Opening Thy Palm
I had gone a-begging from door to door in the village path when thy golden chariot appeared in the distance like a gorgeous dream and I wondered who was this King of all kings!
My hopes rose high and methought my evil [hungry] days were at an end, and I stood waiting for alms to be given unasked and for wealth scattered on all sides in the dust.
The chariot stopped where I stood. Thy glance fell on me and thou camest down with a smile. I felt that the luck of my life had come at last. Then of a sudden thou didst hold out thy right hand and say “What hast thou to give to me?”
Ah, what a kingly jest was it to open thy palm to a beggar to beg! I was confused and stood undecided and then from my wallet I slowly took out the least little grain of corn and gave it to thee.
But how great my surprise when at the day’s end I emptied my bag on the floor to find a least little grain of gold among the poor heap. I bitterly wept and wished that I had had the heart to give thee my all.
Rabindranath Tagore was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What is the gold that you grow in when you gift? Can you share a personal story of a time you were able to shift from scarcity to abundance? What helps you deepen in abundance?
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14 Past Reflections
On Mar 17, 2023 Michael Maxwell Steer wrote :
Here's my translation of a Kabir /Tagore poem
In this tree a single bird
with dancing song–almost unheard–
swoops & thrills its deepest leaves
with the enchanting tune she weaves.
Who knows its purpose? For at night
she comes, and leaves by dawn’s first light.
For whom she sings, if not for me,
who knows? It may be nobody.
Suddenly present, as if from nowhere …
she may as quickly disappear.
I was not told about this tree,
far less the bird – nor have I seen
either its colour or its form,
nor e’en what dance it may perform;
yet its etheric call I hear –
its ballet, tho unseen, is clear.
Beside an abandoned path, this place
is missed by those who’re ruled by haste.
Few there are who know the way,
and fewer still who choose to stay.
Fellow seeker, Kabir says,
don’t invite the race of fools
who’ll drown the songs and cut the branches;
rather, merely leave them clues.
One or two within your days
may note your path and share your ... [View Full Comment]
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On Oct 28, 2022 wrote :
MY greatest need – every 5 minutes – is to have the heart to open myself to THEE-YOU, and not hang-on to even a shred of ‘control’ over my ‘own life’. How will I keep *wanting* to re-surrender...? - while my hands keep-on-keeping-on with the usual chores-of-life...?
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On Jul 23, 2019 Jitu wrote :
"I bitterly wept and wished that I had had the heart to give thee my all." It made me think what Tagore is referring to is what efforts are we giving to life or putting into life? A little bit here and a little bit there and then wondering what life is giving us in return? What Tagore is suggesting is put your best foot forward and give it all you have and you will have abundance in return. Life is demanding more from us then we are giving to it!
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On Jul 23, 2019 Angela wrote :
I have never heard this story until just now reading it and then listening. I am grateful and enriched and humbled. Thank you.
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On Jul 23, 2019 Sunil, Bangalore wrote :
Always Gift-Giving has a multiplier ripple effect on both Gold within and Silver without.It reveals the latent natural qualities of the life force-the eternal soul and the reverberating consciousness full of love, energy, compassion, gratitude, peace........... Entering within the essence of my own self is slowly eradicating desires of the physical wants-needs to create an ocean of plenty of everything.Connecting with Innernet thru Surat-Shabad Yoga earnestly, honestly and responsibly may be the secret to be experienced.
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On Jul 23, 2019 Patrick Perching Eagle wrote :
“To give is perhaps the greatest gift we can receive.” }:- ♥ï¸ anonemoose monk, proverbs on the hoof
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On Jul 23, 2019 Carl Riedy wrote :
My youngest grandson, 6-month old Finn, is a gift of joy. I find thatthe more time I spend with him, whether it be holding him, nurturing, showing him butterflies, smiling or acting silly, the morejoy he gives me. I believe that love flows in and out of you and I am learning from Finn that joy does as well.
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On Jul 23, 2019 JediDiah wrote :
Reading this makes me think of G-d, my beloved Jesus, the King . We are here to let go and let G-d do and be all things through us. When we hold back, stay closed, only open a little, only give somewhen we can give all of ourselves, we willweepbitterly and ask why, why didn't I give my whole self? why didn't I give my all to my beloved? why did i let my ego prevail?
"Thy golden chariot appeared in the distance" the beginning ofmy awakening, I see the king. He has come to me. I imagine allwill be mine, he will showerme with all Icouldpossibly want for. "My hopes rose high and me thought my evil [hungry] days were at an end"
"Ah, what a kingly jest was it to open thy palm to a beggar to beg! I was confused and stood undecided and then from my wallet I slowly took out the least little grain of corn and gave it to thee." I am surprised to learn itisnotso, the purpose of His coming is for me to give to Him myself --willI give myself to Him---themeaning... [View Full Comment]
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On Jul 21, 2019 David Doane wrote :
It is in giving that we receive. What we receive in giving is personal satisfaction, peace, happiness. I had a nicely made copy of the Serenity Prayer on wood. A woman struggling painfully with co-dependency issues was admiring it. I gave it to her. I shifted from scarcity -- I had only the one copy of the prayer -- to abundance -- I was full in giving it to her. I am always able to shift from scarcity to abundance -- the issue is whether or not I do. What helps me deepen in abundance is those times when I give of what I have or am, and realize that I feel better and have more when I give. I think giving has always resulted in greater abundance for me.
1 reply: Sonali | Post Your Reply
On Jul 20, 2019 Kristin Pedemonti wrote :
The gold that grows in my experience is layered: trust, friendship, light, love.
I am in the midst once again of a shift from scarcity to abundance. I sometimes get caught up in society's or culture's definitions and lose my way for a while: my anxiety rears up as I look at my savings for my future. In those moments, I am then usually reminded of the abundance all around me: right now, while on tour facilitating healing from trauma workshops:
I'm reminded by the dozen friends and friends of friends who have offered me housing, connections to organizations in service to survivors, shared meals with me, shared deep conversations, advice, hugs, their time. Wow, such abundance! It often does not equal literal gold, but gold in other forms. And if we are focused too closely on literal gold we miss the other forms.
So your passage comes at the perfect time, reminding me to again see the abundance in other forms.
I am in the midst once again of a shift from scarcity to abundance. I sometimes get caught up in society's or culture's definitions and lose my way for a while: my anxiety rears up as I look at my savings for my future. In those moments, I am then usually reminded of the abundance all around me: right now, while on tour facilitating healing from trauma workshops:
I'm reminded by the dozen friends and friends of friends who have offered me housing, connections to organizations in service to survivors, shared meals with me, shared deep conversations, advice, hugs, their time. Wow, such abundance! It often does not equal literal gold, but gold in other forms. And if we are focused too closely on literal gold we miss the other forms.
So your passage comes at the perfect time, reminding me to again see the abundance in other forms.
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On Jul 20, 2019 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
RabindranathTagore is my most beloved poet. His poems and songs have enriched my inner world. I am very grateful to Tagore for offering such gifts to me and to many people in the world.
By giving we receive. This message is offered by all wisdom traditions. My offering gifts to others has always enriched my mind and heart. Offering help to others, listening to others empathically and doing small acts of kindness everyday creates inner abundance of joy, contentment, and gratitude in my life. Such are my everyday blessings.
Many times I have opened my palm and have begged for help from others.
People have been very kind to fill my bowl.Their offerings have filled my heart with gratitude and have created inner abundance in my heart. Everyday becomes a Thanksgiving and a ThanksreceivingDay! Nature's abundance delightsmy heart everyday. Songs of birds, light of the sun and the moon, gentle touch of the wind, and sweet fragrance of flowers are my never failing friends. How blessed I am!
... [View Full Comment]