WAS SURDAS BLIND?

 

Was Surdas Blind?

There are many who are well versed in Vedanta. Many who lecture on Vedanta. When asked, they will tell us that our target is Brahmam. The common person does parayanam regularly. Even a child learns to recite stothras. Even a child will reverentially acknowledge the existence of  God and with anjali mudra will say “ummachi உம்மாச்சி ”. Vedanta, parayanam of stothras, ithihasas and puranas are only a means. They are not the goal.   Neither is our aim Brahmam. Loving devotion  to Brahmam is our objective. We must yearn to serve Brahmam with love and devotion. This loving service is the target sought by one and all seeking freedom from the mundane samsara.

We show our affection by action. This is nothing new. Actions speak more than words. Our love for those who are near and dear to us is revealed by our deeds. It is the unspoken rule in this world that we show our affection through our action. So, how does one show love for the Supreme? It is easy to show reverence to the one who is lofty , but it is harder to express love for the Supreme. If we think of Him as the Supreme Cause of the Universe, we are overcome with awe.  We venerate Him, eulogize Him, but do we love Him? Standing with bowed head , with anjali mudra, feeling humbled before the Supreme Power is but a step we take in the right direction, but this is not love. This is fear that arises out of respect and this very fear shows that we have not understood His loving and compassionate nature.  If we realized His love for us and the efforts He takes to uplift us, to free us and to make us attain eternal happiness, we would not stand with bowed head with fear as if we are standing in the presence of a sovereign, but we would stand with tears in our eyes, our heart brimming with love and our senses focused only on the object of our love! Our one and only true love!

The very same sense organs with which we must love Him and stay true to Him is also a hurdle we must overcome. The objects we perceive in this world are external. We use our senses to perceive objects that are external. Our eyes are our window that we look through and perceive those objects that are external. The very same eyes are also the windows to the soul. The soul here is our antaryami, the Supreme Brahmam who loves us and is always with us no matter what form we take. Whether we take birth as human, animal, bird, plant or as insects, He is always with us as our antaryami. That which is inside is prathyak ப்ரத்யக் and that which is outside is parak பராக். Hence the Tamil phrase , “பராக் பார்க்காதே”

Now we come to the title of this essay. Was Surdas blind? His eyes were closed to the outside world. He did not see parak பராக், but his eyes were open to his soul. He perceived that which must be perceived with his eyes. Through his eyes he experienced the Supreme Brahman. He saw the divine form of Lord Krishna. Surdas was not blind, we are the ones who are blind!