Question

i keep and pass and turn again who does this refer to? what does it mean? and the poem is a 'the brahma'​

Answer 1

Answer:

Brahma  

By Ralph Waldo Emerson

If the red slayer think he slays,  

 Or if the slain think he is slain,  

They know not well the subtle ways  

 I keep, and pass, and turn again.  

Far or forgot to me is near;

 Shadow and sunlight are the same;  

The vanished gods to me appear;  

 And one to me are shame and fame.  

They reckon ill who leave me out;  

 When me they fly, I am the wings;  

I am the doubter and the doubt,  

 And I the hymn the Brahmin sings.  

The strong gods pine for my abode,  

 And pine in vain the sacred Seven;  

But thou, meek lover of the good!

 Find me, and turn thy back on heaven.

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

I will take one stanza at a time in order to unravel the depth and beauty of this poem.

First Stanza: The Eternal Nature of the Soul

The poem speaks in the first person. It is the voice of one who has reached the pinnacle of spiritual illumination. The insights echo first hand experiences of illumined saints and sages from all traditions while the imagery and framework are from Hinduism. It is also the voice of Brahma, who in the Hindu religion is the ultimate God. Hinduism has many gods, just as the Bible has many saints and angels and archangels; but the supreme God in Christianity is the Father and in Hinduism the word used is Brahma.

The red slayer can represent anyone who kills and the message of the first stanza is that death is not the end of existence. Most people live in constant fear of growing old and death. We fear pain and the idea of non-existence. Our society pushes death away from our eyes while glorifying youth. Death is a transition to a more subtle realm and from the careful observation of the death process we can learn so much. The red slayer is also symbolic of Kali the Hindu goddess of death and transformation. She is often portrayed carrying a sword with blood dripping from it; hence the red-slayer.

Emerson approaches the immortality of the soul both from the vantage point of he who thinks he can destroy others: the red slayer, and the vantage point of she who fears death. The “subtle ways” referred to is the subtle existence of the soul, which is hidden from the view of most people because their minds are bounded by material objects.

Second Stanza: Non-Duality

The second stanza is from the same point of view but this stanza reflects the viewpoint of one who has transcended duality. The four dualistic conceptions that no longer affect the speaker are far/ near; remembered/ forgotten; shadow/ sunlight; vanished / appearing; and shame / fame.

Dualistic thinking emerges from undifferentiated consciousness. Through meditation and deep prayer one can enter the realm of pure consciousness. In that state there is no duality; hence fame and shame are the same.

Think of a glass of water. The water is one entity. If you shake the glass there will be waves and water will splash, that is the moment of duality. If you see only the splashes you will think of the water as separate units but if you know the source you will know that ultimately all the water is one. It is the same with shame and fame. They appear different yet at a deeper level they are both the same: human experience from which we grow.

The second stanza points to the idea that ultimately the differences we observe in ourselves and the world dissolve as we begin to understand that our mind itself is the creator of what we perceive and the differences we observe.

The same principle applies the physical world: that which was lost can become found and that which was near can become far. What is far from one person can be near to another. Hence reality depends on our vantage point and how we relate to our vantage point is determined by our minds, not by any external control system.

Explanation:please mark as brainliest really i took a hour to write really

Answer 2

The answer is:

Brahma is a spirit rather than a tangible human being. As seen by the words "I keep, pass, and turn again." This refers to his capacity to smoothly transition between life and death.

• The poem's title, 'Brahma,' is derived from the Hindu god of creation. Along with Vishnu and Shiva, he is one of the religion's three primary gods.
• The poem is written from his point of view, hinting to his power over everything.
• The poem delves into the universality of Brahma's soul and how he traverses through time and space.
• Brahma begins by warning the reader that any assumptions they have about life or death are incorrect.
• He claims that if a "red slayer" believes they have murdered someone or that the "slain" believe they have been killed, they clearly do not comprehend how "he" works. The term "red sayer" refers to the deity of death.
• He assures the reader that he is "delicate" and glides freely across the world. Emerson adds another rhythm to these lines by repeating the word "slay" in its many variations.
• Brahma is a spirit rather than a tangible human being.
• As seen by the words "I keep, pass, and turn again." This refers to his ability to transition between life and death.

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