II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

दीपक सुंदर देखि करि, जरि जरि मरत पतंग I
बढी लहर जो विषय की, जरत न मोरै अंग II

The mind is charioteer and the horses are the sensory organs. When the sensory organs start taking control and the charioteer loses control then there is trouble.The Cosmic Charmer called Maya binds the living entities to the material plane, and robs them of their Divine Freedom. Those who constantly long for lust become so infatuated with it that they cannot put things in proper perspective. In order to capture the enemy, one needs to know his whereabouts. Similarly, to capture the lust and its companions, we need to know their hiding place. Their hiding places are within the physical senses, mind, and intelligence. The mind is the center of all the activities of senses; thus, when senses become attracted toward lust the mind becomes the source of all ideas of sense gratification. Consequently, the mind and senses become the repositories of lust. As a result, the intelligence becomes the capital of such lustful propensities which further accelerates the downfall. 

"Kabir says, the irresistible attraction to sensual pleasures is like moth to the flame. Just like a moth is drawn to a fiery flame least bothered that it is going to perish in the fiery dispair, the person addicted to sensual pleasures succumbs to his desires inviting his downfall.

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

बारी बारी आपणीं, चले पियारे म्यंत I
तेरी बारी रे जिया, नेडी आवै निंत II

"The friends and fellows are taking leave of this world one by one and soon it will be your turn. Wake up from the slumber of ignorance before it is too late says Kabir and start contemplating Lord Hari, for His Realisation is the true purpose of this rare human birth."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

एक दिन ऐसा होयगा, कोय काहुं का नाहिं I
घर की नारी को कहैं, तन की नारी जाहिं II

"Kabir says, the time once lost is lost permanently, for time and tide wait for none. Some day everything will be lost and therefore wait not for the "right time", give importance to "here and now". Just like life is to the body, a woman of household is to the family. Just like her happiness and contentment is the heart of a happy household, we must do everything to make this rare human birth worthwhile till the body throbs with life."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कामी लज्जा न करै, मन माहि अहलाद I
नींद न मांगै साथरा, भूख या मांगै स्वाद II

"Kabir says, since they no longer have any sense of shame, they have become promiscuous. They practice every kind of sexual perversion with a constant desire for more. A lascivious person lives for lustful pleasure given themselves over to sensuality and promiscuity without bothering about what people will say just like an extremely hungry eats anything he lay his hands on and extremely sleepy doesn't demand a cozy bed."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

काम क्रोध मद लोभ की, जब लग मन में खान I
तब लग पण्डित मूरखों दोनों एक समान II

"Kabir says, It is the man’s mind that is responsible for his problems or suffering. Also, it is the mind that can liberate him from bondage. In other words one’s mind can be his best friend, and the same time it can be one’s worse enemy too. The six enemies of mind are desire, anger, greed, ego, attachment and envy. These bind the soul to the cycle of birth and death and keep it confined in this material world. When they dominate one’s mind they control one’s life and one becomes slave of them. Under their dominance there is all possibility for a person to lose his balance of mind however learned he may be. Removing their negative dominance requires sincere efforts. Mere talk, rituals, or external show of religiosity neither will do the trick.  What’s in our power is to keep them in check, under control."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

जो तू सेवक गुरून का, निंदा की तज बान I
निंदक तेरे आय जब, कर आदर सन्मान II

Those who speak ill of others help one become aware of his negativity, for one's weaknesses become magnified when criticised. If taken constructively, once aware of his weaknesses, one can do something about them. Thus, in a way, the person who talks ill about someone helps him remove his demerits. However, if one reacts negatively to the act of being criticised by someone, then obviously he has nothing to gain. In short, it all depends on how we react to being tarnished by anyone. The key would be to use it to see our shortcomings; and then remove them without any prejudice or partiality. On the other hand, one who speaks ill of others, the wretched fool, bears total loss.

"Kabir says, a disciple who obediently follows the teachings of his Guru will never speak ill of others. On the other hand thank your critic even if he sounds harsh and rude, for he is doing a great service to you magnifying your shortcomings and thus giving you an opportunity to improve."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

आपन को सराहिये, पर निन्दिये न कोय I
चढना लम्बा धौहरा, ना जाने क्या होय II

Boasting of self and speaking ill of others behind their back is a very common problem in people's day to day life. People who don’t feel good about themselves feel temporarily better when they judge others negatively. Those who look for flaws and failures of others, is but an attempt to disguise, to focus or even stop thinking about their own faults. A lot of the time, we end up falling into the trap of speaking badly about people without even noticing. But we need to be very careful about this, because when we speak ill of others we reveal much more about ourselves than about the people who are the targets of our gossip. Gossip makes us feel better about ourselves because it’s a relief to remember the fact that other people also have problems. Stop comparing yourself to others. Be humble and remember that no one is better than anyone else. Don’t let your ego and your pride feed your need for comparison and put other people down.

"Kabir says, don't waste time talking badly about others. Dedicate your time, your thoughts and your words to what you can control, which is your own life. Keep your focus on being the best possible version of yourself. Work on your insecurities without comparing yourself to others, and without wasting time on comments and observations about the characteristics and behaviours of others. We must avoid people that are constantly speaking ill of others. Surround yourself with happy, optimistic people who see the positive side of life. Increase your awareness and reflect on the quality of your communication. Think about how you would feel if you heard someone saying negative and hateful words about you. Speaking badly about other people translates into a focus on negativity and living life through a pessimistic and critical perspective. Your most precious and limited resource is time. Don’t waste it getting involved with dramas and arguments. Take care of your integrity and good reputation by not participating in the habit of speaking badly of others. Lack of discretion and humility is what stops us from being a good human being. Discretion means to decipher between wrong and right. Humility is attained by aiming at the highest we know, with the utmost we have, and knowing that we come far short of the ideal. Humility is a form of honesty, and it is this being completely honest with ourselves that forms a firm foundation from which we can take a leap to Self Realisation, the most high. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

अडसठ तीरथ निंदक न्हाई, देह पलोसे मैल न जाई I
छप्पन कोटि धरति फिरि आवै, तो भी निंदक नरकहि जावै II

Circumambulation (Pradakshina) is a symbol of prayer. Just like we cannot draw a circle without a centre point, keeping God as the centre and recognizing Him as the focal point of our lives, we go on doing our daily chores. Also just like every point on the circumference is equidistant from the centre, wherever we may be we are close to God bound by the thread of His remembrance.

There is a popular legend about the significance of Pradakshina. Once Lord Shiva wanted his two sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya, to get “worldly experience” and asked them to take a “tour of the universe”. While Kartikeya spent decades traveling the world on his peacock, Lord Ganesha just walked a full circle around his mother and father and is believed to have explained “since the world is contained within you, I have already encircled the world”!

"Kabir says, there is no greater sin than speaking ill of others behind their back, for there is no respite to such a sinner even if he bathes at sixty eight pilgrimages or does clockwise circumambulation (Pradakshina) of whole earth fifty six crore times. All pilgrimages are within only if we were to understand it. The bathing at places of pilgrimage does not remove inner filth. If the mind is filthy, everything is filthy. By washing the body, the mind is not cleaned."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

निंदक नेरै राखियै, आँगन कुटी छवाय I
बिन पानी साबुन बिना, निरमल करै सुभाय II

Kabir had a jealous neighbor, whose only pastime was to speak ill of him behind his back. One day that neighbour died. People thought the news of his death will make Kabir very happy. To the contrary, upon hearing the news, Kabir became very sad. When asked as to why he was sad instead of being happy Kabir said “the reason I feel sad is that since he is gone, who will wash my sins off and take upon himself?”. 

"Kabir says, the proximity of the one who speaks ill of us behind our back facilitates the cleansing of our weaknesses without soap and water. In other words we should love those who speak ill of us behind our back, for they do us a great favor. This is because by doing so they help us to recognize our shortcomings so that we can eradicate them."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

माखी गहै कुवास को, फूल वास नहिं लेय I
मधुमाखी है साधुजन पुष्प बास चित्त देय II

 "Kabir says, just like feces, garbage and rotten food attracts flies but a Honey Bee eats honey from the flowers, there are those who enjoy speaking ill of others behind their back while the Saintly Beings elevate goodness in the person ignoring his shortcomings."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

गुरू कुम्हार शिष कुंभ है, गढि-गढ काढै खोट I
अंतर हाथ सहार दै, बाहर बाहै चोट II

"Kabir says, a Guru is like a Pot-maker. A Pot-maker makes sure that the pot becomes strong inside out. Just like a Pot-maker hammers the pot from outside with one hand, with the other he supports it from inside, a Guru being a perfect confluence of discipline and love makes his disciple strong to take on the challenges of life, while inculcating in him the noble virtues of a good human being."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

तिनका कबहूँ न निंदिये, पाँव तले जो होय I
कबहूँ उडी आँखों परै, पीर घनेरी होय II

"Kabir says, don't belittle anyone however insignificant or trivial they may seem to be. The lowly grass is often crushed under the heels yet even a single straw of grass stuck into the eye can obstruct the vision and cause a lot of trouble. Similarly one must not belittle someone for being poor because nobody knows what tomorrow may bring. Times change fast. Today's King may be tomorrow's pauper."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

निन्दक दूर न कीजिये, कीजै आदर मान I
निर्मल तन मन सब करै, बकै आन ही आन II

Your critics are your best friends. The critics see our flaws, our bad sides, and are willing to say the things that most people won't say. They tell us what we don't want to hear. In a way the critic holds up a mirror for us to see the things we don't want to see, admit or face. We seldom try to recognise the possibility that what we consider right may actually be wrong. The critics hold us accountable for our mistakes. Telling your friends something they really don't want to hear takes courage.
Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.

"Kabir says, If your first reaction is to lash back at the person giving the criticism, or to become defensive, take a minute before reacting at all. Take a deep breath, and give it a little thought. A critic is in fact a true friend, because he criticizes a person’s action or behaviour, and makes him look at the state of things with a new vision. His doing so in reality helps us so that such shortcomings and mistakes can be avoided in future. Thank the critic and honour him, for his criticism brings up the best in us."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

साधू विरछ हरिनाम फल, शीतल शब्द विचार I
जग में होते साधू नहिं, जरि मरता संसार II

Trees and the Realised Souls have a lot in common. The trees serve a purpose just like the Realised Soul has a purpose in the world. Fruit is evident that the tree is producing the way God intended it to do. Fruit does not just appear on a tree as soon as it is planted. The tree has to mature before it can produce fruit. That's the same way with the Realised Soul, for the fruit comes in the appropriate season.
People cannot see what is going on under the ground, but there are unseen roots that are firmly planted below the soil. Roots serve a very important purpose. They hold water and nutrients and disperse them to all parts of the tree.
The Realised Soul thrives the same way as a tree does because of strong roots. The tree that you see standing tall above the ground can endure storms and strong winds because of its underground work. In those weather conditions, trees might bend, but they don't break because of their strong roots.
The Realised Soul is strong and stable with roots that grow unseen. When we look at people, we can't see what's going on underneath. However, that's where the real work takes place.

"Kabir says, Saintly Beings are like trees. They do not call to anyone, neither do they send anyone away. They give shelter to whoever cares to come, be it a man, woman, child, or an animal. If you sit under a tree it will protect you from the weather, from the scorching sun as well as from the pouring rain, and it will give you flowers and fruit. Whether a human being enjoys them or a bird tastes of them matters little to the tree; its produce is there for anyone who comes and takes it."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कामी लज्जा न करै, मन मांहि अहलाद I
नींद न मांगै साथरा, भूख न मांगै स्वाद II

"Kabir says, having lost all sense of shame, a lascivious person gets carried away by lust. Hunger pangs make one devour food, tasty or not. Overwhelming drowsiness demand no cozy bedding. In other words desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

दुर्लभ मानुष जन्म है, देह न बारम्बार I
तरुवर जो पत्ती झडे, बहुरि न लागे डार II

"Kabir says, this human form we take so granted is very difficult to obtain. Man wanders through countless incarnations, until finally he attains this priceless human birth. It does not just come over and over again. It is like the ripe leaf on the tree; when it falls to the ground, it cannot be re-attached to the branch again, cannot go back. Like the bird in hand is worth two in bush, this life we have here and now is what counts. Grab this opportunity with both hands and do everything possible to make most of this rare human birth to serve it's true purpose, God Realisation. We don't know when the human birth will happen again. 
What separates men from animals is the faculty of Discriminating Intellect called Vivek-Buddhi; which allows man to discriminate between the eternal (permanent) and the ephemeral (impermanent). This subtle sense of discrimination helps one to know the difference between truth and falsehood. A person with awakened faculty of Vivek-Buddhi knows that the Absolute Reality alone is eternal and that everything else in this material world being in the framework of time and space is temporary. Without Vivek-Buddhi, this precious human life is a total waste."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

रोडा है रहा बाट का, तजि पाखंड अभिमान I
ऐसा जे जन है रहै, ताहि मिलै भगवान II

Growing humility is the only way to succeed in God Realisation. But what exactly is humility? How do we recognize it and practice it?  Very simply put, humility is the absence of ego. Some hilariously believe EGO is an acronym for Edging God Out but in all seriousness, humility is only allowed to shine through as the ego diminishes.
When we are selfish and seek our happiness with little regard for others’ needs, understand that the origin of this selfishness lies in the ego. We seek self-happiness to satisfy the never-ending desires of the ego. This is why there are disputes in the family, disagreements at work, and difficulties in personal relationships. As our selflessness grows and selfishness declines, it paves the way for humility to shine through thereby making our relationships smoother and less stressful.
Each time we point out others’ shortcomings or mistakes, it is our ego in the form of fault-finding or a superiority or inferiority complex stepping up. If we truly believe that God resides in all of us, then there is no reason to believe one is better than another. Yes, we are different but different does not mean better. Just as no two petals of a flower are the same, no two children of a mother are the same. Similarly, we all, while different in our own way, are children of the God. Just as a mother understands the unique strengths and weaknesses of all her children, so does Him. 
All the Godlike virtues such as sacrifice, forgiveness, compassion, tolerance, truthfulness, etc. are also a manifestation of humility. The sacrifice is highest among them all because when we sacrifice our happiness, it enslaves God.

"Kabir says, humility is the absence of ego. Just like clouds cover the sun so that its light can only shine from the periphery, our ignorance and misidentification with the body prevent our true nature from exhibiting itself. As we increasingly realize the grace of God in everything and His presence in all, we truly start to become humble. For God Realisation to come true one needs to be humbler than the blade of grass."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

गुरू पारस को अंतरो, जानत हैं सब संत I
वह लोहा कंचन करे, ये करि लेय महंत II

The Guru never wants the disciple to remain a disciple. The Guru wants the disciple to grow and become the Truth himself. Then there will be no difference between the Guru and the disciple. It is in this that the Guru finds satisfaction and contentment. 
What kind of satisfaction? 
The Guru is complete within himself. But just as a mother becomes happy when she sees her child succeeding and getting a good job, the Guru always wants the disciple to excel and exceed even the Guru in his capabilities. In all other relationships, the “I-and-you” division is clearly maintained. But the Guru-disciple relationship seeks to dispel that division.
Submission and surrender to the Guru is the royal path to supreme freedom. 
Guru Ramkrishna Paramhansa molded his disciples with his love and compassion and shaped them into saintly beings who went around the world carrying his message of Peace, Religious Harmony, Brotherhood and Service to Mankind. 
If it wouldn’t have been Guru Sri Ramkrishna, a common, young, inquisitive boy of the 19th century could not have become Swami Vivekananda.

"Kabir says, Paras stone is known to turn a lowly metal like iron into gold. However a Guru transforms his disciple into a person as revered as himself."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

बिना साँच सुमिरन नहीं, बिन भेदी भक्ति न सोय I
पारस में परदा रहा, कस लोहा कंचन होय II

The True Self can only be experienced in Pure Consciousness. Thus, inner purity is essential for God-realization. Purity means transparency to truth, and the purified Vision means pure Heart. In the purified Vision, there is no false ego-sense. On the contrary, in the impure vision there is a sense of separateness or duality. When the mind turns towards the Truth, it abandons its identification with the false body and experiences the Divine Nature devoid of delusion. 

"Kabir says, just like the Paras Stone with absolutely no impurities only can turn iron into gold, the devotion or immersing in the pool of Hari Naam does not realise in the truer sense without internalising the Godly virtues or living the divine virtues in life."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कंचन तजना सहज है, सहज तिरिया का नेह I
मान बडाई ईरषा, दुरलभ तजनी येह II

The most difficult thing for us humans to accomplish is to get rid of our false-ego sense. It is the false ego-sense from which are born lust, anger, greed, attachment to worldly objects due to delusion, and pride; and their numerous variations such as enviousness, stubborn mindedness, selfishness etc. Ego is within all the bodies; and through ego the beings are born. No one finds God through egoism. Removal of this false ego sense which is said to be the source of all human problems is not an automatic process like digesting food. Even with high education or material success in life, it is an extremely difficult feat. What is required is a total inner transformation of our vision of life and its purpose. Spiritual path is difficult to tread in the sense that it demands annihilation of the mind, which requires constant discipline, commitments, sacrifice. What kind of sacrifice? Doing anything as an offering to God for the benefit of the Creation without the sense of "I, me, mine, you" is a sacrifice. In other words the noble sacrifice is giving up one's false ego-sense. This is why the path of spirituality is likened to walking on a "double-edged sword" or a "razor's edge". It's easy to talk about it but difficult to live. Our egoistic minds are the hurdle. Giving selflessly is thorny. It's easier said than done. 

"Kabir says, giving up of ego, praise and jealousy is more difficult that falling prey to the temptation of gold or even staying away from the lure of lust."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

सब आए इह एक में, डाल पात फल फूल I
कबीरा पीछा क्या रहा, गह पकडी जब मूल II

There is One Absolute Reality, the Homogeneous Oneness which runs in and through all. This is the Supreme Truth. Behind all multiplicity of this manifold universe, the One Unconditioned basis persists in all its splendor. That One Homogeneous whole is the Changeless in changing phenomenon. All forms emerge out of this One Reality, remain sustained by this Reality, and ultimately merge back into this Reality. Infinite worlds come and go in the vast expanse of Consciousness, like motes of dust dancing in a beam of light. The One Eternal Factor is subtler than the subtle, smaller than the smallest and also the most vast.
Just as the ocean is one; however, it is the basis for countless waves, wave-lets, foam, ripples and bubbles. These waves and wave-lets, ripples, foam and bubbles have no existence apart from the ocean. They all merge out of the ocean, exist in the ocean and ultimately sink themselves back into the ocean. So too is life. The matter ripples out of the Supreme Consciousness, and ultimately we all merge back into the Homogeneous Oneness.
Gold is the basis for all ornaments made of the gold. As all ornaments are expression of the one gold, upon melting of all ornaments, the gold still remains as gold; nothing happens to it. Ornaments have no existence independent of the gold. Similarly, the endless forms of the One Eternal Subject are expression of the very same One Divine Cosmic Power, and they have no existence separate from Him.
Clay or mud is the cause of all clay-pots. These clay-pots of countless shapes, colors, efficiencies, names, etc., are possible only when their support, the clay, exists. So too is the same Divine Consciousness; which is cause and support of individuality in all of us. In other words, the life-giving Spirit is only One, and everything is filled with His glory. His Reflection is hidden in all objects just as the butter is hidden in the milk, and the fire is hidden in the wood.

"Kabir says, just like branches, leaves, flowers and fruits of tree are manifestations of root that is invisible to eye, the very life force of the world entire is invisible yet not unfelt. His Realisation is true purpose of this rare human birth."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

जिसको रहना उतघरा, सो क्यों जोडे मित्त I
जैसे पर घर पाहुना, रहे उठाए चित्त II

"Kabir says, freedom in the midst of Maya, the worldly attachment comes true only when one inculcates affectionate detachment, being in the world but not of it. It is having a mind open to everything, but attached to nothing. It is living amidst the worldly activity, yet remaining detached from it and untainted by it just like a lotus flower remains untouched of the mud it grows in. The real freedom is inner renunciation. Detachment does not mean abandoning household life, being less sensitive or loving to one's family. Rather detachment makes us more sensitive or loving without any sense of bondage. Just like a guest of the house comes, stays for a while and leaves knowing that it is not his home, we must live in this world like wayfarers, a passing traveller who may stop and rest under a tree, but he would not take that tree as his home rather he returns to his journey and aims to reach his true destination. For us it is liberation from mundane existence, God Realisation."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कबीर या संसार की, झूठी माया मोह I
जिही घर जिता बधावना, तिहि तेता दोह II

The senses have the limited ability to perceive and discern truth, although we take them for granted and rely more on the appearance of things rather than the truth underlying them. Calling this universe of material world false or illusion does not mean this world is non existent. If this world was non existent then it would not have been experienced by us. So the question arises is it real?According to the scriptures, no - it is not real. Although we cannot ignore the physical reality of the innumerable variety of beings (animate) and objects (inanimate), but nothing in it can be called as real because it is subject to change every moment, like our mind. This this material world is neither real nor unreal. Anything that cannot be described as real or unreal is called as illusion. When we call this world illusion, it simply means that "what we deem it to be, it is not like that". We think it to be permanent, it is not; we think it to be non perishable, it is not; we think it to be changeless, it is not; we think it to be reality, it is not.

"Kabir says, Maya is the imagination of the deluded mind which never ends and never exists. Thus it continually baffles humanity making the mirage like attractions of the enchanting world appear as real (permanent, everlasting etc.) No matter how joyful and materially rich the household may be, there is often an equal amount of sorrow and suffering in the backdrop."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

सब वन जो चन्दन नहिं, शूरा के दल नाहि I
सब समुद्र मोती नहि, यौं साधू जग माहि II

"Kabir says, since time immemorial mankind is engaged in an eternal quest for that “something else” that will bring happiness, complete and everlasting. For those individual souls who have sought and found God, the search is over, for He is that "Something Else", most Sublime.The God Realised Souls are rare. They are hard to find just like sandalwood trees are rarely found in forests or a genuinely brave person is rare. Just like the natural pearls are very rare and hundreds of oysters would have to be opened to find one wild pearl that turns into a luminous highly valued gemstone, the Great Souls like Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sant Tukaram, Nanak are born once after many millenniums."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

हेत बिना आवै नहीं, हेत तहां चलि जाय I
कबीर जल औ सन्तजन, नवै तहां ठहराय II

"Kabir says, meeting a saintly being is no ordinary thing, for nothing happens without a reason. Just like the natural tendency of water is to flow to lowlands, and not uphill on its own, the saintly beings visit the places where humility dwells, where there is willingness to listen to. Where ego prevails, the saintly beings don't go because falsehood and truth cannot coexist. Just like water finds it's way to lowlands on its own, a saintly being is pulled to the place where there is unconditional love and devotion."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

जिहिं हिरदै हरि आइया, सो क्यूँ छानाँ होइ I
जतन-जतन करि दाबिये, तऊ उजाला सोइ II

Can we tell if someone is Self-realised? We cannot tell. However as one starts getting close to the state of Self Realisation, it starts reflecting in every aspect of his personality. It can't remain hidden. When the man identifies with the material body he is guided by false consciousness of himself as the doer. A Self Realised person however feels that he is mere instrumental while God is the doer. His mind is no longer disturbed by any external happenings. The Self Realised person is ever unattached, free of sorrows, impartial, possesses even patience and purified nature. He is enlightened, free of pride, most humble, kind, full of humility, full of spiritual bliss and peace. He acts in goodness, free from all worldly entanglements (Maya) and is intuitively absorbed in God's name.
A fool cannot be identified as long as he does not speak. As soon as he opens his mouth, he reveals himself. However one of the most important qualities of a Self Realised person is that he speaks only of the Truth and matters related to Spirituality. To him, the speech of the Divine Name is the most sweetest thing in the world. He sees the sorrows, pleasures, disease, fear, restlessness, old age, and death experienced by his body not pertaining to him. He sees no "I, me, mine" or "others". He sees all beings of the universe as his own family. He is beyond the feeling of "likes and dislikes". He sees rise of no desires in his mind for objective experience. He remains peaceful and pure at heart. Outwardly he engages in appropriate actions but remain unattached and unaffected by them like a lotus flower. 
Senses are liken to venomous serpents. Like snakes, the senses do not like to be restricted. Rather, they like to act not only loosely but also without any control. A Spiritually Awakened person like a snake charmer, never allows the snakes to act on their own. As soon as a Spiritually Wise person  feels harm or danger in the form of worldly temptations, he immediately withdraws them within at his will just like a tortoise. Instead of using his senses for his own sense gratification, he keeps them occupied in selfless service, to serve God and His creation.

"Kabir says, when the selfishness and falsehood of the mind cease to exist, there arise in the heart all Divine Virtues, and there is equal vision everywhere: the vision of the Cosmic Truth. Self-realized person is like butter. Water added to milk will mix with milk. However, the milk that has become butter will float on water, without going through any adulteration. Just like the butter is distinctly visible, so is the Self Realised person, for his saintly attributes give him a special place even in the crowd of millions. The light of the lamp shines no matter how much one tries to hide the lamp."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कहत-सुनत जग जात है, विषय न सूझे काल I
कहैं कबीर सुन प्रानिया, साहिब नाम सम्हाल II

One must always remember that death is always lurking. It is a reminder of our mortality, a constant reminder that death is inevitable. Regardless of your status in life, death is the great equalizer and that we should make the most of the time we have. A reminder to be more present and mindful. 
When we think about our mortality, we often think about death itself. However, there are many things in life that serve as reminders of our mortality. These things can be both positive and negative, but they all serve to remind us that life is fragile and can end at any moment. Remembering our mortality is important for a number of reasons.  
When we remember that we’re going to die one day, it can help us to appreciate life more. We often take our time on earth for granted and assume that we have all the time in the world. But, when we stop and think about our mortality, it can remind us of how precious life is and how we need to make the most of it. 
Remembering our mortality can inspire us to be more compassionate and to make a difference in the world. When we think about our own death, it can remind us of the fragility of life and how we’re all connected. This can inspire us to be kinder to others and to work for a better world.
No matter how long we live, our time on this earth will eventually come to an end. And yet, for some reason, many of us choose to live our lives as if we have all the time in the world. We procrastinate, put off our dreams, and take our loved ones for granted.
There are many ways to reflect on our mortality, but one of the simplest is to imagine our own funeral. What would we want our loved ones to say about us? How would we want to be remembered?
This may sound like a morbid exercise, but it can actually be quite illuminating. It can help us to see what’s truly important in life and to let go of the things that don’t matter.
Another way to reflect on our mortality is to spend time with those who are nearing the end of their lives. This can be a humbling and eye-opening experience. We can learn so much from those who are facing their own mortality.
No matter how we choose to reflect on our mortality, the important thing is that we do it. It’s only by facing our own mortality that we can truly appreciate the gift of life.

"Kabir says, an ignorant man entangled in worldly love and attachments (i.e. hunger of Maya), spends his life accumulating wealth and forgets that life is fragile and can end at any moment. This composition is a wake-up call for us to appreciate the time we have, grateful for its every moment and use it to the fullest for the true purpose of this rare human birth, God Realisation, the crowning fruition of all endeavors."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

मल मल धोए शरीर को, धोए न मन का मैल I
नहाए गंगा गोमती, रहे बैल के बैल II

One's belief in ritual bathing and equating physical cleanliness with Inner Purity is nothing but ignorance and delusion. A physically clean person may be a vile in character while a physically unclean looking individual may be on the higher level of consciousness. Hence the true Purity is neither in physical cleanliness, nor in taking dip in the sacred waters at the Pilgrimages. Purity is a state of Being in which one is close to Pure Consciousness. In other words, one is Pure only if he is in touch with his True Being within. The unceasing bathing of the mind in the purifying Water of God's name day and night in itself is truly the bathing of the mind.

A disciple of Kabir asked his permission for visiting pilgrim places and taking ritual bath in their so-called  holy rivers. Kabir gave his disciple a gourd and asked: "Please bathe this gourd wherever you bathe". The disciple did exactly that — wherever he bathed in the so-called holy waters, he also bathed the gourd. Upon his returning from the pilgrimage, he gave the gourd back to his Master, Kabir. In turn, Kabir handed it over to the cook in charge of the kitchen with the following instructions: "Please cook this gourd and serve it with the next meal to all devotees". So he did. However, as we know that the gourd is bitter, no one could eat it. Kabir wanted to make the point to his disciple that, as the gourd did not shed its bitterness even after bathing it in all of the holy rivers he visited, similarly, the mental filth cannot be washed off by any type of external cleaning.

Kabir says, its foolish to think that taking dip in the sacred waters of rivers like Ganga and Gomati will cleanse the impurities of mind, for the Purity lies in Purity of one's character and conduct, not in the outer neatness and cleanliness of the body. Purity is truthful living, goodness in thoughts and speech and actions."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

जैसे तील में तेल है, ज्यों चकमक में आग I
तेरा साई तुझमें है, तू जाग सके तो जाग II

Going Within is the ultimate search, the simplest and the shortest. However, being infected with the virus of body-consciousness ("I, me, mine, your"), we give attention to everything but ourselves. The deer, for example, is known for searching musk in the bushes. In reality, the musk is stored within the deer's navel, but in its illusioned state of mind the deer keeps searching it outside. Similarly, even though the Spirit, the source of Truth-Knowledge-Bliss, dwells within us, we keep searching Him in the gross objects of the outer world. Just like the deer we also wander around in the wilderness of doubts caused by Maya's deception. In reality, it is all hidden within. If we want to change the picture on the television screen, we simply change the channel or station, we do not change the picture tube. Similarly, all we need to do is set our vision right. If we can change our vision, no other change is necessary. Since we suffer from mental delusion, we need to clarify our minds, purify our hearts, and sanctify our lives. In other words, we need to remove our whims, fancies or egoism.

"Kabir says, God dwells within us just like oil is inherent in sesame seeds or light is Inevitable as fire flares."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

सो दिन गया अकाज में, संगत भई न संत I

ज्ञान बिना पशु जीवना, भाव बिना भटकन्त II

A self-realized soul is not illusioned by the false identification of the body with his true self. Therefore he is not joyful in achieving something nor does he lament in losing anything which is related to his body. We have all heard it, And we know it, but realizing it is another thing. The main quality of a self-realized person is that he has realized that he is not the body but he is the spirit soul within the body. That is Self Realisation. The chief propensities of animal life are eating, sleeping, mating and defending. We too if confine ourselves within the boundaries of the same eating, sleeping, mating and defending then we are no more than two-legged animals. The purpose of this rare human birth is spiritual enhancement and not merely improving the standard of eating, sleeping, mating and defending. We humans have the ability to question the purpose of our existence and also to discover the answers. To become conscious of this ability is possible only when we seek company of Sant, who have given up all thoughts of what is transient or unreal and identified themselves totally with the Supreme Reality. By steady and ceaseless contemplation on the fact that ‘I am that’, they attain to a state of perfect peace and bliss. The noble ones control the external attractions by subduing their senses. Thus, their mind becomes peaceful, which is conducive to beholding the inner divinity in themselves.

 
"Kabir says, in the uncertain life where the present breath may be our last, a day gone without Sant Darshan is an unpardonable loss. Intense devotion to one's Guru and faithful adherence to his teachings are the most essential qualifications of true discipleship, else there is no end to the endless wanderings going on since time immemorial."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

तीरथ नहाये एक फल, साधू मिले फल चार I
संतगुरू मिले अनेक फल कहैं कबीर विचार II

"Kabir says, the very idea behind a pilgrimage is fundamentally to subdue the sense of who you are. A pilgrimage is not a conquest, it is a surrender. It is a way of getting yourself out of the way. A process of destroying all that is limited and compulsive and arriving to a boundless state of consciousness. However none of this comes true by taking dip in the sacred waters of pilgrimage other than mere body cleaning. By washing the body, mind is not cleaned. It is the cleansing of the filth within that is the true purpose and for that there is no alternative to Guru Darshan. The mind that is cleansed by the teachings and wisdom of Guru takes with it the merit much more than that obtained by taking dip in the sacred waters of the pilgrimages. The Purusharthas are the inherent values of the Universe: Dharma (righteousness), Artha (economic values), Kama (pleasure), and Moksha (liberation). The Purusharthas are the blueprint for human fulfillment. Working with them helps you create a satisfyingly balanced, meaningful life at the deepest level. They offer a way for evaluating your life and making good decisions. Knowing your goals brings meaning to your spiritual practice. In a way Purushartha means we must take a moment and ask ourself, ‘Am I managing my life in a way to support my spiritual growth?’ and ‘What do I really want at the level of my Soul? Although the first three (Dharma, Artha, Kama) are somewhat interwoven, it is felt that the “right action” of Dharma is a necessary requirement for Artha to be meaningful and the abundance of Artha will be needed to support Kama. The path to liberation or enlightenment of Moksha is supported by the harmonious interaction of Dharma, Artha, and Kama. We all have a desire for a meaningful life. The Purusharthas are the means that can help us achieve it. It is the enlightening wisdom of Guru that makes us aware of the importance of the Purusharthas in our life, truly the signposts that point us to a successful, satisfying, balanced existence in the world."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II