Baul Philosophy

The Bauls of Bengal, widely known for their music which constitutes an important tool on the path of self-realization, can be regarded as the representatives of the religion of man—of the religion of humanity whose highest divinity is the human being. Baul philosophy embraces the positive streams of numerous faiths and philosophies, recognizing the ultimate unity of the Supreme Being whose eternal abode rests within man, at the core of the human heart. The Bauls therefore strive for attainment to the supreme divinity within their own inner being, referring to the divine truth as the man of the heart who sits enshrined in the temple which is the human body. Through their songs the Bauls articulate the matters pertaining to their spiritual quest, outlining the path of accomplishment in simple yet deeply meaningful words. The Baul thus is much more than the skillful singer-dancer for whom the public takes him at a superficial glance: the Baul is an ardent striver for the ultimate truth, a great thinker, a philosopher whose immense and profound knowledge has been attested on the touchstone of human spiritual experience. The present book offers for the first time an insight into the spiritual aspect of Baul culture in which the tenets of the Baul’s spiritual search are revealed from the insider’s point of view. From the basic level to increasingly intricate stages, the procedures and methods of questing as well as their inner signification are introduced one after the other in systematic progression. The essentials of sadhana, of the journey towards realization are explained in easy language so as to make them comprehensible to anyone interested in the processes of human spiritual emancipation. Baul philosophy as such represents an open-minded spiritual tradition, an ocean of human spiritual thinking in which the many rivers embodying diverse religions are brought to confluence in perfect harmony in one single faith called the religion of man. It is this intrinsic integrity of a philosophy that elevates man to the highest seat, realizing that the sought-after treasure rests in each and every human being, which makes Baul sadhana a spiritual approach of universal relevance. The tenets of Baul philosophy, if settled in the minds of all humans, are capable of extending exceedingly beneficial effects upon mankind as a whole, guiding man towards fulfillment of his utmost quest and bestowing upon humanity the gift of peace, of joy, of bliss and all-encompassing harmony.