This week's Maitri Tunes is a beautiful prayer written by poet, philosopher and sage Dada Vaswani who appeals to each of us to honor November 25th as an International Meatless Day in order to practice compassion for all living beings.
Click below to listen (you can also download here):
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A couple of us had the blessing to be in conversation with Dada Vaswani recently. In the 45 minute satsang that followed, some incredible wisdom was revealed which is still churning in my being.
For his teacher's birthday on November 25th every year, Dada asks the community to go meatless for the day saying: "The 18th century gave rights to man. The 19th century gave rights to slaves. The 20th century gave rights to women. The 21st century will give rights to animals."
About his teacher, the revered Sadhu Vaswani, Dada says: "My master was humble. He was a very learned man, a great writer, philosopher, and an educationist. Once when he presided over a big meeting in Mumbai and held a press conference, they asked him who he was. Are you a poet? Are you an educationist? Are you an author? Are you a saint? He said, 'I am a zero.' He paused for a while and added, 'I'm not the English zero as the English zero occupies space. I am the Sindhi 'Nukta'. In Sindhi, zero is written like a dot. Then, all that remains is to serve all and love all, unconditionally."
Lyrics:
Prabhu teri hi kripa se, sab kaam ho raha hai,
Karte ho tum prabhuji, mera naam ho raha hai!
Sahej ho raha sab kuch, manzil meri hai door,
Parvah nahi hai koi, pahuchoonga vahaan zaroor!
Karta nahin main kuch bhi, sab kaam ho raha hai!
Karte ho tum prabhuji, mera naam ho raha hai!
Gar saath ho jot era, kuch aur main naa chahoon,
Har pal is dil mein tera naam main dhyaa-oon!
Karta nahin main kuch bhi, sab kaam ho raha hai!
Karte ho tum prabhuji, mera naam ho raha hai!
Hargiz nahin main layak, tera pyaar kaise paa-oon,
Sur taal nahin mere, tere geet kaise gaa-oon!
Karta nahin main kuch bhi, sab kaam ho raha hai!
Karte ho tum prabhuji, mera naam ho raha hai!
Takleef aur tangee mein, Nuri ik tu hi madadgaar,
Uthaaye hain Anjali ke janmon ke saare bhaar!
Karta nahin main kuch bhi, sab kaam ho raha hai!
Karte ho tum prabhuji, mera naam ho raha hai!
Translation:
It's by Thy Grace, that all my affairs are taken care of
Everything is done by you, and I get all the credit
My destination seems far, yet everything is getting easeful
I have no worries, as I am certain I will get there eventually
Even though I "do" nothing, everything is getting done
Everything is done by you, and I get all the credit
When I have your companionship, I need nothing else
Every moment, I keep chanting your name in my heart
I am not at all worthy enough to receive your love,
How can I sing your praises with my impure voice
In times of trouble, Nuri (scripture) is the saviour
It has removed lifetimes of karma of Anjali (the seeker)
