The New Life: The song of the New Life

By late October 1949, Dr. Ghani had composed the New Life Song in Hindi, and after some corrections by Baba, Baba asked him to translate it into English.  [Baba had 1000 copies printed with the original Hindi version and English translation printed on both sides for distribution among His lovers]

Often sung, the Song of the New Life was as follows (the first couplet was dictated by Baba):

Listen to the silent words of Meher Baba;
The life-story of all lovers of God is based on the practice of these words.
If you are serious about living this New Life,
Then wholeheartedly renounce this ephemeral existence.

We have taken to this life, in which we rely only on God;
In this, our will [to do or die] is strengthened by the oath taken;
We are merrily singing the song of hopelessness;
We are inviting all calamities and difficulties.

We neither wail over lost hopes, nor complain about broken promises;
We neither covet honor, nor shun disgrace;
Backbiting we know not, nor do we fear anyone;
This is now the color of our New Life.

No confusion in the mind now, nor any ties left;
Pride, anger, lust and greed we know not.
We have no religion, nor care for physical and mental fads.
The Sheikh and the Brahmin [typifying all castes and creeds] are now sailing in the same boat.

There is no small or great now, for us all;
The questions of disciple, Master or Godhood no longer arise.
Brotherliness or fellow-feeling is the link that exists,
And this contributes to our present enjoyment of suffering.

This world or the next, hell or heaven, we no longer bother about;
Shaktis and siddhis, occultism and miracles, we no longer think of.
All these false impressions [thoughts] for us have been purged from the mind.
What has value and importance for us now, is to live in the active present.

Dear ones, take seriously the words of Baba when he says:
“Although now I am on the same level with you all,
Yet all orders from me, good, bad, extraordinary,
You should all carry out immediately, leaving the result to God.”

Even if the heavens fall,
Do not let go the Hand of Truth.
Let despair and disappointment ravage and destroy the garden [of your life];
Beautify it once again by the seedlings of contentment and self-sufficiency.

Even if your heart is cut to bits, let there be a smile on your lips.
Here I divulge to you a point worth noting:
Hidden in your penniless hands is Treasure untold;
Your beggarly life will be the envy of kings!

God exists indeed, and true are the Prophets.
Every cycle has an Avatar, and every moment has a wali.
For us, however, it is only hopelessness and helplessness.
How else should I tell you what our New Life is?

(LM, 2810) and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Life_(Meher_Baba)

 

Listen to the original Hindi version here – http://avatarmeher.org/multimedia/songs/20150122%20Larry_Recordings_Gopi_House/New_Life_Song.mp3

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