What have you gained br if you have not gained yourself, br yourself the immortal, br yourself the infinite ? br br What have you gained br if you have never tasted in your life br the deep longing to be free, br the deep longing to be liberated? br br The spirit of the saints of all the ages br whispers in my ears - br br what have you gained br if you have never tasted br the joys of self-surrender? br br If your heart has not longed br to make of you a flute br in the hands of Krishna, br master musician of the universe? br br And if you have not been able br to sweeten all your miseries br with a touch of God? br br br br (versified from a lecture in Evanston, US, in 1926)br br Michael Shepherdbr br