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  • 7/29/2019 Poetry by Frithjof Schuon

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    Poetry by Frithjof Schuon

    religioperennis.org /FSchuonPoetry.html

    During the last three yea rs of his life Frithjof Schuonwrote approximately 3,500 short poems in his mothertongue German. These poems, which have beencalled metaphysical music, cover every possibleaspect of spiritual doctrine, practice and virtue, aswell as the role and function of beauty. They expressevery conceivab le subtlety of spiritual and moralcounsel and this is not merely in general terms, butwith uncanny intimacy, detail and precision. They

    express the same unerring sharpness of intellect,profundity, comprehensiveness and compassionwhich one finds in the range of Schuons better-knowndialectical writings. Some of the poems areautobiographical, with reminiscences of placesexperienced: Basle and Paris, the fairy-tale s treetsof old German towns, Morocco and Andalusia,Turkey and Greece , the American West. Othersevoke the genius of certain peoples, such as theHindus, the Japanese, the Arabs, the AmericanIndians, and also the Cossacks and the Gypsies. Yetother poems elucidate the role o f music, dance, andpoetry itself. Occasionally, the superficiality of the

    modern world comes in for biting, and sometimesfiercely humorous, comment:

    A worldly banquet: chandeliers glitterIn the large hallAnd brilliant society, ladies and gentlemen,Sit down for the meal.They talk of everything and they talk of nothingThe wine is red,And so are the f lowers. But no one, no oneThinks of death.

    Adastra and Stella Maris: Poems by Frithjof Schuon

    represent the heart of Schuons German poems. Thesetwo books, combined in one vo lume, express, in thewords of Annemarie Schimmel, a mystery that liesbeyond the normal human expressionHere we listen tothe thinker who, far from the complicated scholarlysentences of his learned prose works, sings the s imple

    http://religioperennis.org/FSchuonPoetry.html
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    Painting of the Virgin by Frithjof Schuon

    prayers of the longing soul The German, which perfectlyreflects the most ancient canons of the prosodic norm,carries the echo of a nightingale in the gardens ofParadise. Each poem is a diamond sparkling and clear,an architectural masterpiece full of light. The beauty ofthis poetry, which irresistibly combines profundity andsimplicity, touches upon that luminous center where theway of knowledge and the path of love converge.Readers familiar with Schuons many books and articleswill find here the same elements that characterize the

    rest of his vast corpus: universality, essentiality,primordiality; yet in a form that makes his message moreaccessible. These lyrics speak to the heart, the mindand the soul with compelling immediacy. The spiritualtraveler may carry this book for a lifetime and notexhaust its content, because its content is theinexhaustibly beautiful life of the spirit.

    William Stoddart's introduction to the German Poems of Frithjof Schuon.

    The f ollowing poems are extracts f rom Adastra & Stella Maris, Poems by Frithjo f Schuon(German- English edit ion), World Wisdo m, 2003.Four ot her volumes have also been published by the same publisher more recently: Songs without N ames Volumes I-VI, Songs without N amesVolumes VII-XII,World Wheel Volumes I-IIIandWorld Wheel Volumes IV-VII.

    Zum Eingang

    Es floss aus meinem Herzen mancher Sang; Ich sucht ihnnicht, er ward mir eingegeben. O mg dergottgeschenkten Harfe Klang Die Seele lutern, uns zumHimmel heben

    Mge das Licht der Wahrheit sich verbinden Mit Liebe,unsrem Streben zum Geleit; Und mgen unsre SeelenGnade finden

    Den Weg von Gott zu Gott in Ewigke it.

    As an Entry

    Out of my heart flowed many songs; I sought themnot, they were inspired in me. O may the sound ofthe God- given harp Purify the soul and raise us toHeaven

    May the light of Truth unite With love to accompanyour striving, And may our souls find grace

    The pa th from God to God in eternity.

    Adastra

    Ad astra zu den Sternen strebt die Seele,Die eine ungestillte Sehnsucht drngt.O Weg der Wahrheit, Schnheit, den ich whleDes Gottgedenkens, das die Seele trnkt.

    Du bist das Lied, das alles Sehnen stillt DasGnadenlicht; schein in das Herz hinein! Der Herr ist unsreZuflucht, unser Schild

    Sei du mit Ihm, und Er wird mit dir sein.

    Adastra

    Ad astra to the stars the soul is striving,Called by an unstilled longing.O path of Truth and Beauty that I chooseOf God-remembrance that pervades the soul!

    Thou art the song that stills all longing The Light ofGrace; shine into my heart! The Lord is our Refuge,our Shield

    Be thou with Him, and He will be with thee.

    Memento

    Wenn du auf Gottes Boden stehst, Wenn du auf GottesWege gehst, Bedaure niemals, was vergeht DieTrume, d ie der Wind verweht.

    Der Wahrheit Boden schwanket nicht; Der Weg des Heilsist Trost und Licht. Vor Falschem mach die Augen zu; ImWahren ist der Seele Ruh.

    Wohl dem, der sich nicht tuschen lsst; Auf einemFelsen steht er fest. Auf deinem Weg schau nicht zurck;Denn zeitlos ist des Herzens Glck.

    Es kann nicht anders sein: es muss Auch Arges gebenund Verdruss. Der Allerhchste sei dein Hort; Der Liebe

    Memento

    When thou art standing on Gods ground, When thouart walking on Gods path, Never regret what isfleeting Dreams the wind sweeps away.

    The ground of Truth can never falter, The path ofsalvation is solace and light. Before falsehood closethine eyes; The souls repose lies in the True.

    Blest is he who is not deceived; He stands fast upona rock. On thy way do not look back; For timeless isthe hearts happiness.

    It cannot be otherwise: Wrongs and vexations mustexist. Let the Most High be thy Refuge; The final

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FWorld-Wheel-Volumes-IV-VII-Frithjof%2Fdp%2F1933316314%2Fsr%3D1-1%2Fqid%3D1164169121%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks&tag=philosophiape-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FWorld-Wheel-Volumes-I-III-Frithjof%2Fdp%2F193331625X%2Fsr%3D1-1%2Fqid%3D1164169070%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks&tag=philosophiape-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSongs-Without-Names-Volumes-VII-XII%2Fdp%2F1933316241%2Fsr%3D11-1%2Fqid%3D1164168986&tag=philosophiape-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSongs-Without-Names-Volumes-I-VI%2Fdp%2F1933316233%2Fsr%3D1-1%2Fqid%3D1164168920%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks&tag=philosophiape-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FAdastra-Stella-Maris-Frithjof-Writings%2Fdp%2F0941532569%2Fsr%3D1-1%2Fqid%3D1162342175%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks&tag=philosophiape-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325http://religioperennis.org/documents/stoddart/FS-Poems.pdf
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    ist das letzte Wort.

    Wahrheit und Treue sind die Kraft Die alles Gute wirkt undschafft. Kampf ist wohl das Gesetz der Zeit; Von Friedensingt die Ewigkeit.

    Wahrheit und Treu sind eine Macht, Daraus ist unser Herzgemacht. Und Licht und Liebe sind ein Sang Der vor derZeit in Gott erklang.

    word belongs to Love.

    Truth and faithfulness are the force That begets allgood and makes it prosper. Struggle is indeed thelaw of time; Eternity sings of Peace.

    Truth and faithfulness are a power Of which our heartis made. And Light and Love are a song Thatresounded in God, before time began.

    Serenitas

    Bei Gott, dem Hchsten Gut, bist du geborgen. DesBsen Werk ist eitel Trug und Schein. So lass denKummer, mach dir keine Sorgen. Sei du bei Gott, und Erwird bei dir sein.

    Nie sollst du deinen Blick vom Einen wenden; Es ist desLebens Zweck und Sinn. Das Weltgetriebe ist in GottesHnden Und nicht in deiner Macht; schau du nicht hin.

    Zuerst Ergebenheit, dann Gottvertrauen; Der Weg zu Gottist nicht so weit. So magst du, Seele, in die Zukunft

    schauen Und in das Licht der Ewigke it.

    Serenitas

    In God, the Sovereign Good, thou art secure; TheEnemys work is but a va in delusion. So leave asidethy care, be not distressed; Be thou with God, andHe will be with thee.

    Turn not thy gaze from Him who is the One; He isthe aim and meaning of thy life. The turmoil of theworld is in Gods Hands, Not in thy power; pay noheed to it.

    First resignation, and then trust in God; The way to

    God is not so far. May thou, O soul, look toward thefuture And toward the rad iance of Eternity.

    Veritas

    Zuerst die Wahrheit, die uns alles klrt; Dann unserWerden, was die Wahrheit kndet. Und dann der Name,der mit Licht uns nhrt Dann auch die Schnheit, die insEine mndet.

    Sei du bei Gott, und Gott wird bei dir sein; Nie sollst dudeinen Blick vom Einen wenden. Die Wahrheit wirkt in

    deines Herzens SchreinUnd alles andre ist in Gottes Hnden.

    Veritas

    First the Truth, that clarifies all things; Then ourbecoming what the Truth proclaims. And then theName that nourishes with Light Then Beauty, flowingback into the One.

    Be thou with God, and God will be with thee; Turnnot thy gaze from Him who is the One. The living

    Truth will act in thy hearts shrineAll e lse lies in the Hands of God.

    Der Schleier

    Traumschleier Welt: wer kann dein Spiel verstehen? EinWunderwerk aus tausend Traumgeweben, Oft wildbewegt wenn Shicksals Winde wehen; Wer kann derdunklen Isis Schleier heben?

    Denn dies Gewand verbirgt und offenbart; Du siehst nichtdas Geheimnis, doch der Wille Des Schpfers zeigt sich

    in der bunten Flle, Die sich um unsichtbare Mitte schart.

    Was ist alledem der letz te Sinn? Die uerung zurInnerung: wir sollen Bewirken, wenn des Daseins Bilderrollen, Dass sie uns -gebe Gott- nach Innen ziehn.

    Woher wir kommen und wohin wir gehen In dieserTrumerei? Du sollst nicht fragen. Das Weltrad mag sichum das Eine drehen - Dieweil wir letz tes Sein im Herzentragen.

    The Veil

    Dream- veil world: who can understand thy play? Awonder-work woven of a thousand dreams, So o ftenwildly stirred when the winds of destiny b low; Whocan lift the veil of the dark Isis?

    For this garment at once covers and revea ls; Thoucanst not see the secret; but the Creator's Will shows

    Itself in the co lorful fullness That gathers round theunseen Center.

    What is the ultimate meaning of this? Outwardness inview of inwardness; As the images of existense rollpast, We must cause them - God willing - to drawus inward.

    Whence do we come, and whither do we go In allthis dreaming? Thou shoudst not ask. The world-wheel may circle round the One - While we carryultimate Be ing in our Heart.

    Scheich Achmed

    Was ist der Glaube, was ist frommes Tun? DerSchriftgelehrsamkeit gestrenge Noten - Der Streitdarber, was recht, was verboten? Im Groen Einen solldie Seele ruhn.

    Shaikh Ahmad

    What is faith, what is pious conduct? The sternqualities of scholarship - Disputing what is lawful,and what is not? In the Great One the soul shouldrest.

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    Ein Heiligtum, das Gott uns hat gegeben: Es ist nichtFernes, es ist nahes Leben; Wo s ind die Hhen, wo dieGtter thronen? Im Leib des Menschen will die Gottheitwohnen.

    Highest.

    A sanctuary that God has given us: It is not far, it isclosest life; Where are the heights where the godsare enthroned? In man's body the Godhead wantsto live.

    Advaita

    My ist eine Ausstrahlung des tm,Denntm strahlt; Es ist das Hchste Licht.In My liegen Welten mit den ZyklenDoch sie sind Trug, berhrentm nicht.

    Die Welten, Zyklen, kommen und vergehen VortmsWirklichkeit kann nichts bestehen.Was ihr erlebt von Dingen, Zeiten, Orten,Ist Traum. Dies ist die Lehr in wenig Worten.

    Indessen, Mensch: vontm fiel ein FunkeGeheimnisvoll in de ines Herzens Strom.Von My bleibt dein Tiefstes unverblendetEs ist nichts anderes als tm

    Shnti Om.

    Advaita

    Maya is radiation fromAtma,ForAtma radia tes: It is the Highest Light.In Maya lie the cycles of the worlds -But they are illusions, they touch notAtma.

    Worlds and cycles arise and vanish - Before Atma'sreality nothing endures.What you experience of places, times and thingsIs but a dream. This the doctrine in few words.

    However, O man: from Atma fell a sparkMysteriously into the stream of thy Heart.Thy deepest depth is not blinded by Maya -It is none other thanAtma.

    Shanti Om.

    Guru

    Guru ist Brahma. Ihr sollt nicht verstehn, Der Meister se idie Gottheit. Seht den Mond Mit seinem Schein - er ist dieSonne nicht; Jedoch sein Leuchten ist der Sonne Licht.

    DerAvatara soll die Gottheit sein?Ihr solltet es begreifen: Ja und nein.

    Guru

    Guru is Brahma. But you should not conclude TheMaster is the Godhead. Look at the moon. How itshines - it is not the sun, Although its brillancecomes from the sun's light.

    AreAvatara and the Godhead one?You should understand: the answer is both yes and

    no.