Prose-section 9
In plain words
Having cultivated the disciplines, the seeker who longs to know the Self approaches a true teacher: wise, pure, free of desire, established in Brahman, and spontaneously compassionate. Like a fire with no fuel, the teacher rests free of agitation; to sincere seekers he is the closest friend. The disciple bows with love, serves with reverence, and asks: “Master, friend of those in distress, receive my salutation. I struggle in the frightening ocean of becoming. Let your compassionate glance be the ship that brings me ashore. Misfortune and wrongdoing have left me dry, and the forest fire of samsara surrounds me. Again and again I ask for the cooling rain of your compassion. Great souls like you bring good to the world as spring does. Having crossed fear, you help others cross. Just as moonlight cools the world heated by the sun, you naturally shelter those who seek refuge. I am frightened, afflicted and without another shelter. I entrust to you my deliverance from birth and death. “Let the nectar of your teaching quickly cool this suffering. Your words flow from the direct experience of Brahman’s bliss. Blessed are those who receive even a little of your gracious regard. How can I cross? What must I do? Where is my refuge? I do not know. Please remove this suffering and save me.” The knower of Brahman looks compassionately upon this peaceful, receptive disciple who has sought refuge and is ready to follow the instruction. He first assures the disciple of safety, then begins to unfold the truth.
Word for word
The qualified seeker, endowed with the disciplines already stated and wishing to attain the truth of the Self, approaches the true teacher. This teacher removes the bondage of becoming for those who take refuge in him; he is wise, knows all, is stainless, has conquered desire, and is foremost among knowers of Brahman. He rests in Brahman like a fire without fuel, is an ocean of compassion without any ulterior cause, and is the closest friend of the good who approach him. Bowing with love and rendering varied service with reverence, the seeker begins to ask the pleased teacher what he wishes to know: “Master! Friend of the afflicted! Salutations. I have fallen and struggle in the terrifying ocean of becoming. I ask you to bring me ashore by the ship of your compassionate glance. Ocean of compassion! Dried by the wind of misfortune—wrongdoing—and scorched by the forest fire of samsara burning around me without an escape, I repeatedly pray that you cool me with a shower of compassion’s nectar. Good ones such as you are peaceful and great-souled, do good to the world like spring, have crossed the fear of the ocean of becoming and remove others’ fear. As the moon naturally protects with its cool rays the world scorched by the sun’s heat, it is your nature to protect and save without a cause those like us who fear becoming and seek refuge. Therefore the responsibility for saving me also from this round of birth and death rests with you: frightened by samsara’s heat, afflicted and without another refuge, I have sought shelter. “Master! I am scorched by the flames of the forest fire called the suffering of becoming. Quickly bathe me with the stream of nectar that is your teaching, issuing from the vessel of your pure mouth, supremely cool through the direct experience of Brahman’s bliss. Are not those accepted as recipients of even a little of your gracious glance blessed? How shall I cross this ocean of becoming? What is the means? What refuge is there for me? I know none of these. You must remove this suffering of samsara and save me.” The teacher who knows Brahman regards the disciple, who laments thus because he cannot bear samsara’s forest fire, has properly sought refuge and is peaceful in mind and obedient to instruction, with a cool gaze full of compassion. Granting freedom from fear, he compassionately begins to teach the truth.