Rodevra Republic

Walk alone. The destination is within. A film song that quietly echoes the Advaita idea: the seeker and the sought are one Notwithstanding the controversies surrounding the film Laal Singh Chaddha , it contains a gem of a song that is worth reflecting upon. While the English subtitles provide a literal translation, the deeper meaning of the lyrics, to my mind, resonates strongly with the principles of Advaita . This couplet captures the essence beautifully: तू आपे सवाली है, आपे ही पयम्बर है तू खुद है तमाशा भी, आपे ही कलंदर है You are the seeker, you are also the messenger. You are the spectacle itself, and you are the one who watches it. The next couplet is equally meaningful: बेकार तलाशे तू, दरगाह में शिवालों में जिस यार को तू ढूंढे, वो तेरे ही अंदर है You wander in vain in shrines and temples. The one you seek is already within you. The idea is familiar to anyone who has encountered Advaita. The Divine that we search for outside is, in truth, within ourselves. The song also touch...

Here is a story at the end of which you may ask yourself: Who is the real saint? There was once a saintly man who crossed a river every day, as his ashram was on the other side. A poor boatman ferried him across daily. Out of respect for the holy man, the boatman never charged him anything. In any case, he thought, where would a saint have money? The boatman was simple and innocent. He had no knowledge of shastras or scriptures. Yet during their daily journeys across the river, the saint would often speak on spiritual matters. He spoke about God and about how one should relate to Him in everyday life. The boatman listened with deep attention and complete faith. One day the saint invited the boatman to visit his ashram. When they arrived, the saint said to him, “At one time I was a very successful merchant and had earned enormous wealth. But an unfortunate incident took away my wife and children. With no family left, I wondered what use all this wealth was to me. I decided to renounce e...