If you want to know the power
Of the holy name of Rama,
Spend your time with lovers of God.
To repeat the name constantly
May be hard and bitter at first,
But don’t stop until it becomes sweet
Like the luscious mango to the taste.
When the time comes for the body
To be shed, the name of Rama
Will take you safely through death’s door.
So keep singing Rama, Rama
In your mind, and the Lord of Love
Will take you safely from this shore
Of death to immortality.
Meera (c. 1498-1547) is one of India’s best-loved mystic poets, famous for her songs to Krishna. This passage is a free rendering by Easwaran for meditation, and is published in his spiritual anthology, “God Makes the Rivers to Flow.” The audio recording is by Eknath Easwaran’s wife, Christine Easwaran.