' Naked Dancing '...

The soul, like the moon,
is new, and always new again.

And I have seen the ocean
continuously creating.

Since I scoured my mind
and my body, I too, Lalla,
am new, each moment new.

My teacher told me one thing,
Live in the soul.

When that was so,
I began to go naked,
and dance*.



- Lalla
14th Century North Indian mystic

* "She is most well known for wandering and dancing
naked as she sang her songs. In the ecstatic line of the
hassids and the sufis she joined the pure joy of existence,
and so completely merged with it that the bare form of
"Lalla," whom she often addresses, seemed clothing
enough. Her awareness observes the body, but is not
identified with it." (Coleman Barks)