Gitanjali ~ Tagore

[Julie]

link to art

The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day

runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.


It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth

in numberless blades of grass

and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.

It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth

and of death, in ebb and in flow.

I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life.

And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.

a very small part of 'Gitanjali' by Tagore

**

One of my favourite passages from Gitanjali

[ënagualí~ᏉLAᗪἇ ኔጡ።]

Never heard of him lol.. But I bet theres heaps of poets I've not heard of before though.. nice Chinese painting..

[Julie]

I'm glad that I've introduced him here, one of my friends on Gaia introduced me as I worked with several friends from India on the Gaia Minute group

here's the other verse I have on my profile page Vlada

Patience

If thou speakest not I will fill my heart with thy silence and endure it.
I will keep still and wait like the night with starry vigil
and its head bent low with patience.
The morning will surely come, the darkness will vanish,
and thy voice pour down in golden streams breaking through the sky.
Then thy words will take wing in songs from every one of my birds' nests,
and thy melodies will break forth in flowers in all my forest groves.

 

A verse from Gitanjali

[ënagualí~ᏉLAᗪἇ ኔጡ።]

Thats nice for sure, I like it, very uplifting but wish it was longer hahaha now put five of those together and then I'd call it a poem..sorry just being me..

[Julie]

History of Gitanjali

The collection by Tagore, originally written in Bengali, comprises 157 poems, many of which have been turned into songs or Rabindrasangeet. The original Bengali collection was published on 4 August 1910. The translated version Gitanjali: Song Offerings was published in November 1912 by the India Society of London which contained translations of 53 poems from the original Gitanjali, as well as 50 other poems extracted from Tagore’s Achalayatana, Gitimalya, Naivadya, Kheya, and more. Overall, Gitanjali: Song Offerings consists of 103 prose poems of Tagore’s own English translations.^[3]The poems were based on medieval Indian lyrics of devotion with a common theme of love across most poems. Some poems also narrated a conflict between the desire for materialistic possessions and spiritual longing

https://sacred-texts.com/hin/tagore/gitnjali.htm

If you'd like to read more see above link

[ënagualí~ᏉLAᗪἇ ኔጡ።]

Thank-you for the added info Julie..:o)

[Julie]

a pleasure to be sure Vlada

[Julie]

Ascent of the Spirit in Tagore's Poetry

Rabindranath Tagore, one of the most profound poets of the 20th century, consistently explored the idea of the "ascent of the spirit" in his works. His poetry often reflects a journey from the mundane to the divine, from human entanglements to spiritual liberation. The concept of spiritual ascent is a recurring theme in Tagore's oeuvre, expressed through his engagement with nature, human emotion, and the divine.

Tagore's philosophical outlook was deeply influenced by the Upanishads and Vedantic thought, as well as the Bhakti tradition. In his view, the material world is not separate from the spiritual but a means of ascending toward it. His poetry often portrays the spirit's yearning to unite with a higher power, whether it is the formless Divine or the inner essence of being. This journey of the spirit, transcending the ego and personal desires, manifests through key works like "Gitanjali", "Gitabitan", and "The Gardener".

1. Ascent through Divine Communion: "Gitanjali"

One of the clearest examples of spiritual ascent in Tagore's poetry is found in his Nobel Prize-winning collection, Gitanjali (Song Offerings). These poems reflect a personal and deeply spiritual journey toward the Divine. The poet repeatedly emphasizes the individual's path from the material to the transcendental, seeking union with God through surrender and devotion.

In Gitanjali, Tagore writes:

"The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures. It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers." (Gitanjali, Poem 69)

Here, Tagore equates human life with the eternal life force that animates all of existence. The metaphor of a "stream" signifies the flow of the spirit through the stages of life, ultimately moving toward an oceanic union with the Divine. This connection between individual life and the universal spirit is the bedrock of his vision of spiritual ascent. The ascent in this case is not merely an upward motion, but an expansion of consciousness that merges with the cosmic dance of life.

Tagore also reflects on the futility of material desires and how their renunciation leads to spiritual ascent:

"Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain but for the heart to conquer it." (Gitanjali, Poem 36)

Here, the ascent is framed as an internal transformation. The poet seeks not external relief but inner strength, indicating a movement away from ego and personal suffering toward spiritual growth and resilience.

2. Spiritual Ascent through Nature: "Gitabitan"

Tagore’s Gitabitan (The Song Collection) further delves into the idea of spiritual ascent by weaving together nature and spirituality. In his view, nature serves as both the canvas and the bridge for spiritual elevation. Tagore viewed the natural world not as an obstacle, but as a pathway toward the divine, where every flower, river, and breeze becomes a symbol of spiritual truth.

In the poem "Prakriti", Tagore writes:

"Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake."

This celebrated verse metaphorically elevates the spirit’s yearning for liberation, not only in a national sense but in an existential one. The “heaven of freedom” refers to a state where the human soul transcends societal, cultural, and intellectual boundaries to merge with the universal spirit. Tagore uses this motif repeatedly, suggesting that true ascent is the liberation of the mind and soul from all forms of bondage, including fear, ignorance, and fragmentation.

In "Gitabitan", Tagore also discusses how the natural world mirrors the ascent of the soul. In "Purano Sei Diner Kotha", for instance, the changing seasons are likened to the evolution of the human spirit. Spring symbolizes birth and renewal, summer symbolizes life and growth, and autumn, with its shedding leaves, represents spiritual renunciation and the acceptance of mortality. Through these symbolic seasons, Tagore highlights the cyclical yet upward movement of the soul, moving toward its ultimate liberation in winter — a metaphor for divine union.

3. Bhakti Tradition and Mysticism: "The Gardener"

In The Gardener, Tagore draws heavily on the Bhakti tradition, where love for the Divine is expressed through the metaphor of a lover yearning for their beloved. In Bhakti poetry, this yearning is both painful and joyous — a paradox that Tagore beautifully captures in his poems. The spirit ascends not by detachment from the world but by deeper immersion in it, through love.

In the poem "I am Here to Sing Thee Songs" from The Gardener, Tagore writes:

"I am here to sing thee songs.
In this hall of thine, I have a corner seat.
In thy world, I have no work to do;
my useless life can only break out in tunes without a purpose."

The ascent of the spirit here is through selfless devotion. The poet, fully aware of his insignificance in the cosmic scale, finds meaning in his offering of song. The poetic self ascends as it gives itself up to the Divine, mirroring the Bhakti concept of surrender.

The image of the gardener is significant in this context, as the gardener cultivates life, yet is detached from its outcomes. Similarly, Tagore's spiritual journey reflects a kind of active detachment, where the soul engages with the world but ultimately surrenders to the will of the Divine.

4. Integration of the Mundane and the Divine

A unique aspect of Tagore's spiritual philosophy is that the ascent of the spirit does not reject the material world but rather seeks to integrate it into a higher understanding of the Divine. Tagore believed that the Divine was present in all things, and spiritual ascent is not achieved by renouncing the world but by seeing the world through the eyes of the spirit.

In Gitanjali, he writes:

"Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure.
This frail vessel thou emptiest again and again, and fillest it ever with fresh life." 

Here, the body, which is “frail,” represents the material world, and the repeated filling and emptying symbolize the cycle of life and death. Yet, it is through this cycle that the spirit ascends, constantly renewed by the divine grace. For Tagore, spiritual ascent is a continuous process, one that requires full engagement with life and its limitations while also striving toward the infinite.

This spiritual ascent, as articulated in poems from Gitanjali, Gitabitan, and The Gardener, is a process of evolving consciousness, where the soul moves from fragmentation and ego toward unity and love, from earthly concerns to a higher, divine reality. The poetic voice of Tagore finds its ultimate liberation not in renunciation, but in joyful participation in the cosmic dance of creation, love, and surrender.

from October's topic by Robin

Ascent of the Spirit in Tagore's Poetry

Rabindranath Tagore, one of the most profound poets of the 20th century, consistently explored the idea of the "ascent of the spirit" in his works. His poetry often reflects a journey from the mundane to the divine, from human entanglements to spiritual liberation. The concept of spiritual ascent is a recurring theme in Tagore's oeuvre, expressed through his engagement with nature, human emotion, and the divine.

Tagore's philosophical outlook was deeply influenced by the Upanishads and Vedantic thought, as well as the Bhakti tradition. In his view, the material world is not separate from the spiritual but a means of ascending toward it. His poetry often portrays the spirit's yearning to unite with a higher power, whether it is the formless Divine or the inner essence of being. This journey of the spirit, transcending the ego and personal desires, manifests through key works like "Gitanjali", "Gitabitan", and "The Gardener".

1. Ascent through Divine Communion: "Gitanjali"

One of the clearest examples of spiritual ascent in Tagore's poetry is found in his Nobel Prize-winning collection, Gitanjali (Song Offerings). These poems reflect a personal and deeply spiritual journey toward the Divine. The poet repeatedly emphasizes the individual's path from the material to the transcendental, seeking union with God through surrender and devotion.

In Gitanjali, Tagore writes:

"The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures. It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers." (Gitanjali, Poem 69)

Here, Tagore equates human life with the eternal life force that animates all of existence. The metaphor of a "stream" signifies the flow of the spirit through the stages of life, ultimately moving toward an oceanic union with the Divine. This connection between individual life and the universal spirit is the bedrock of his vision of spiritual ascent. The ascent in this case is not merely an upward motion, but an expansion of consciousness that merges with the cosmic dance of life.

Tagore also reflects on the futility of material desires and how their renunciation leads to spiritual ascent:

"Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain but for the heart to conquer it." (Gitanjali, Poem 36)

Here, the ascent is framed as an internal transformation. The poet seeks not external relief but inner strength, indicating a movement away from ego and personal suffering toward spiritual growth and resilience.

2. Spiritual Ascent through Nature: "Gitabitan"

Tagore’s Gitabitan (The Song Collection) further delves into the idea of spiritual ascent by weaving together nature and spirituality. In his view, nature serves as both the canvas and the bridge for spiritual elevation. Tagore viewed the natural world not as an obstacle, but as a pathway toward the divine, where every flower, river, and breeze becomes a symbol of spiritual truth.

In the poem "Prakriti", Tagore writes:

"Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake."

This celebrated verse metaphorically elevates the spirit’s yearning for liberation, not only in a national sense but in an existential one. The “heaven of freedom” refers to a state where the human soul transcends societal, cultural, and intellectual boundaries to merge with the universal spirit. Tagore uses this motif repeatedly, suggesting that true ascent is the liberation of the mind and soul from all forms of bondage, including fear, ignorance, and fragmentation.

In "Gitabitan", Tagore also discusses how the natural world mirrors the ascent of the soul. In "Purano Sei Diner Kotha", for instance, the changing seasons are likened to the evolution of the human spirit. Spring symbolizes birth and renewal, summer symbolizes life and growth, and autumn, with its shedding leaves, represents spiritual renunciation and the acceptance of mortality. Through these symbolic seasons, Tagore highlights the cyclical yet upward movement of the soul, moving toward its ultimate liberation in winter — a metaphor for divine union.

3. Bhakti Tradition and Mysticism: "The Gardener"

In The Gardener, Tagore draws heavily on the Bhakti tradition, where love for the Divine is expressed through the metaphor of a lover yearning for their beloved. In Bhakti poetry, this yearning is both painful and joyous — a paradox that Tagore beautifully captures in his poems. The spirit ascends not by detachment from the world but by deeper immersion in it, through love.

In the poem "I am Here to Sing Thee Songs" from The Gardener, Tagore writes:

"I am here to sing thee songs.
In this hall of thine, I have a corner seat.
In thy world, I have no work to do;
my useless life can only break out in tunes without a purpose."

The ascent of the spirit here is through selfless devotion. The poet, fully aware of his insignificance in the cosmic scale, finds meaning in his offering of song. The poetic self ascends as it gives itself up to the Divine, mirroring the Bhakti concept of surrender.

The image of the gardener is significant in this context, as the gardener cultivates life, yet is detached from its outcomes. Similarly, Tagore's spiritual journey reflects a kind of active detachment, where the soul engages with the world but ultimately surrenders to the will of the Divine.

4. Integration of the Mundane and the Divine

A unique aspect of Tagore's spiritual philosophy is that the ascent of the spirit does not reject the material world but rather seeks to integrate it into a higher understanding of the Divine. Tagore believed that the Divine was present in all things, and spiritual ascent is not achieved by renouncing the world but by seeing the world through the eyes of the spirit.

In Gitanjali, he writes:

"Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure.
This frail vessel thou emptiest again and again, and fillest it ever with fresh life." 

Here, the body, which is “frail,” represents the material world, and the repeated filling and emptying symbolize the cycle of life and death. Yet, it is through this cycle that the spirit ascends, constantly renewed by the divine grace. For Tagore, spiritual ascent is a continuous process, one that requires full engagement with life and its limitations while also striving toward the infinite.

This spiritual ascent, as articulated in poems from Gitanjali, Gitabitan, and The Gardener, is a process of evolving consciousness, where the soul moves from fragmentation and ego toward unity and love, from earthly concerns to a higher, divine reality. The poetic voice of Tagore finds its ultimate liberation not in renunciation, but in joyful participation in the cosmic dance of creation, love, and surrender.

from October's topic by Robin

[Tara]

thank you this is so beautiful

[Tara]

The beauty of the sacred in the healing arts cannot be under expressed thanks again

[Julie]

Glad you enjoyed Tara, blessings