Personal Experience

Author: [India] Rabindranath Tagore
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1992-08-01
Features: The papers published in this book are on the subject of elucidation. I have not used philosophical teachings or explored them from an academic perspective, perhaps this is more suitable for me. I grew up in a family that regarded the Vedas as daily worship, and my father set an example for me long ago. Throughout his long life, my father maintained a close relationship with the divine, but he did not neglect his responsibilities to the world, nor did he diminish his strong interest in worldly affairs. Therefore, I hope these papers will provide Western readers with an opportunity to encounter the ancient spirit of India, which is reflected in our scriptures and still manifests in our lives today. The importance of a person's words is not judged by their words but by their spirit—in history, the spirit that accompanies the growth of life is revealed. We understand the true meaning of Christianity by observing its various aspects in contemporary life—it may be different from early Christianity in many important ways. For Western scholars, the great religious scriptures of India may seem to have only nostalgic and archaeological interest, but for us, they hold great significance in life. We must believe that when the mummies of human thought and desires are displayed in labeled cabinets, they lose their significance even under the guise of scholarly knowledge. The living language born from the experience of great souls cannot be fully explained by any logical system; it can only be illustrated through individual life experiences and enriched with mystery in their new discoveries. The poems of the Upanishads and the teachings of Buddha have always been my spiritual wealth, and they have given me infinite vitality. I have incorporated them into my own life and my words, as nature has a unique meaning for me; similarly, I expect others to verify it for themselves. My personal proof, however, must have its value because it is individual. Perhaps I should also add that these articles were compiled in a continuous form for the convenience of publication. Some of the views were selected from several Bengali essays, where I was accustomed to discussing with my students at my school in Bolpur, Bengal. The translations I used were made by my friends Babu Shadish, Chandra Roy, and Babu Ajit Kumar Chandra. The essay "Testifying in Action" in this collection was translated from the Bengali essay "Karma Yoga" by my nephew Babu Surendra Nath Tagore. On this occasion, I would like to express my gratitude to Professor James H. Woods of Harvard University for his fair evaluation, which encouraged me to complete this collection and read most of it before I went to Harvard. I would also like to thank Mr. Ernest Rice for his help, who enthusiastically suggested revisions and proofreading. Regarding the pronunciation of Sādhanā, it should be noted that the emphasis should be on the ā, which is the broad sound of this letter.