William Blake was born in London on the 28th of November in the year 1757. He was an amazing poet, painter, philosopher, illustrator, and visionary. He passed away in the year 1827, leaving behind 50 years of wonders for society to behold.
Being able to commemorate the life of great seers is a gift that we humans are blessed with. His writings speak of the spirit, a power within us which shall be awakened with the arrival of the Holy Ghost, or as he aptly described, the Primordial Mother. The most admirable quality of William Blake was the boldness with which he asserted the truth. Even though the world had declared him a lunatic, he did not alter or bend the truth to please others. He stayed firm in his beliefs and faced all the problems of the material world. The true power lies within, and only those with a heart of gold can understand his perceptions of life. As Sahaja Yogis [Realized Souls], we must learn from him the lesson of courage, speak the truth with utmost assurance, and spread the message of God irrespective of our position in modern society.
Shri Mataji has shared with us many times her appreciation of his art. In the recollections of older Sahaja yogis, we can see where they speak about his prophecies predicting the exact moment they were in. His work remains to be a timeless creation, so beautifully written that even the greatest of egos have been compelled to accept the majesty of it.
William Blake is still remembered to this day for his amazing works. He depicted the spiritual meaning of the Bible and was able to show the true forms of angels and devils alike. From a very young age, William Blake was receiving visions from the divine of angels on the trees and the face of God by his window. Although his parents tried to avoid this they were able to see a depth in their child, they didn’t send him to school and instead sent him to go and learn the arts of painting and engraving.
He created many paintings that showed the devils for what they are with many evil heads and bat-like wings, surrounded by death and flames. He showed the true state of certain people like the Popes stuck in hell. He spoke of not sympathizing with the negativities even though the whole of society around him at that time thought he was mad and condemned his "gothic" art. He adamantly stated that he would not change his artwork for publicity and admiration because he wanted to show the truth and the consequences of going against it.
Many realized souls who were born in England, had to live with the corrupted perception of Christianity that was not true to Shri Jesus Christ at all. And of course one of those great souls was Shri William Blake. But despite that, Shri William Blake was like a fire that shines its light on the darkness, so that people can no longer fall into its trap. William Blake announced that the misperceptions of Shri Jesus were wrong; time and time again, through his beautiful paintings and poems, Blake expressed the true meaning of Shri Jesus’s message.
William Blake is famously known for his poems and paintings. Some poems that he wrote include 'Jerusalem,' 'London,' 'The Lamb,' 'A Poison Tree,' and 'The Tyger.'
Jerusalem
“And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon Englands mountains green:
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On Englands pleasant pastures seen!
And did the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here,
Among these dark Satanic Mills?
Bring me my Bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!
I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In Englands green & pleasant Land."
William Blake’s poem ‘Jerusalem’ which is still sung till this day talks of the state of the world in Kali Yuga, with the normal life of people who deny the truth and do not worship the Divine, which forms a sort of hell to live in, therefore he wisely called it the satanic mills. Each one of Blake’s poems has a unique meaning behind it. In the last two stanzas of the song Blake has written:
Among these dark Satanic Mills?
Bring me my Bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!
I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In Englands green & pleasant Land."
This means that one should never be happy to live in the satanic mills but instead strive for the truth of Heaven on Earth.
"And did the Countenance Divine, Shine forth upon our clouded hills? And was Jerusalem builded here, Among these dark Satanic Mills?" These lines from Blake's poem Jerusalem indicate that once upon a time England was Jerusalem. Yet, in the present day of this poem, those hills have become grey, polluted, even devilish one might say. So Blake readies himself in this stanza to build anew what was once heaven in this world.
"I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem, In England's green & pleasant Land."
So, here William Blake promises to together rebuild Jerusalem. To build a new and holy Jerusalem, in the heart of the universe. Shri Shiva who is the lord of the heart of the universe is Shri Brahmānda-hṛid which means 'the heart of the universe'. Another name of Shri Shiva is Shri Nava-yerūsalem-īshwara, which means 'the ruler of new Jerusalem'. This indicates that Shri Shiva is the ruler of Jerusalem that Blake promises to re-establish Jerusalem in England. And that is why Blake promised that New Jerusalem will be established in England with Shri Nava-yerūsalem-īshwara who is Shri Shiva as its ruler.
"You are sitting in the heart of the universe. This is the heart of the universe and what do you have to give to the world? The Spirit. The Spirit resides in your heart and that’s why Blake said that England has to become Jerusalem, because it is the heart. That means Spirit has to come in the attention of the universe..." - Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
However, there is still something left to understand from this great message, Shri William Blake brought us.
"I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In England's green & pleasant Land."
In these lines it says that Shri William Blake will pick up the sword and fight with it, yet in the third line "Till we have built Jerusalem" it says we. Not just Shri William Blake, but more people. So, who are these people with a special responsibility to help out Shri William Blake in this quest?
It is us Sahaja Yogis and Realized Souls. Therefore, it is our dharma and duty to fulfill this promise and ultimately please Shri Mataji.
"I hope so, Jerusalem will start showing its results in this country. You can do it, you are the only ones who can do it, nobody else. You are entitled to that. God has chosen you to be born here, with a purpose." - Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
A Poison Tree
I was angry with my friend;
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I waterd it in fears,
Night & morning with my tears:
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night.
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine.
And into my garden stole,
When the night had veild the pole;
In the morning glad I see;
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.
In the poem 'A Poison Tree' William Blake speaks about the dangers of harboring ill feelings for others, even one's enemy. Although the speaker eventually destroys his enemy, he becomes a deteriorated personality, who lived in misery. His 'righteous anger' was used to grow and nourish a demented and twisted tree that is full of hate and malice. The tree would never be able to help anyone now because even if it wanted to, its fruits can only harm.
The Tyger
Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread
feet?
What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp,
Dare its deadly terrors clasp!
When the stars threw down their spears
And water'd heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make
thee?
Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Infant Joy
I have no name
What shall I call thee?
I happy am
Joy is my name
Sweet joy befall thee
Pretty joy!
Sweet joy but two days old
Sweet joy I call thee
Thou dost smile
I sing the while
Sweet joy befall thee!
Ah Sunflower!
Ah Sun-flower! weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the Sun:
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the traveler's journey is done.
Where the Youth pined away with desire,
And the pale Virgin shrouded in snow:
Arise from their graves and aspire,
Where my Sun-flower wishes to go.
The poem “Ah Sunflower” by William Blake talks about the spirit which is symbolized as the sunflower who is beyond time, but as a seeker still is stuck in the Maya of it, but eventually receives its realization.
The line “Where the traveler's journey is done”, represents the seeker as the traveler and the journey being done means finding god or in simpler terms receiving self-realization. In the modern world today this poem is not seen with any spiritual meaning, it is just explained to be the life of an ordinary sunflower. This is not the actual meaning of the poem as all the concepts are symbolizing very deep meanings and courses. “And the pale Virgin shrouded in snow: Arise from their graves and aspire, Where my Sunflower wishes to go.”
In this context the pale Virgin shrouded in snow represents the holy ghost or Shri Kundalini Mata, the snow represents Shri Ganesha with his mother ready to help with the awakening of his mother in the sunflower which is the seeker. The youth pined away with the desire symbolizes the seekers who desire to achieve their realization, these seekers are said to arise from their graves, meaning they are undergoing their second birth and leaving behind the falsities they carried before like the six enemies, now as they are leaving these enemies behind it can be understood that these enemies have been defeated and left behind in the “grave.”
At the end of the poem, William Blake says “ Where my sunflower wishes to go” which really means where the seeker's spirit wishes to go, to God, to the truth.
“The glory of Christianity is to conquer by forgiveness" -William Blake
Blake is clearly saying that “The glory of Christianity” or we could say the glory of Christ’s incarnation was conquering by forgiveness. As Sahaja Yogis, we can understand why. Shri Jesus always forgave the humans for whatever they did to him. They blamed him, they corrupted his teachings and they even tried to kill him. But Shri Jesus still forgave them. That’s why William Blake has said that the glory of Christ’s incarnation is to conquer by forgiveness.
Shri William Blake also referred to Shri Jesus as the ‘Holy Lamb of God’, in his visionary song Jerusalem.
“And was the holy Lamb of God,
On England’s pleasant pastures seen!”
Shri William called Shri Jesus the Holy Lamb of God not only here but many times in his work such as Milton and Songs of Innocence and Experience. Shri Jesus who is Sakhat Shri Ganesh is a pure child. He was called a lamb to represent that he was an innocent child. The lamb’s soft, and white fur represents his purity. So, “Holy lamb of God” means the holy Son of God.
The Lamb
“Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Gave thee life & bid thee feed.
By the stream & o’er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing wooly bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice!
Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Little Lamb I’ll tell thee,
Little Lamb I’ll tell thee!
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb:
He is meek & he is mild,
He became a little child:
I a child & thou a lamb,
We are called by his name.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
Little Lamb God bless thee.”
In 'The Lamb' by William Blake, Shri William Blake expresses something deep through symbolism. In this poem, William Blake is talking to a little lamb and is showing the lamb (or showing us) the splendor and artistry in God’s creations. He describes it to the lamb in these lines:
“Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing wooly bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice!”
He also shows how God takes care of this lamb, in this part of the poem:
“Gave thee life & bid thee feed.
By the stream & o’er the mead;”
At the end of the poem, he tells the lamb who created him. He says:
“Little Lamb I’ll tell thee,
Little Lamb I’ll tell thee!
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb:
He is meek & he is mild,
He became a little child:"
As shown here, Shri William Blake tells that the one who created the Lamb is called by the same name. This is, of course, God Almighty in the form of Shri Jesus. He tells the lamb that his creator is meek* and mild. This is just a depiction of the great qualities of Shri Jesus. And then we have the line “He became a little child:" Shri Ganesh Sakshat Shri Jesus is the eternal child. He is the God that Shri William Blake praised so elegantly in this beautiful poem.
This quote of Shri Mataji eloquently explains the meaning of this poem:
“Well now look how beautiful this Shri Ganesha's [work] is there. Ganesh! Shri Ganesha, this is a perpetual child, an eternal child.”
- Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
The Smile
There is a Smile of Love
And there is a Smile of Deceit
And there is a Smile of Smiles
In which these two Smiles meet
And there is a Frown of Hate
And there is a Frown of disdain
And there is a Frown of Frowns
Which you strive to forget in vain
For it sticks in the Hearts deep Core
And it sticks in the deep Back bone
And no Smile that ever was smild
But only one Smile alone
That betwixt the Cradle & Grave
It only once Smild can be
But when it once is Smild
Theres an end to all Misery
William Blake’s artwork can be truly understood when our attention is on Sahasrara. There are so many more poems, paintings, stories by William Blake that can be talked about but suffice to say, that Shri William Blake who is sakshat Shri Kala Bhairava was a great incarnation.
“He was an Incarnation of Bhairavnath. That’s whom you call St. Michael, or St. George, who is as you know the Saint Angel of England. That’s why He had to incarnate and for Him, this was His role, to talk about Divine in an open, fearless manner. He had to use symbolic language, He had to use. It’s not difficult to understand Him at all; if you are a realized soul, you’ll read through it, sometimes laughing, sometimes weeping, enjoying the whole drama, what He has tried to explain."
- Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
William Blake is also known for his paintings. Some famous paintings of his are “The Ancient Days”, “The Angels Hovering Over the Body of Christ in the Sepulchre”, “Newton”, and “The Ghost of Flea”.
“He has even given exact places where I would be living. First, we were living in Surrey Hills. He has written that the first would be lit in Surrey Hills. And there's a second house which he has described, he has described it that it will be on the Tyburn brook, behind the Kensington Gardens. Now, this house is exactly there. Also, he has described how he called them 'Golden Builders" because the Sahaja yogis have come and painted My house with gold somewhere in the. The first ashram of Sahaja Yoga was started in Lambeth's Vale where I laid the foundation for and it was a house bombed in the war. He has written that the foundations will be laid in Lambeth's Vale in a house which is broken down up to this limit."
"We have a great poet-prophet in England called William Blake. He prophesized as such during this time, the men of God, means the seekers, will be born. This special category of people will become prophets and they will have the capacity to transform." -Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi