The Light of Wisdom has Died (Gyan Mata Sita)
by Bhikshu Mahapragya
chorus:
Wind came through the window, the light just went out.
Oh mother! How shall I close this window?
The eighteen good human qualities are missing,
While trying to find them, the light just went out. (1)
Exceedingly beautiful, the jewel of understanding is lost;
Searching searching, you cannot find it; the light just went out. (2)
The house of the five elements [i.e. the human body], it is so beautiful,
It may be beautiful, but it has no grace; the light just went out. (3)
A window may have a bolt, and you can make a window seem closed,
But there is no bolt of understanding; the light just went out. (4)
Oh devotees, listen to what the followers of the Buddha have said:
[Peering out] through the window, the five senses have spoilt the mind. (5)
(Dhammalok & Amritanand 1984: 66)