Monday, April 20, 2009




My Void

I wonder often to myself
If existence is a necessity
Or a flaw in creation
That the world was supposed
To be equanimous
Unruffled and composed

Hate nor love
Could fluster the surface
Defeat and success
Anger and anguish
Held hands
In the wombs of tranquility

Death produces not a tear
Ghosts from the past
Never float up to trouble,
The near present
No different from the furthest past
The future
A resolved riddle

What difference would it make
If I was never there
If I am never here
If I am nowhere
If I was lost in the emptiness
Unmoved and in control

The future’s beyond
Beckons me
As I shed myself in oceans
Of dilution
My void
Quietening the quakes of existence

3 comments:

JULIE said...

From MUSEINDIA.COM


Dear Julie, A beautifully scripted teleological poem – good mental pabulum. I hope the surface cynicism is floating on the sure waters of optimism. I liked your following lines the best, even as every other line is great.

The future
A resolved riddle

We’ve missed you and Cheryl for a long time. Best regards.

U Atreya Sarma, Secunderabad-56
Apr 21, 2009
________________________________________

Dear Julie, Very nice and contemplative expression. But we must not allow such emptiness to sneak into our consciousness. This is a phase of mind which leads you to higher levels and makes you peaceful and blissful providing you the answer for your existence. Please welcome your ripened and pleasant feelings that make you rejoice. Best wishes

Varanasi Ramabrahmam, Pondicherry
Apr 21, 2009
________________________________________

Dear Julie, Welcome back, missed seeing your work here. And what a great piece you have scripted. Wonderful and powerful words — soul searching is an endless quest. Loved the read, Warm regards,

Lina Mistry/Tandel, Varginia, USA
Apr 21, 2009
________________________________________

Dear Julieji, Glad to see you out of your hibernation mode ! A really thought provoking poem in a highly philosophic vein. Good!

J S Broca, New Delhi
Apr 21, 2009
________________________________________

Kumar Babu,
Namaskar. Guess our pens crossed paths at the same time--two pens--one in far East and one in the far West! Thanks for the email, thanks for remembering and thanks for appreciating. As I stride into the 40s this question bothers me no ends-- if I have no purpose, then why am I here and if I am here then what is my purpose?
My job has distanced me from the computer and musings. I hope I will get into a new rythm soon and be able to do justice to Lakhsmi and Saraswati!! Regards

Julie Acharya Ray, Salt Lake City, Utah
Apr 21, 2009
________________________________________

What a poem! Philosophy unique to a mind that I shall call Julie.. Congratulation. Your queries and quests leave one in a confusion in search of finding an answer to the age-old question who am I! Love and regards

Kumarendra Mallick

JULIE said...

From Binod Nayak , MD

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 10:23 AM


Julie:

It is a gem!

You modestly call it "My Void." But it is the great void in all of us. It is the emptiness, the hollowness or the "nothingness" (as Sartre would like to call it) that we all experience which remains ineffable for most of us. Our thirst (trishna) to overcome this emptiness makes us take pathways in life which makes us what we are. What is the origin of this emptiness, this nothingness? We are all searching for the answer for a long time.

Your question "is existence a necessity" is a great question. But who can answer this question? It is the greatest riddle that the humanity has faced from time immemorial. And your poem gives utterance to this question beautifully.

It is for sure, to be conscious is to experience this great void that is within us. In "Being and Nothingness," Sartre propounds the theory that consciousness is an act of negation. This is because, the conscious mind that is not material comes in conflict with the material body which harbors it. I believe, this conflict is the source of all great art, literature, science and religion. I have often wondered about this mind-body connection and have some interest in writing about this in the future. At some point when we meet we can have a discussion on this subject.

Let me conclude this email with a quote from Bhima Bhoi who transformed the "great void" -- the "great emptiness" that he encountered within him and without to something very beautiful.

"ulata paalata nohi, mahaa shunya shunya dehi
mukha baate jihvakanthe bakhaani nohen
sadaa jaya purnaananda paaile charane banda
nirantare aajnaa tinipure udaye"

"He is motionless. He is the transcendental void embodied in the void. The mouth and tongue cannot describe Him. All glories to Him. He is the manifestation of eternal bliss. If you ever find Him pray at His feet. The three worlds revolve under His command. He has risen." (my translation)

Thank you for sharing such great poetry. When you guys are going to visit us?

With love and best wishes to you all,

Bhaina

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