II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

बिन सतगुरू बाचै नहीं, फिर बूडै भव माँहि I
भौसागर की त्रास से, सतगुरू पकडे बाँहि II

"Kabir says, by the light of the sun, the whole world awakens. By the light of the sun, darkness is banished, slumber gives place to wakefulness and sloth gives place to activity. By the light of the sun, all beings in this world see things, perceive things clearly. Thus the sun is the awakener; the sun is the enlightener; the sun is the one who shows the path. It is the sun that guarantees smooth, unhampered progress towards each one’s destination. When the sun is not there, one is, as it were, blind, even though having eyes.
In the life of a sincere seeking soul, a spiritual aspirant, the 'Sadguru' is, as it were, the sun. It is the 'Sadguru' that awakens us from our slumber of ignorance. It is the 'Sadguru' who, by the light of his wisdom, banishes the darkness of ignorance and wrong notions that the individual soul has about life, and brings in the light of right reasoning, right perception and right thought. It is the 'Sadguru' that also makes us see the way, through his own lofty, sublime personal example, through his own dynamic philosophy, through his own teachings and personal instructions. It is the 'Sadguru' that points out the path and makes us see the path clearly. He points out the pitfalls and dangers upon the path, makes us alert and vigilant. And, even as the sun initiates activity, so the 'Sadguru' inspires us to arise, awake, seek knowledge, attain illumination. The only way we can save ourselves from getting drowned in the ocean of corrupting influences of worldly temptations, 'Bhava Sagar', is to hold onto the teachings of 'Sadguru' steadfastly. The 'Sadguru' doesn’t bring about Self Realization. He merely removes all the obstacles to it. The 'Sadguru' can only take you to the doorway of Self Realization—your human “freewill” demands that you take the final step alone."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

सतगुरू मिला जु जानिए, ज्ञान उजाला होय I
भ्रम का भांडा तोडि करि, रहे निराला होय II

"Kabir says, 'Sadguru' is he who, by the collyrium-rod of Knowledge, opens the eyes of those who are rendered blind by the darkness of ignorance. He is God Himself manifesting in a personal form to guide the aspirant. The Grace of God takes the form of 'Sadguru.' He is verily a link between the individual and the Immortal. He is a being who has raised himself from this into That, and thus has a free and unhampered access to both the realms. He stands, as it were, upon the threshold of immortality; and bending down, he raises the struggling individuals with his one hand, and with the other lifts them up into the empyrean of everlasting joy and infinite Truth-Consciousness.
A 'Sadguru' is absolutely necessary for every aspirant in the spiritual path. It is only the 'Sadguru' who will find out your defects. The nature of egoism is such that you will not be able to find out your own defects. Just as a man cannot see his back, so also he cannot see his own errors. He must live under a 'Sadguru' for the eradication of his evil qualities and defects, for then only he is safe from being led astray. 'Sadguru' is an armour and fortress to guard you against all temptations and unfavourable forces of the material world."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

 ग्यानि मूल गँवाइया, आपण भये करना I
ताथैं संसारी भला, मन में रहै डरना II

"Kabir talks about the one who is wiser in his own eyes than all others. The knowledge blows a man up, and makes him look big, so he seems to himself to be large. The mere realm of ideas, the simple sphere of knowledge, tends to produce among men immense flabation, and a sense of importance. Such person starts assuming that he is God. A mundane person is however much better than him, for his conscience at least guards him from doing any wrongdoings. It's "Not Pride in Knowledge but Humility in Wisdom" that is the highest."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

जब लग भगहित सकामता, तब लग निर्फल सेव I
कहै कबीर वै क्यूँ मिले, निहकामी निज देव II

"Kabir says, some worship God due to fear that nothing ominous happens. Some worship God for the fulfillment of desires because they have an aspiration for money, son, grandson, wealth, grandeur etc. But God looks forward to those devotees who worship God with selfless devotion. God bestows His mercy on those who undertake great devotion and in return seek nothing from God. If we undertake devotion and seek something in return then it does not remain devotion and it becomes a business. It is like this that we have undertaken devotion and have redeemed it.

Therefore we must undertake the true devotion which is selfless devotion in which there is no demand from God.
Rare are those devotees who worship God by selfless devotion. They do not seek anything from God and only seek God from God. God comes in the bonding of such selfless devotee who seek God from God. Selfless devotion is the biggest and best devotion because it is through this devotion that God feels obligated to come in the bonding of the devotee."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

दया दया सब कोई कहैं, मर्म न जानै कोय I
जात जीव जानै नहीं, दया कहाँ से होय II

"Kabir says, we often talk about being kind to all beings, nurturing compassion for others. For our kindness as well as compassion, the sense of two-ness or duality is a must. But how can it be so when the Soul which we truly are is the Non-Dual Homogeneous Oneness? All duality is Maya, an illusion. That which is not."

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 water naturally flows downhill 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

करनी बिन कथनी कथै, गुरू पद लहै न सोय I
बातों के पकवान से, धीरा नाहीं कोय II

"Kabir says, the Guru teaches through personal example. The day-to-day conduct of the Guru is a living ideal to the disciple who is observant. However just like mere boastful talk cannot satiate a hungry belly, the one who doesn't walk his talk cannot become a Guru."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

पढि पढि के समुझावई, मन नहिं धारै धीर I
रोटी का संसै पडा, यौं कह दास कबीर II

"Kabir says, without Internalizing the Enlightening Spiritual Wisdom and unbrokenly living it in daily life, all religious paraphernalia or symbols are useless.
Beware of those who look pious outside, make believe that they are spiritual scholars, proclaim to be a religious authority. They impress upon simpletons and swindle them; hiding their untruthfulness and covering up their wickedness under the veil of their bookish knowledge."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कथनी थोथी जगत में, करनी उत्तम सार I
कहैं कबीर करनी भली, उतरै भोजन पार II

"Kabir says, putting your words into action—showing that you mean what you say by actively doing it yourself is more important than anything else. Karma literally means 'action' but it also refers to the process of cause and effect whereby positive actions result in happiness and negative, harmful actions lead to suffering. The real message of the teachings on karma is responsibility, for embracing responsibility is the gateway to freedom. A sign of wisdom and maturity is when you come to terms with the realization that your decisions cause your rewards and consequences. You are responsible for your life, and your ultimate success depends on the choices you make. Like a multifaceted jewel, responsibility has many aspects, each of which contributes to the whole. Responsibility Is an Acknowledgement of the Law of Karma. Every action you take generates a force of energy that returns to you in kind. The energy you put out into the universe will at some point return to you. The Law of Karma is a system of checks and balances that manages how that energy is registered and how it comes back into your life. There’s nothing mystical about Karma; it is the direct expression of cause and effect, what we sow so shall we reap. When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. This is the power of responsibility, the complete ownership of who you have been, who you are, and who you will become."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कबीर चंदन पर जला, तीतर बैठा माहिं I
हम तो दाझत पंख बिन, तुम दा जत हो काहि II

"Kabir says, a bird is pearched on a Sandalwood tree while it was on fire. The tree couldn't keep quiet, said, I am getting burnt because I have no wings. Why are you inviting trouble when you have the means to fly off to a safe place and save yourself?
There are people in this world who suffer despite having means to avert it just like us, human beings. God Realisation and liberation from the endless cycle of death and rebirth is very much attainable in this rare human birth provided we do not waste it chasing frivolous material pursuits. What we sow shall we reap."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कहता हूँ कहि जात हूँ, मानै नही गँवार I
बैरागी गिरही कहा, कामी वार न पार II

The ghost of lust lurks in the hole of one's mind and deludes the mind in hundred ways. Lust of a person who has no self control can never be fulfilled. An uncontrolled lust is an enemy of man with downfall inevitable. A foolish man with his vision blinded is tempted by lust, who considers opposite sex as objects of enjoyment is destroyed like the moth. It is lust only, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is all devouring sinful enemy of this world. Lust forces a person to do things even if he does not want to do it. No matter how best one may try, lust is never satisfied and burns like fire. The urge to enjoy the senses runs very deep and is very difficult to suppress. We all know the fall down of a great and powerful sage Vishwamitra which was due to the lustful desire that arose in him when he saw the beautiful Menaka. Even though he was capable of tolerating the bodily discomforts in the extreme austerities he was performing, still the lust overwhelmed him.

"Kabir says, the senses are so strong and impetuous, that they forcibly carry away the mind of not only an ordinary person but even a man of discrimination like a great sage Vishwamitra who is endeavoring to control them."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

जो जल बढे नाव में, घर में बाढे दाम I
दोनों हाथ उलीचिये, यही सयानों काम II

While there are those who do charity to acquire fame, the true philanthropist give away his wealth for purely altruistic purpose.

"Kabir says, when water seeps into a boat, a man in the boat throws out as much water as he can with both hands. But he does this only to save his life. A Wise however donates his wealth wholeheartedly for the betterment of mankind."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

साँस साँस पर नाम ले, वृथा साँस मति खोय I
न जाने इस साँस का आवन होय न होय II

While we are still able to breath, we never think about how precious and important a single breath is to us. However once breathing ceases wealth, status, fame, friends and family all become meaningless. 
We are human beings of ONE BREATH‘. In other words, the length of a person’s life can best be measured by the BREATH! We humans exist for ONE BREATH at a time, not knowing the life span or even what will happen next. Who knows if this breath we inhale could be our last?

"Kabir says, human birth is precious and once lost cannot be recalled. Human life is extolled as a very "rare" opportunity given to progress spiritually. By focussing on the ultimate purpose of human life — God Realization — we are urged to orient our lifestyle towards this goal even while engaged in worldly activities. If one does not understand this significance and take appropriate steps to realize this objective of life "here" and "now", then there is no escape from repeated pain and delusion. And therefore even a moment not spent in the Lord’s thoughts will be a great loss and is a moment of sorrow; while those moments spent in His thoughts are indeed blessed. Every moment of human life is an auspicious time; an opportunity to overcome all sorrowful memories and take a step towards a fruitful life. With the length of life span as but one breath, we must not let even a breath go waste without the meditative repetition of God's name, for it is not a word, it is God Himself."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

साधू शब्द समुद्र है, जामें रतन भराय I
मंद भाग मुठ्ठी भरै, कंकर हाथ लगाय II

Wherever a devotee has reached the stage of mental concentration on object of contemplation and has inculcated the ideal of inward purity in himself, the Almighty God manifests himself as the "Guru" and appears before him in order to bless him with the elixir of life in the form of his teachings. Guru is a self luminous phenomenon and a personification of purity symbolizing the effulgence engendered by the endearing look and a kind outlook. The devotee must aim at nothing but the discovery of truth; he must also realise that this form of truth manifests everywhere outside his frame in all its glory. The reality of this trinity of truthful manifestation is something which we see everywhere. This indeed is the state of truth and of the Guru who has descended on the earthly plane to deliver us from bondage and also to promote our spiritual progress. A disciple must realize this and keep the Guru close to his heart and dance in ecstasy. The Guru is the ocean of kindness and an embodiment of love, not only within himself but also without.

"Kabir says, a Guru is the ocean of kindness, holding abundant riches of noble virtues within. However if one seeks his blessings for worldly gains, then it will be like diving deep into the ocean and accumulate pebbles instead of pearls."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

महलन माँहीं पौढते, परिमल अंग लगाय I
ते सपने दिसे नहीं, देखत गए बिलाय II

Too often we are made to believe that pleasing the five senses can guarantee happiness. Fascinating sights, enchanting music, fragrant scents, delicious tastes and enticing body contact mislead and deceive us, only to make us slaves to worldly pleasures. While no one will deny that there is momentary happiness in the anticipation of pleasure as well as during the gratification of the senses, such pleasures are fleeting. When one views these pleasures objectively, the fleeting and unsatisfactory nature of such pleasures gets revealed. Everything is subjected to change and alteration in the world. There is nothing that is fixed and permanent. Existence is a flux and a continuous becoming.
Human history is full of vanished civilisations and fallen empires. From ancient times through to our own, the nature of this ‘rise and fall’ has captivated us. The history of the world is the story of nations and empires that prospered and later turned to dust. 

"Kabir says, everything that has come into being is destined to perish. Empires come and go, so are those who once enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, yet after their death no one remembers them. Death is a great leveler, time brings all luxuries of life to an end. All feelings of superiority in man as only an illusion and self deception."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कबीर लज्जा लोक की, बोलै नाहीं साँच I
जानि-बूझि कंचन तजै, क्यों तू पकडे काँच II

Truth does not pay homage to any society, ancient or modern. Society has to pay homage to Truth or die. Societies should be moulded upon truth, and truth has not to adjust itself to society.
Many of us are afraid to speak up, especially to speak truth to power, and there are many barriers to being open and frank. Speaking truth to power is saying what we believe to be true to someone in authority who might take it as a criticism or be offended and who can punish us in some way. We need to get better at not just speaking up but in listening to people who have something to say. "Do not be afraid” of speaking the truth. Even when there might be repercussions, we need not be afraid. Do not let the fear of people prevent you from speaking the truth, for truth never damages a cause that is just. Don't bend; don't water it down; don't try to make it logical; don't edit your own soul according to the fashion.

"Kabir says, sometimes people are not ready to hear the truth and, although they listen, they’re only hearing what they want to hear. We must not be reluctant to speak the truth just because it may contradict social beliefs and traditions. Truth is gold and falsehood is a piece of glass. It's up to us what we choose."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कबीर यह मन मसखरा, कहूँ तो मानै रोस I
जा मारग साहिब मिलै, तहाँ न चालै कोस II

The mind is very restless, turbulent, strong and obstinate. It is restless because it keeps fleeting in different directions, from subject to subject. It is turbulent because it creates upheavals in one's consciousness in the form of hatred, anger, lust, greed, envy, anxiety, fear, attachment etc. It is strong because it overpowers the intellect with its vigorous currents. The mind is also obstinate because when it catches a harmful thought, it refuses to let go, and continues to ruminate over it again and again, even to the dismay of the intellect.

"Kabir says, the fickle mind is often waggish in nature, humorous in a playful, mischievous manner. Frivolous things intrigue the mind more than the deep rooted things like wisdom and contemplation. The wayward mind wanders hither and thither. It is very difficult to fasten it on one fixed point such as is needed in devotion to God. And so when the mind is forced to walk on the path of devotion where One Pointedness is so much needed, it resists."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

जेहि खोजत ब्रम्हा थके, सुर-नर-मुनी अरु देव I
कहैं कबीर सुन साधवा, करू सतगुरू की सेव II

A child cannot be born without a father and a mother. Clothes cannot be washed without water. There can be no horseman without a horse. So, without a Guru, none can reach the court of the Lord. It is said that to get a human body is a rare thing in itself, but to get a human body and be spiritually aware is even greater. However, to be spiritually aware and find a Guru is the greatest blessing a human being can have. The Guru doesn’t bring about Self Realization. He or she merely removes all the obstacles to it, taking you to the doorway of Self Realization—your human “freewill” demands that you take the final step alone. The Guru lies within you like a mirror of your own self, to remind you of all the things you have forgotten. Just as a man cannot see his back, so also he cannot see his own errors. He must live under a Guru for the eradication of his evil qualities and defects. Sadguru is an enlightened being whose life's purpose is to guide an aspirant on the spiritual path, the summation of which is the realization of the Self through realization of God.

"Kabir says, the quest of God Realisation is on since time immemorial. But it is incomplete without a Guru, for he is verily a link between the individual and the Immortal, has a free and unhampered access to both the realms. He stands, as it were, upon the threshold of immortality; and bending down, he raises the struggling individuals with his one hand, and with the other lifts them up into the empyrean of everlasting joy and infinite Truth-Consciousness. The Guru is truly the gateway to Liberation."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

माया छाया एक सी, बिरला जानै कोय I
भगता के पीछे फिरै, सनमुख भाजै सोय II

The desire to find true happiness in worldly objects is only a mirage. Maya, the pleasures of this world like a shadow eludes those who chase it. A lonely traveller or an animal in a parched and hot desert sees the waters of mirage at close distance, moving like a river, having waves and even the sun reflecting on the water surface. The deluded mind then goes chasing it in that direction, lured on and on, but finds nothing at all. Similarly a shadow eludes those who try to catch it. Maya or Illusion is deeply rooted in attachment. When we are attached to or have a desire for something, it becomes a source of illusion for us. Those who are free from attachments and have directed their desires toward spiritual growth are free from the bondage of Maya, the illusion. Non-attachment and a constant awareness of Absolute  Reality are like two wings of a bird which can fly from the plane of mortality to the height of immortality. Those who do not allow their wings to be clipped by the illusion of Maya attain perfection, living in the world but not of the world.

"Kabir says, there is a similarity between material wealth and shadow. Both run ahead of those who chase them, but follow those who don't get lured by them."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

चतुराई हरि ना मिलै, ए बाताँ की बात I
एक निस प्रेही निरधार का गाहक गोपीनाथ II

 Unless one develops love for God, any attempt to realize Him would appear extremely difficult. When you love God without reservation, He fills your heart with His unconditional love for all. That love no human tongue can describe. 
When you are lonely, cry to your Heavenly Father.  When you yearn for understanding, run to Him.  Man has little idea of what a tremendous Friend, what a tremendous Lover, what a tremendous Father-Mother-Beloved is seeking his love!  But you have to seek Him first.  He will not impose Himself upon His children; He waits for them to seek Him.  He will push in your path everything but Himself.  He will offer constantly all kinds of substitutes, waiting to see if you will be content with them.  If you are, you remain at a standstill on the spiritual path.  But the wise devotee, like a naughty child, pushes aside every toy, every bauble of worldly attraction, and goes on crying for the Lord.  Such a devotee finds God; none else finds Him. Seek Him first.  Love Him with all your heart, mind, and soul.  And don’t be satisfied until you have that divine love. Cry to God night and day; talk to Him unceasingly; be drunk all the time with the desire for Him, and you will see how wonderfully life changes for you.

"Kabir says, there are many paths for the spiritual aspirant. The goal is to realise the ultimate truth of the all-perfect and infinite God. But loving devotion of God is a cut above the rest. God knows us inside and out. That is a thought that can be a bit frightening or it can be comforting, depending on our perspective. You Can't Fool God...He Sees You! He sees through the phony, pious displays and knows what is inside. So become an embodiment of love, for where Love is, there is God."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

भक्ति बिगाडी कामिया, इंद्रन केरे स्वाद I
हीरा खोया हाथ सो, जनम गवाया बाद II

"In this composition Kabir talks about the attachment to the worldly desires, material wealth, worldly allurements and enjoyment of senses. About those who believe that the everlasting happiness is attainable only in acquisition of material objects and their enjoyments. 
He says, those who succumb to the ceaseless demand of pleasures of senses go astray from the path of devotion. In a way by doing so they fail to take advantage of this rare human birth, which is no less than possessing a priceless gem, for human birth is a gateway to liberation from the mundane existence."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

अटकी भाल शरीर में, तीर रहा है टूट I
चुम्बक बिना निकले नही, कोटि पठन को फूट II

Just like the sun is the awakener, an enlightener, it is the Guru that awakens us from our slumber of ignorance. It is the Guru who by the light of his wisdom banishes the darkness of ignorance and wrong notions that we have about life and brings in the light of right reasoning, right perception and right thought. It is the Guru that also makes us see the way through his own lofty, sublime, personal example, through his own dynamic philosophy, through his own teachings and personal instructions. It is the Guru that points out the path and makes us see the path clearly. He points out the pitfalls and dangers upon the path, makes us alert and vigilant. He inspires us to arise, awake, seek knowledge, attain illumination and become forever blessed. 

"Kabir says, just like a pointed tip of a spear remaining stuck in the body of the injured soldier cannot be removed without a magnet, we cannot identify the weaknesses of our mind without the illuminating wisdom of the Guru."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

हम जाने थे खायेंगे, बहुत जिमीं बहुमाल I
ज्यों का त्यों ही रह गया, पकडि ले गया काल II

There are people who are singularly devoted to the accumulation of wealth. What happens to all that wealth when they die? It's left behind to others who didn't earn it. A wealthy man lying of sick bed nearing his end recalls his whole life and realises that all the recognition and wealth that he took so much pride in have paled and become meaningless in the face of impending death. You can employ someone to drive a car for you but you can't have someone to bear sickness for you. Material things lost can be found. But there is one thing that can never be found when it is lost - "Life." Whichever stage in life we are at right now, with time, we will face the day when curtain comes down and then all the riches we were so proud of fall in the hands of those who have not earned it and therefore they do not see the same worth in them as we see. 

"Kabir says, when we die we leave everything behind, nothing accompanied us ever."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II
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 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

यह बिरियाँ तो फिरि नहिं, मन में देखू विचार I
आया लाभहि कारनै, जनम जुआ मति हार II

Life is not an accident. It is said that we got our present human body only after our soul passed through 8.4 million species. Further life is extolled as a very rare opportunity given to progress spirituality. To that end Kabir shows us how to live properly so that we may unfold spiritually within. By focussing on God Realization, the ultimate purpose of human life we are urged to orient our lifestyle towards this goal even while engaged in worldly activities. If one does not understand this significance and take appropriate steps to realise this objective of life here and now then there is no escape from repeated pain and delusion. Kabir further reminds us that our sojourn in the world is for a fixed time and hence it becomes imperative that this rare opportunity is not to be frittered away in experiencing mere sensory pursuits."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

जाके मुख माथा नहीं, नाहीं रूप कुरूप I
पुहुप बास ते पामरा, ऐसा तत्त्व अनूप II

The Supreme Consciousness (Brahman) is formless, ineffable. The ineffable as described by Vedic Scriptures is "it is whole, from the whole, whole comes and take whole, yet whole remains." To describe Brahman even the words recoil. As He pervades every where and all material objects are His manifestations, so in this phenomenal world, we can see Him through many forms like the sun, moon, mountains, sea and all beings etc, but He remains Formless. There is no plurality or duality in Him. He is One Homogeneous Oneness. Although the world of objects and forms is finite and ever changing, but the infinite reality is All-pervading, Changeless and Eternal. Behind all multiplicity of this manifold universe, the One unconditioned Oneness persists in all its splendour. 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.

"Kabir says, the presence of God is like fragrance of flower, unseen yet not unfelt."

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 Iतेरा 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. So even though the source of Truth- Knowledge-Bliss dwells within us, we keep searching Him in the gross objects of outer world. Just like 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, 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 seasame seeds or light shines as the fire flares."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

जल ज्यों प्यारा माछरी, लोभी प्यारो दाम I
माता प्यारा बालका, भक्तन प्यारा नाम II

"Kabir says, Love is a universal language of heart. Just like humanity involves all humans regardless of distinction of country, religion, culture, gender etc, Love may manifest in variety of ways, but it's essence remains same everywhere. Just like fish loves water, a greedy person wants more of something than is necessary, mother has unbound love for her child, a devotee loves God's name, Love is experienced and expressed in countless forms and flavours but the majestic essence of Love is at the heart of our being."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कैसो कहा बिगाडिया, जो मुँडै सौ बार I
मन को काहे न मूँडिये, जामै विषम-विकार II

"Kabir says, if one doesn't internalise the teachings of his Guru, his religious acts such as shaving one's head are just, 'Pakhand,' pretending, hypocrisy. The mind is not affected by rituals like fasting, austerities or head shaving. Kabir challenges us to ask ourselves: How can the external performance of some ceremonial or otherwise practices such as head shaving free our mind of inner garbage (i.e lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride…). We may perform ritualistic reading of the spiritual texts, we may wear religious robes, and symbols, do head shaving and consider ourselves to be pure, holy, clever, etc. However, the conditioned mind continues to wander around. Of what use is bathing at locations of pilgrimage if the mind is filled with the filth of false ego-sense.
In other words rituals hide the Truth and bind us in egotism. They
 only enhance ignorance, thicken the false ego-sense, and worldly entanglements. Such deluded consciousness makes us do useless acts, devoid of any spiritual vibrations. Therefore if one thinks that merely by performing rituals, formalities such as head shaving he can mend his mind, he could not be any more deluded and lost."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

हीरा तहाँ न खोलिये, जहँ खोटी है हाटि I
कसकरि बाँधो गाठरी, उठी करि चालौ बाटि II

Just like water can be poured in a cup half full but not that is already brimming, the Spiritual Wisdom goes vain on the ignorant.

"Kabir says, if you have a  diamond for sale, seek those who have an eye for it, who can gauge it's preciousness fairly and have enough wealth to buy it."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

हीरा परा बाजार में, रहा छार लपिटाइ I
बतक मूरख चलि गये, पारखि लिया उठाइ II

"Most of us are ignorant of the profound importance of this rare human birth, being an opportunity to attain liberation from the endless cycle of deaths and rebirths, and waste it instead on chasing the frivolous material pursuits. Kabir says, a soiled diamond lying on the road was ignored by everyone assuming it as an ordinary pebble. But a perceptive who has an eye for it was not bluffed. He picked it up."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

देखा देखी भक्ति का,कबहूं न चढि रंग I
विपत्ती पडे यों छाडसि, केचुलि तजसि भुजंग II

"Kabir says, devotion is a movement emphasizing the mutual intense emotional attachment and love of a devotee towards God or Guru. It is a journey within, look within, search within, find within, inquire within, contemplate within, abide within. Devotion is not something that can be practiced just by seeing others do it. Such a shallow devotion doesn't last long just like the snake sheds skin often. Those who do such devotion leave it as soon as they face difficult times."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II