Harry Aveling & Sudha Joshi

"Sahaj Prakash: The Brightness of Simplicity" adds a new voice to the small number of Indian women devotional poets available in English.

Born in 1725, Sahajo Bai was a disciple of the great Delhi teacher, Charandas. In accordance with her name which suggests "the essence of simplicity", her poetry is marked by a natural style and direct emotional expression. Its major themes are human experience, service of the guru, and the company of the holy ones. As the American scholar Daniel Gold has written: "Sahajo’s guru-devotion is legendary". The poetry delicately hints at the complexity of the relationship between the young woman devotee and her powerful Master.

Contents: Introduction.1. The Guru. 2. The Cultivation of Detachment. 3. Commitment to Truth. 4. On Satchidananda and Other Matters. 5. On Knowledge and Devotion. 6. Poems on Days and Numbers. 7. Ragas on the Word.… (altro)