Sankalpa of Paramahansa Satyananda

Sankalpa of Paramahansa Satyananda

I am an invisible child of a thousand faces of love, That floats

over the swirling sea of life, Surrounded by the meadows of the

winged shepherds, Where divine love and beauty, The stillness of

midnight summer's warmth pervades. Life often cuts at my body

and mind And though blood may be seen passing, And a cry

might be heard, Do not be deceived that sorrow could dwell

within my being Or suffering within my soul. There will never be

a storm That can wash the path from my feet, The direction from

my heart, The light from my eyes, Or the purpose from this

life. I know that I am untouchable to the forces As long as I

have a direction, an aim, a goal: To serve, to love, and to

give. Strength lies in the magnification of the secret qualities Of

my own personality, my own character And though I am only a

messenger, I am me. Let me decorate many hearts And paint a

thousand faces with colours of inspiration And soft, silent sounds

of value. Let me be like a child, Run barefoot through the

forest Of laughing and crying people, Giving flowers of

imagination and wonder, That God gives free. Shall I fall on

bended knees, And wait for someone to bless me With happiness

and a life of golden dreams? No, I shall run into the desert of life

with my arms open, Sometimes falling, sometimes

stumbling, But always picking myself up, A thousand times if

necessary, Sometimes happy. Often life will burn me, Often life

will caress me tenderly And many of my days will be

haunted With complications and obstacles, And there will be

moments so beautiful That my soul will weep in ecstasy. I shall

be a witness, But never shall I run Or turn from life, from

me. Never shall I forsake myself Or the timeless lessons I have

taught myself, Nor shall I let the value Of divine inspiration and

being be lost. My rainbow-covered bubble will carry me Further

than beyond the horizon's settings, Forever to serve, to love, and

to live As a sannyasin (monk, renunciate). Swami Satyananda Saraswati