GURUDEV
To Sri Swami Satchidananda
By Krishnadasi
You say humans have never seen
their own face
only a reflection,
and in those countless mirrors
lakes, pools and rivers
are pictures that don’t exist.
We smile and dance
to world illusions
unless
glass or water clean and still
and pure mind listening,
awake and quiet;
then, you promise
we may catch a glimpse
quick as the heart of a butterfly
reality
moving across our screen.
© YOGA JOURNAL, 1976
This poem was published when I was known by the Sanskrit name, Krishnadasi, which means servant of Krishna. I was living at the Santa Barbara Satchidananda Ashram at the time. Later, Gurudev suggested a change in my name to Krishnaprema, meaning the divine love of Krishna, which someone told me was a promotion. I did not, at first, accept this change with enthusiasm, because I was attached to the intense experience which brought about Krishnadasi.
Gurudev noticed my reluctance and teased me about it. Eventually, he wrote to me and explained how he considered Krishnaprema to represent the best way for me to move forward on my spiritual journey. Fortunately, I had already had a change of heart. I was able to embrace his words and have found them to be an inspiration in my life to this day.
Gudrun
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