Mystic Verses of Sant Dadu Dayal: Recognize the Path to Your Beloved, O Traveler
While alive one can transcend bodily qualities,
While alive one can be liberated,
While alive one can shed all karmas.
That truly is called liberation.
While alive once can cross over the uncrossable,
While alive can one go to the other shore,
While alive one can find a universal Master
And can attain discrimination and wisdom.
If the meeting is not accomplished while alive,
If contact is not made while alive,
If the Lord of the Universe is not found while alive,
Then one is simply drowned.
Only while living is one freed, says Dadu;
There is no liberation after death.
If one were to be freed after death,*
Then all would come under that freedom.
(*Since death is common to all people,
all would then be said to be equally free after death.)
Some say one can secure an abode
in paradise after death;
They preach liberation after death.
They are indeed making the world insane, O Dadu.
The Path Towards God (Satya-Raam)
Recognize the path to your Beloved, O traveler,
and take the route of the anguished lover in separation.
One who treads as the living dead
crosses the impassable ghat.
Keep the Master’s grace on your head
and reflect on his pure teachings.
Develop love and devotion with endearment
and keep the thought of the Creator always before you.
Try to merge yourself into God, like water into water.
Fix your mind within by following the path
of the Sound Current.
A yearning will arise; make then an intense
and anguished call.
Repeat the Name of your Beloved day and night,
again and again.
Watching, carefully place your foot;
the path is like the edge of a sword.
With care in thought, word and deed,
you shall cross to the other shore, O Dadu.
Prayer of Dadu
My life is for the sake of Your Name, O Lord.
All my means are nothing by Your true Name.
Your Name alone is my charity, virtue,
penance and pilgrimage,
And this alone is my service and worship:
Such, indeed, is my vow.
My Vedas and holy scriptures, as well as purity
and discipline, are Your Name alone.
This alone is my knowledge and contemplation;
there is nothing else.
By the Name alone do I control lust and anger
and transcend bodily limitations.
Say it openly – concealed and revealed – God is my all.
Eternally redeemed and redeemer of all is Your Name;
You alone are my support.
Dadu has merged with it in perfect unison;
By holding to the Name, he has crossed
the ocean of the world.
-- from Panch Vani Granth of Sant Dadu Dayal
