river of time, choose<br />
to be a recluse, or choose<br />
a family, the village job.<br />
If you know the pure Lord within you,<br />
you'll be That, wherever.<br />
* * *<br />
Don't be so quick to condemn my nakedness.<br />
A man is one who trembles in the presence.<br />
There are very few of those.<br />
Why not go naked?<br />
The ram of experience must be fed<br />
and ripened for the sacrifice.<br />
Then all these customs will disappear<br />
like clothing. There's only the soul.<br />
I went everywhere with longing<br />
in my eyes, until here<br />
in my own house<br />
I felt truth<br />
filling my sight.<br />
* * *<br />
I have not really known myself,<br />
or anyone else.<br />
I've tried to do good, and not<br />
just what my appetites wanted,
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