That I should make much of myself (Song 71) by Rabindranath Tagore
That
I should make much of myself and turn it on all sides, thus casting coloured
shadows on thy radiance - such is thy maya.
Thou
settest a barrier in thine own being and then callest thy severed self in
myriad notes. This thy self-separation has taken body in me.
The
poignant song is echoed through all the sky in many-coloured tears and smiles,
alarms and hopes; waves rise up and sink again, dreams break and form. In me is
thy own defeat of self.
This
screen that thou hast raised is painted with innumerable figures with the brush
of the night and the day. Behind it thy seat is woven in wondrous mysteries of
curves, casting away all barren lines of straightness.
The
great pageant of thee and me has overspread the sky. With the tune of thee and
me all the air is vibrant, and all ages pass with the hiding and seeking of
thee and me.
That
I should make much of myself and turn it on all sides, thus casting coloured
shadows on thy radiance - such is thy maya.
The
poet has come to realize that God is everywhere. Earlier, the poet searched for
spiritual strength, but now understands that God is present in all of creation.
Now, the poet sings about God's presence and the illusion called
"maya."
The
poet explains that God made people as part of His grand design, but because of
maya (illusion), humans forget their true origin. This makes people proud,
stopping them from seeing God's light clearly. The poet believes everything in
creation, including himself, is part of God. But this illusion of separation
creates sorrow, as he feels God is somehow weakened inside him.
God's
maya acts like a veil between humans and their Creator, hiding His full power
and bright light. This illusion makes God feel mysterious and hard to reach.
Through this illusion, God makes it challenging for people to find spiritual
truth. The various shapes and colors in the world mask the Creator, continuing
this game of "hide and seek."
The
poet now sees a truth about God that not everyone notices: people are part of
God's divine essence. Though made by God, we still long to be close to Him.
Many search for this holy connection, but the illusion (maya) keeps them
looking for a deeper bond with God. Even as time goes on, people keep seeking
God, unaware that He is within them all along.
"You
create a separation within yourself and call it your individual self. This
separation has grown within me," the poet says.
The
poet's search for God has come to an end. He realizes he is one with the
all-powerful God and part of His greatness. By creating the illusionary world,
God placed a barrier within Himself, creating humans with a path to find God
within themselves. Even in this world, they can feel God's power inside, which
is what makes them truly great and timeless.
 by Rabindranath Tagore){kind=link}