The Way of the Guru

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Produced by Blue Trumpet for Radio 2RRR, Jove’s Pearls is a collection of verse 'chiefly in the Australian vernacular' by Jovial Mark ... painter, poet, dilettante, and ratbag, hailing from the deep south of South Australia...

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The poem...

I shall sit at the feet of my Guru
By the banks of the Hooghly River
I shall sit at the feet of my Guru
And bathe in the waters of Ma Ganga

I shall worship my godlike Guru
By the banks of the Hooghly River
I shall worship my godlike Guru
And bathe in the waters of Ma Ganga

I shall offer my Guru Prasadam
By the banks of the Hooghly River
I shall offer my Guru Prasadam
And bathe in the waters of Ma Ganga

I shall follow the precepts of my Guru
By the banks of the Hooghly River
I shall follow the precepts of my Guru
And bathe in the waters of Ma Ganga

I shall learn the way of Lord Vishnu
By the banks of the Hooghly River
I shall learn the way of Lord Vishnu
And bathe in the waters of Ma Ganga

I shall learn the way of Lord Shiva
By the banks of the Hooghly River
I shall learn the way of Lord Shiva
And bathe in the waters of Ma Ganga

I shall learn the way of Lord Rama
By the banks of the Hooghly river
I shall learn the way of Lord Rama
And bathe in the waters of Ma Ganga

I shall work as a punkah wallah
By the banks of the Hooghly River
I shall work as a punkah wallah
And bathe in the waters of Ma Ganga

I shall strive ‘gainst my Guru’s enemies
By the banks of the Hooghly River
I shall strive ‘gainst my Guru’s enemies
And bathe in the waters of Ma Ganga

I shall cook his food in a dekchi
By the banks of the Hooghly River
I shall cook his food in a dekchi
And bathe in the waters of Ma Ganga

I shall treat his final illness
By the banks of the Hooghly River
I shall treat his final illness
And bathe in the waters of Ma Ganga

I shall burn my Guru’s body
By the banks of the Hooghly River
I shall burn my Guru’s body
And bathe in the waters of Ma Ganga

I shall become, myself, Satguru
By the banks of the Hooghly River
I shall become, myself, Satguru
And bathe in the waters of Ma Ganga

Music...

Music featured in the poem comes Tilak Shyam by Ravi Shankar.

Credits...

Radio 2RRR 88.5FMProduced by Blue Trumpet for Radio 2RRR
Original verse by Jovial Mark
Adapted for radio by James Benn
With special thanks to Johnny Boxer
Poems interpreted by…

  • Johnny Boxer
  • James Benn

Introductions and credits by Amie Maguire