Rabindranath Tagore is an outstanding Indian writer, poet, artist, and composer. He was one of the first Asians to be nominated for a Nobel Prize in literature.
A little biography
Before looking at quotes from Rabindranath Tagore, it’s useful to find out a little information about his life course. Tagore was born in Calcutta on May 7, 1861. His family was rich and famous. Rabindranath was the 14th child. His mother died when he was 14 years old. In the soul of a teenager, this sad event left a deep mark.
Rabindranath began to compose poems at the age of 8 years. He received a good education, studied at several private schools, including the Bengal Academy. For several months, Rabindranath traveled to the north of India and was very impressed with the local beauties.
At age 17, Tagore published his first epic poem, The History of Sweat. In the same year, another event occurred - he went to London to begin his studies in law. Having stayed there for exactly a year, Tagore returned to India and began to engage in writing.
In 1883 he married, and also published his second poetic collection, Morning Songs. The first was released in 1882 under the title "Evening Song".
In 1899, Rabindranath, at the request of his father, assumed responsibility for managing the family estate in East Bengal. Local landscapes left indelible impressions in the poet's soul and became the main object of his work of that period. This stage is considered the heyday of the poetic talent of Rabindranath. The collections of poems Golden Rook (1894) and Instant (1900) gained great popularity.
In 1915, Rabindranath Tagore, whose quotes will be discussed below, was awarded the title of knight. However, later, for political reasons, the poet refused him.
Since 1912, he traveled extensively in America, Europe, the Middle East. Throughout his life, Tagore suffered from various diseases. In 1937, he lost consciousness, after which he was in a coma for some time. In 1940, his condition worsened; on August 7, 1941, he died.
Tagore was very successful in his homeland. The modern hymns of India, as well as Bangladesh, are written specifically on his poems.
About pessimism
The following quote from Rabindranath Tagore compares the habit of seeing only negative aspects in life with a predilection for alcohol:
Pessimism is a form of mental alcoholism.
It is difficult to disagree with this definition of an Indian writer. Indeed, in many ways these two dependencies - alcoholism and negativism - are very similar. When a person becomes addicted to alcohol, he can no longer live without it. He needs a new dose of alcohol every day. So it is with sadness. Accustomed to seeing only the bad in life, a person eventually turns into an avid pessimist. Every day he grumbles and complains.
There is another point of contact between alcoholism and pessimism, the connection between which is described in this quote from Rabindranath Tagore. A person who drinks alcohol ceases to adequately assess reality. Like a pessimist. He sees everything only in dark colors, and this prevents him from sensibly assessing the state of affairs.
About silence
This quote from Rabindranath Tagore talks about how you can cleanse your own soul:
The dust of dead words came to you: wash your soul with silence.
Silence is a spiritual practice that has existed since time immemorial in various religions: Buddhism, Christianity, various religious movements of the East. The vow of silence has always been the prerogative of monks and clergy, with it they dedicated their souls to the Lord. However, sometimes holding back the flow of words is a wise decision for ordinary people.
The practice referred to in the above quote from Rabindranath Tagore refers primarily to the silence of the soul. Conversations take up a large amount of energy that a person could use for more noble purposes. For example, for self-development.
Silence is an excellent way to cope with internal discord and restore spiritual strength. Therefore, the quoted quote from the Indian writer Rabindranath Tagore will be of interest to anyone who would like to achieve the purification of their soul through silence.
About family
The following words of the writer refer to the family:
The family is the basic unit of any society and any civilization.
The role of the family has always been important to human society. It is in it that those moral and worldview qualities of a person are laid down that will determine his whole future life. It is on how much each individual family is morally healthy, and the morality of the whole society will depend.
The family affects the course of events in society. It is in it, as if in a mirror, that all the main processes relating to the economic, social, demographic spheres are reflected.
Rabindranath Tagore: quotes and aphorisms on different topics
Consider a few more interesting statements by an Indian writer. Everyone will be able to draw from them something for themselves.
A lot of people can say good things, but very few can listen, because it requires the power of the mind.
I have stars in the sky ... but I miss the little lamp that is not lit in my house. Of course, I could have done without flowers, but they help me maintain respect for myself, because they prove that I am not shackled hand and foot by everyday worries. They are evidence of my freedom.
The fact that I exist is a constant miracle for me: this is life.
Blessed is he whose glory does not shine brighter than his truth.
In fact, it is often our moral strength that often enables us to do evil very successfully.
Fidelity in love requires abstinence, but only with it can one know the innermost charm of love.
Poems
The lyrics of the Indian poet confirm the truth that poetry is a philosophy. His works are also rich in colorful images. The verses of Rabindranath Tagore will be of interest to the modern reader, as they consider eternal problems. For example, the following work tells of a simple peasant dreaming of an exceptional life:
"Ordinary person"
At sunset, with a stick under his arm, with a burden on his head,
A peasant walks home along the shore, along the grass.
If after centuries, by a miracle, no matter how,
Returning from the kingdom of death, he will appear again here,
In the same guise, with the same bag,
Confused, looking around in amazement, -
What crowds of people flock to him at once,
How everyone will surround the alien, keeping an eye on him,
How eagerly they catch every word
About his life, about happiness, sorrows and love,
About the house and neighbors, about the field and the oxen,
About the thoughts of his peasant, worldly affairs.
And a story about him that is not famous for anything,
Then it will seem to people a poem from poems.
And this poem tells about spiritual callousness and indifference:
"Karma"
In the morning I called the servant and did not get through.
He looked - the door was unlocked. Water is not poured.
The tramp did not return to sleep.
Without him, unfortunately, I can’t find clean clothes.
Whether my food is ready, I don’t know. And time went on and on ...
Ah well! Oh well. Let it come - I will teach a lazy person.
When he came in the middle of the day, greeting me,
Hands folded respectfully
I said evil: "Get out of your sight right away,
I don’t need loafers in the house. "
Staring at me stupidly, he silently listened to the reproach,
Then, having hesitated with the answer,
Having hard words uttered, he said to me: "My girl
Today she died before dawn. "
He said and hastened to get to work soon.
Armed with a white towel,
He, as always so far, diligently cleaned, scraper and rub,
Until the last thing was done.
Tagore understood the world and what was happening in it in a special way. The poet was admitted to those areas where, according to him, "the great Mother cradles the heart of the Universe." Quotes and poems by Rabindranath Tagore will be interesting not only to those who are fond of Indian culture. They will enrich the spiritual world of every connoisseur of poetry and wise utterances.