The poem is set up as the Almighty speaking out to his child, the man!
This is your cup -- the cup assigned
to you from the beginning.
Nay, My child, I know how much
of that dark drink is your own brew
Of fault and passion, ages long ago,
In the deep years of yesterday, I know.
to you from the beginning.
Nay, My child, I know how much
of that dark drink is your own brew
Of fault and passion, ages long ago,
In the deep years of yesterday, I know.
The 'cup' is the cup of karma/mind where the good and bad thoughts and deeds get added and subtracted. Every person begins life with an empty cup. A baby is the most innocent person, the only emotion it understands is love and does not bear anything against anyone. Its 'cup' is empty. As we grow up, we add good and bad 'drinks' to the cup, making a queer concoction called life. But the thing is there is only 1 cup per person and you have to drink what is in the cup before you die. If you add sweet things in the forms of good deeds, you get a sweet drink in the form of good action by others towards you. If the drink is dark, like Swamiji says comes from faults and passions, you get a bitter drink from the cup!
This reminds me of a story in the life of Ramakrishna Paramhamsa. Once his so-called tutor (who taught him mysteries of samadhi) was telling him "Just like you have to wash a cup daily so that they dont corrode, you should practise little meditation daily so cleam your mind". Ramakrishna snapped at him "What if your cup is made of gold?". Totapuri realized he was teaching a Master, with the purest possible mind!
This is your road -- a painful road and drear.
I made the stones that never give you rest.
I set your friend in plesant ways and clear,
And he shall come like you, unto My breast.
But you, My child, must travel here.
I made the stones that never give you rest.
I set your friend in plesant ways and clear,
And he shall come like you, unto My breast.
But you, My child, must travel here.
The 'road' is life. No matter who one is, everyone has to walk on the 'road', or 'lead life'. The road is painful and full of 'stones' or hurdles and one constantly gets hurt by them. The Lord says that to make the journey pleasant, he set some 'friends' along the road, which are the companions one gets along in life. Although the friends make the journey little confortable, each one has his own road. The friend will lead his life and go to Him in the end, and so will the child. That is his road, this is the child's; they only meet for a while and off they go again - alone!
This is your task. It has no joy nor grace,
But it is not meant for any other hand,
And in My universe hath measured place,
Take it. I do not bid you understand.
I bid you close your eyes to see My face.
The 'task' is the most important thing, it is what the child is on the road for! It is the duty one man has in his life. Each one's duty is unique, and is not meant for anyone else! He finallyasks the child to not worry about the reason why that work is given to him, just says to do it. Like Krishna says in Gita, "The action is your right, work without worrying about fruits!". God asks is child to simply close his eyes and pray, and see the face of Almighty within himself!
May we all lead on our roads, doing our tasks and may we empty our cups. Good and bad karma, both bind us down. It is when the action is done without an apparent intent to achieve something, does the cup remain empty! May we all lead our life to empty that cup. May we all close eyes and find the Almighty within ourselves! May we all walk on the road to the Infinite, Immortal Bliss!
