The Heart of God: Prayers of Rabindranath Tagore

by Herbert F. Vetter, Rabindranath Tagore

Awarded the Noble Prize for Literature in 1913. Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) is considered the most important poet of modern-day India. He was also a distinguished author, educator, social reformer, and philosopher.
This inspiring collection of Tagore's poetry represents his "simple prayers of common life." Each of the seventy-seven prayers is an eloquent affirmation of the divine in the face of both joy and sorrow. Like the Psalms of David, they transcend time and speak directly to the human heart.

Genres: Poetry, India, Spirituality, Fiction

112 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1997

Reviews

[Ten Cats Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF

Some of these prayers are extremely beautiful:

...Let Your love, like stars, shine in the
darkness of my sleep and dawn in my awakening. ...

But mostly, this collection bores me silly. Tagore was awarded the Nobel for his writings in 1913, and I am not diminishing the importance of this accomplishment. But I can't stay awake while reading this! It's the style -- so passive.

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Tagore - what's not to love? Clearly, one of the most overlooked poets/artists in western culture. He is to India who Dante is to Italy.

[Kes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be still, my heart, these great trees are prayers.

I rediscovered Rabindranath Tagore, and I love his poems. This was a short collection of his poetry. I loved how religious they are - hopeful? Confident? in this existence of his God.

Notable ones were:

- Trees (just one line, reproduced above)
- My Greetings (My Guide, I am a wayfarer on an endless road, my greetings of a wanderer to You.)
- Hold My Hand (I love the repetition of "Hold My Hand", though I felt it could be emphasised more)
- This is My Prayer: Give me the supreme confidence of love, this is my prayer - the confidence that belongs to life in death, to victory in defeat, to the power hidden in the frailest beauty, to that dignity in pain which accepts hurt but disdains to return it.
- Time to Sit Quietly
- The Rebel: Rebelliously, I put out the light in my house, and Your sky surprised me with its stars.
- Not Altogether Lost (like "Hold My Hand", I liked the repetition).
- The Solitary Wayfarer: You are the solitary wayfarer in this deserted street. Oh, my only Friend, my best Beloved, the gates are open in my house. Do not pass by like a dream.
- The Grasp of Your Hand
- The Fullness of Peace
- The Stream of Life: I feel my limbs made glorious by the touch of this world of life. And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.
- Tears of the Earth: We rejoice, O God, that the tears of the earth keep her smiles in bloom.
- Let My Country Awake: Into that haven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
- Worship: From the words of the poet, people take what meanings please them; yet their last meaning points to You.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous, but I seem to have only scratched the surface...I need more.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you think you can't appreciate the prayers of someone who practices a different faith than you do, think again. Tagore has a humility and insight that touches the heart.

[Seán · Rating 5 out of 5]

This immensely valuable set of prayers have their own unique intimate trope. They lend real insight into the authors spirit and are strong evidence for why he deservedly was awarded the Nobel.

[WritingWithCrayons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who are you, reader, reading my poems an hundred years hence?
I cannot send you one single flower from this wealth of the spring, one single streak of gold from yonder clouds.
Open your doors and look abroad.
From your blossoming garden gather fragrant memories of the vanished flowers of a hundred years before.
In the joy of your heart may you feel the living joy that sang one spring morning, sending its glad voice across a hundred years.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot Development The plot of this work develops gradually, without any sudden jumps or unexpected turns. The transitions between chapters are logical and consistent with the general theme. Readers who prefer a methodical approach to storytelling will find it interesting. Follow the link to see a full breakdown of the plot structure. >>> https://script.google.com/macros/s/AK...

[Emma Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. Spirituality at its finest. Tagore has discovered a treasure that all of us seek our whole lives - a relationship with the Divine; the God of the Universe. Beautifully woven with images of nature and humanity, this collection of poems will infuse wisdom and truth into your soul. Absolutely stunning.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply wonderful

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice collection. Didn’t quite resonate with me but there’s some great stuff in here.

[Cristina Chițu · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Denisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forever friend

I was very young when I first read Gitanjali and it was a feeling as if somebody was talking to me. I still have the same feeling today...

[Jen]

I really wanted this book because I love the often-quoted poem by Tagore that begins, "It is for the union of you and me that there is light in the sky.." However, I hated the poems in this book. The language was not flowing, every single one was about "You," (God), and I just didn't find that they had universal appeal. I would love to know where the above poem is published.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic collection; excellent and judicious editing. I read and re-read this collection, almost daily.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful poem prayers.