I am neither to be understood as prana nor as the five kinds of breath,
nor the seven materials nor the five sheaths;
neither am I the organs of speech, elimination, motion, grasping, or procreation.
In the form of blissful consciousness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva. 2
Words by Adi Shankara. Translation and image Copyright © 2022 by Donald C. Traxler aka Donald Jacobson Traxler.
I am neither mind nor intelligence nor ego nor memory,
neither ears nor tongue nor nose nor eyes.
Neither am I the sky nor the earth, nor fire nor wind.
In the form of blissful consciousness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva. 1
Words by Adi Shankara. Translation and image © 2022 by Donald C. Traxler aka Donald Jacobson Traxler.
I am pleased to say that we have passed the milestone of 142,000 visits to this poetry/writing/photography blog. This is largely thanks to would-be pirates in the US, Sweden, Russia, France, Germany, and a couple of other countries. It is what it is.
Those of you who have followed this blog for a while will know that photography is an important part of it. I am currently involved in a major project to return to my roots in film photography, because I feel that the results are much more inspiring. It is also much more work. The easy way, though, is not always the best way.
I have a full and busy life, and on a personal level you could say that I have a tiger by the tail. I would not, therefore, take on such a project unless I felt that it was justified. I do think so, and you may expect to see more and more examples of film photography in this blog. I hope that you will enjoy them.
As always, thanks to all of you (even the pirates) for your continued interest and loyalty.
The photo above is me at the age of thirty. Shot, of course, on film.
Text and image Copyright © 2022 by Donald C. Traxler aka Donald Jacobson Traxler.
Text and image Copyright © 2022 by Donald C. Traxler aka Donald Jacobson Traxler, ꮓꮘꮟ-ꭴꭶꮤ.
अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकाररूपो
विभुर्व्याप्य सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणि ।
सदा मे समत्वं न मुक्तिर्न बन्धः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥ ६ ॥
ahaM nirvikalpo nirAkArarUpo
vibhurvyApya sarvatra sarvEndriyANi.
sadA mE samatvaM na muktirna bandhaH
chidAnandarUpaH shivo'ham shivo'ham. 6
I am without change, I am without form.
Permeating the basis of all, I am everywhere and behind all the senses.
I am always in equilibrium, and have neither liberation nor attachment.
In the form of blissful consciousness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva.
Words by Adi Shankara. Translation and image Copyright © 2022 by Donald C. Traxler aka Donald Jacobson Traxler.
न मे मृत्युशङ्ग्का न मे जातिभेदः
पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्म ।
न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥ ५ ॥
na mE mrityushangkA na mE jAtibhEdaH
pitA naiva mE naiva mAtA na janma.
na bandhurna mitraM gururnaiva shiShyaH
chidAnandarUpaH shivo'ham shivo'ham. 5
I have neither death nor its fear, neither caste nor its distinctions,
nor have I father or mother, or any birth.
I have neither relations nor friends, neither guru nor disciple.
In the form of blissful consciousness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva.
Words by Adi Shankara. Translation and image Copyright © 2022 by Donald C. Traxler aka Donald Jacobson Traxler.
न पुण्यं न पापं न सौख्यं न दुःखं
न मन्त्रो न तीर्थो न वेदो न यज्ञाः ।
अहं भोजनं नैव भोज्यं न भोक्ता
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥ ४ ॥
na puNyaM na pApaM na saukhyaM na duHkhaM
na mantro na tIrtho na vEdo na yajñAH.
ahaM bhojanaM naiva bjojyaM na bhoktA
chidAnandarUpaH shivo'ham shivo'ham. 4
I am neither virtue nor vice, neither pleasure nor pain,
neither mantra nor holy shrine, neither scriptures nor sacrifices.
Neither am I enjoyment nor its object, nor the enjoyer.
In the form of blissful consciousness, I am Shiva, I am Shiva.
Words by Adi Shankara. Translation and image Copyright © 2022 by Donald C. Traxler aka Donald Jacobson Traxler.
