Center of all centers, core of cores,
almond self-enclosed, and growing sweet–
all this universe, to the furthest stars
all beyond them, is your flesh, your fruit.
Now you feel how nothing clings to you;
your vast shell reaches into endless space,
and there the rich, thick fluids rise and flow.
Illuminated in your infinite peace,
a billion stars go spinning through the night,
blazing high above your head.
But in you is the presence that
will be, when all the stars are dead.
- by Rainer Maria Rilke
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Nice, really nice words.
BTW, the link to your page from the Blogbharti “About” page still points to the blogspot address.
rainer in this beautiful poem, like many others, stresses the spiritualist aspect of the buddha and not his atheism. spiritualism has its advantages but ultimately it is a negation of social living whereas atheism stresses on social living without the false security of gods and ideologies. even hesse’s short novel siddharth quarrels with the spiritualism of the buddha without for once mentioning his atheism. in all my readings i have not come across a single instance of a literary work that has tried to build on the atheism of the buddha which is what fascinates me.
Thanks for your comment, Rahul. You are, of course, right about Buddha’s spiritualist aspect stressed at the expense of his atheism. I liked the last two lines in this poem.
What I remember from Hesse’s novel is that the Buddha can be realized only by becoming the Buddha and not seeking him out as a person, teacher or a god.
bhupi,
i got this thru mail, might have seen this
I am not I.
I am this one
walking beside me whom I do not see,
whom at times I manage to visit,
and whom at other times I forget;
the one who remains silent while I talk,
the one who forgives, sweet, when I hate,
the one who takes a walk when I am indoors,
the one who will remain standing when I die.
Juan Ramon Jimenez
Thanks, BVN for sharing this wonderful poem by a great Spanish poet.
Thanks, Sudipta for pointing out about the link at BB.
Bhupinder:
I just saw this post. What a coincidence that I had posted it last year after my journey to Indonesia where I recited this poem completely overawed by the majesty of the Borobodur complex.
Well, I’ like you to see the picture of the relief at the centre of the structure..
http://www.razarumi.com/2006/08/20/buddha-at-borobodur/
cheers, Raza
P.S. great minds think alike -he he
Indeed, couldn’t agree with you more, Raza. On our collective greatness, I mean
Thanks for the pictures and the explanation of the stupa.
Hey guys i do really need your help!!
I need a analysis about the poem “Buddha in Glory” from Rainer maria Rilke.
I have no idea where i should start .. so can somebody help me ??
Sorry, The Quiet. I am not qualified enough to help you on this. Good Luck !