The Spiritual Philosophy of Tagore

By Pranay

A MUST-READ SPIRITUAL GUIDE! In the pantheon of both poets and sages, Rabindranath Tagore stands apart— a great literary personality but also a towering beacon of mysticism. His uniqueness comes from a blend of the highest poetic creativity and the deepest mystic spirituality. Tagore' s unique qualities were also evident through the way he seamlessly bridged and unified literature with deep mystic wisdom. His was a poetic vision that led people towards a timeless, ageless truth . . . a truth that lay beyond ordinary definitions. In this invaluable guide, we go beyond the brilliance of Tagore the writer and touch upon Tagore the mystic philosopher. Distilling the power and purpose of Tagore' s beautifully timeless spiritual life and message, this book carries Pranay' s original insights that enumerate the life lessons that are housed in Tagore' s works and words. Lessons that are practical yet sublime, paving the way to truly courageous living.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fingerprint Publishing
• Release date: Sep 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9789354407765

Book preview

CHAPTER-1

The Courage to

Walk Alone

Rabindranath Tagore has composed over 2,000 masterful songs in Bengali. Several of these are meant to instil true spiritual qualities: those of courage, perception of beauty, and so on.

The theme of courage itself is key: Tagore considered it to be one of the most foundational aspects of living life in a truly dynamic manner. He believed that the essential life-force within us is fearless, endless in its power! Rediscovering this life-force is the very essence of spirituality. And finding courage is the ultimate antidote to confront all sorts of situations and circumstances in life. If there is true spiritual courage, everything becomes possible! Else, we would be living in a half-hearted situation.

Now, one of the most important and well-recognized of Tagore’s songs or Rabindra Sangeet is the one which is called "Ekla Cholo Re, which in English would translate to If nobody responds to your call, simply go your own way, walking alone."

Never shirk from walking alone! The person who can walk alone with inward power, not clinging to anything, simply flowing dynamically, simply moving on as if possessed by a higher vision and higher mission, that sort of person is able to create new doors or windows of perception. Such a person is able to create new opportunities. Tagore himself says: If I can’t make it through one door, I will go through another door, or I’ll make a door. Something will come no matter how dark the present!

Instilling the Power of Courage

We have to understand that Tagore is not just a saintly Kaviguru (poet-sage) as he is known. He is, in fact, a person who is prolific as an instiller of the power of courage deep within our hearts! We can find this right through his greatest works. In all his compositions, we can find this constant refrain of the courageous spirit! Something in this appealed deeply to world audiences and went on to make him the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, in the year 1913.

Now, courage is something which is admired worldwide. And Tagore’s poetic songs (2,232 of these in Gitabitan) were not just about spirituality or divine beauty as such. Hidden deep within them was the message of true spiritual courage. Hence, their ultimate appeal! It is this instillation of hopeful courage deep within the hearts of people that creates true bliss in life, that allows us to go beyond our immediate circumstances and beyond our psychological fears. The secret to all true prayerfulness and soulfulness in life is the quality of courage. It is what releases us from all bondages.

The Spirit of Courage

Tagore says, The tree is a winged spirit released from the bondage of seed, pursuing its adventure of life across the unknown (Fireflies,1928).

Here, he is saying that even trees are comprised of spirit. To reach their full height, they have to move forth, they have to break out of the seed stage! Then only can they pursue life’s adventures. In the same way, we have to move out of our fear, our hopelessness, and spring forth beyond that. Then we grow to our full height, just like trees. Then we are able to find something beautiful in whatever it is we need to pursue. Then we are able to go beyond all conditionings. And going beyond conditionings is the first step of going beyond all circumstances. No circumstance can limit us! Let no circumstance distract you from your spiritual joy, your spiritual vision, your spiritual mission.

Tagore’s Courage

Tagore himself was dauntless and very brave. He never shirked from interacting with people from all walks of life. On the one hand, he engaged with great freedom fighters of India such as Mahatma Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose. On the other hand, he engaged with world luminaries such as Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, and numerous others. He was very dynamic himself. In all these interactions, he expressed himself totally: with all his courage, with all his wisdom! And in a way that is a lesson for us: give freely of whatever you have, whatever talent you have, don’t feel afraid to engage with the world!

Tagore had it within him to interact at a very deep level with people worldwide. He shared a very deep relationship with the people of Japan (they were also moved by his Zen-master like demeanour), with the people of China (his book Stray Birds is to this day one of the most popular in China), with the people of South America (he is an icon in many ways there), and also with the Middle East (for example, he visited the Iranian Parliament, the Majlis). In Europe, of course, Tagore had become exceedingly famous during his own lifetime.

The point is this: there was more to Tagore than just being a poet or a composer of songs. He was a universalist in the real sense! He lectured in Japan, the United States, and the world over. And he was often very critical in his views. For example, despite his great reputation in Japan, he did not hesitate to criticize Japan for its invasion of Manchuria in China. He openly critiqued the erroneous actions of Japan—a country he loved! That requires guts and deep integrity.

Tagore always showed courage, and thereby he teaches us courage. And at the basis of the lesson of courage is this feeling that there is this sublime Power, the sublime Truth beyond our material circumstances. Allow that to give you strength. Allow that to give you a feeling that you have limitless courage within you! Never get bound down by feelings that you are a mere mortal.

Courage Is Limitless

Tagore says: "No flame burns forever. Light is puffed out by the wind. Often the lamp itself is shattered. But the truth is that every extinction of light is to prove that