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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I began as a bloom of cotton,<br />
outdoors. Then they brought me to a room<br />
where they washed me. Then the hard strokes<br />
of the carder's wife. Then another woman<br />
spun thin threads, twisting me<br />
around her wheel. Then the kicks<br />
of the weaver's loom made cloth,<br />
and on the washing stone, washermen<br />
wet and slung me about<br />
to their satisfaction, whitened me<br />
with earth and bone,<br />
and cleaned me to my own<br />
amazement. Then the scissors<br />
of the tailor, piece by piece,<br />
and his careful finishing work.<br />
Now, at last, as clothes,<br />
I find You and freedom.<br />
This living is so difficult<br />
before one takes your hand.<br />
Whatever work I've done,<br />
whatever I have thought,<br />
was praise with my body<br />
and praise hidden<br />
inside my head.<br />
* * *<br />
In this state there is no Shiva,<br />
nor any holy union.
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