Carriers of Popular Indian Culture
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live inwardly guided by devotion to God. For this, one does not need scriptures,
religious books, dry philosophy, or verbiages as examples of the elevated ones
are sufficient to guide one to the path of divinity.
Nothing is greater than the person and no austerities or penances are
needed in spiritual pursuits. Good things in life are not to be given up, but
cultivated positively toward the spiritual goals. Worldly love is necessaiy for
experiencing heavenly love, and sexual instincts are not to be despised or
controlled. Aloofness is not a sign of a pious life and communication with God
and His creatures is necessary. Liberation is possible only when one is alive and
has a body and there is no afterlife, hell, or heaven. Freedom is to be sought not
just from outside attractions, but also from inner desires and antipathies. Unless
the bonds of necessity are overcome, liberation is not possible. Day-to-day life
has to be natural, spontaneous, simple, and full of vigor. Harmony has to be
sought between the past, present, and future to assure continuity of life.
Harmony also has to be sought between worldly and spiritual pursuits, mundane
and religious needs, and inward and outward existence. The tradition of the guru
is important and one can learn even from the leaves, trees, wind, fire, rivers, and
mountains. Sadhana is the sole basis of living and results in a carefree and
happy life. Both persistence and change are necessary for the continuity of life
and popular culture.
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Satish Sharma
Notes
1 Tagore, Rabindranath, The Religion o f Man. Boston: Beacon Press, 1931. For more on
Baul songs and their philosophy, See Bhattacharya, Deben, Songs o f the Bards o f Bengal
New York: Grove Press, 1969; Datta, Rajeshwari, “The Religious Aspects o f the Baul
Songs o f Bengal.” Journal o f Asian Studies, 37, 1978, pp. 445-455; Capwell, Charles,
“The Esoteric B elief o f the Bauls o f Bengal.” Journal o f Asian Studies, 33, 1974, pp.
255-263; McDaniel. June, The Madness o f Saints: Ecstatic Religion in Bengal. Chicago:
University o f Chicago Press, 1989.
i
2 The article was entitled “The Baul Singers o f Bengal.” See Tagore, The Religion o f
Man , op. cit., 1931, pp. 209-221.
3 Sen, K. M., Hinduism: The World's Oldest Faith. Baltimore, Maryland: Penguin Books,
1961, p. 103.
4 Lopez, Donald, Religions o f India in Practice. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton
University Press, 1995, p. 192.
5 Ibid, p. 188.
6 Sen, Hinduism, op. cit., 1961, p. 105.
7 Sen, K. M., “The Baul Singers o f Bengal,” op. cit., 1931, p. 211.
8 Sen, Hinduism, op. cit., 1961, p. 105.
9 Sen, “The Baul Singers o f Bengal,” op. cit., 1931, p. 216.
10 Tagore, The Religion o f Man, op. cit., 1931, p. 117.
11 Sen, “The Baul Singers o f Bengal,” op. cit., 1931, p. 216, p. 217.
12 See Reymond, Lizelle, To Live Within. New York: Doubleday and Co, 1971.
13 Sen, “The Baul Singers o f Bengal,” op. cit., 1931, p. 216-217.