II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

को छूटौ इहिं जाल परि कत फुरंग अकुलाय I
ज्यों-ज्यों सुरभि भजौ चहै, त्यों त्यों उरझत जाय II

"Kabir says, freedom from the bondage of Maya is as impossible as a bird trying to free itself from the snare, for the more it tries to get out of the trap the more it gets entangled in it."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

बिरिया बीती बल घटा, केस पलटि भए और I
बिगरा काज सँभारि लै, करि छूटन की ठौर II

Kabir describes as to how we humans usually waste our life. As the night has beginning and end, so does the human life. Both are born; both go through childhood and youth before becoming old and weary; and ultimately, both vanish. At the end, in the old age, our organs of action begin to tremble, and our tongue becomes incapable of speaking God's Name. In the end in regret and repent, we cry, lament and wail. Then, its too late. The next thing we know is the noose of death hanging over our head, which comes so quickly and suddenly that it carries away everything in a moment what we had tried to preserve all our life as our own.

"Kabir says, the twilight years of life have come upon you. Moment by moment, the body is wearing away, and old age is asserting itself. Your hair have turned grey, breathing has become laboured, bodily strength and mental sharpness are on the decline. So far you have not remembered Lord Ram but its high time you stop procrastinating things any more, for any next breath could be your last."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

या दुनिया दो रोज की, मत कर यासो हेत I 
गुरु चरनन चित लाइये, जो पुराण सुख हेत II

"Kabir says, waste not this rare human birth chasing frivolous material pursuits because nothing lasts forever. Instead one must seek the Guru who, by the collyrium-rod of Knowledge, opens the eyes of those who are rendered blind by the darkness of ignorance."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कबीर तन पंछी भया, जहां मन तहां उडी जाइI
जो जैसी संगती कर, सो तैसा ही फल पाइ II

This world is like a mountain.Your echo depends on you. If you scream good things,the world will give it back. If you scream bad things,the world will give it back. Even if someone says badly about you, speak well about him. Change your heart to change the world.

"Kabir says, the worldliness has made we humans like a bird. Our bodies fly to where our minds lead us to. While the evil thoughts may compel us to do wrongdoings, those who sow courtesy reap friendship, and those who plant kindness gather love. Engage in good thoughts, and only good words and good deeds will follow. Our thoughts become our actions. A man is known by the company he keeps.The character and moral standards of a person are strongly influenced by those he chooses to surround himself with."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कबीर थोड़ा जीवना, माड़ै बहुत मँडान I
सबही ऊभा मेल्हि गया, राव रंक सुलतान II

Despite our most careful planning, the Road of Life is unpredictable. While we go about planning our days and lives, we sometimes learn that God or the universe or whatever we call our higher power has another plan for us. Our best-laid plans in life can be upended by unexpected changes, which could be either disappointing or exhilarating. Personal or other setbacks, losses of loved ones, illnesses or accidents, broken hearts or tortured souls, are not uncommon occurrences in our lives. Downturns are not permanent defeats, and successes are not ultimate triumphs. How we face our setbacks, with resilience, and accept our successes, with grace, are important measures of our worth as individuals.

"In this composition Kabir talks about man's frantic yet futile effort of embracing uncertainty of future. The next moment is guaranteed to no one, yet man never fails to make big plans. It is so aptly said, "Man makes plans....and God laughs." No matter who makes plans for future, a King or a pauper, for eventually everything in the world is time bound, nothing lasts forever."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

हाड़ जरै ज्यौं लाकड़ी, केस जरैं ज्यों घास I

सब तन जलता देखि करि, भया कबीर उदास II

Everything changes and nothing lasts forever. Everything from our emotions to our thoughts and feelings, from the cells in our bodies to the plants around us, is changing and decaying continuously. Everything in material or relative existence is impermanent. That is, everything has a beginning, a middle, and, most definitively, an ending. Life is perpetually in flux and change is an inevitable constant. It may seem paradoxical, but embracing impermanence can be a great gift. Indeed, it can be one of life’s great wake-up calls. No matter how we try to escape it, the reality of impermanence will eventually catch us and force us to deal with it. When we allow ourselves to consciously recognize the impermanence of all things, we appreciate life more and we have more joy and gratitude for this precious human lifetime in which we can connect with others and expand our love and compassion.

"Kabir says, on funeral pyre bones burn like dry wood, hair burn like grass on fire. Seeing the body turning into ash makes us acutely aware of the transient nature of objects, situations, people, and relationships. Anything that we cling to persistently can cause us to suffer and drain our energy. Detachment is key to making friends with impermanence; until we can release our attachments, impermanence will continue to loom like a specter over our shoulders. Impermanence is undoubtedly a challenging thing to embrace. Yet it provides us with the opportunity to awaken to the deeper reality of being that lies beyond our material existence. By exploring the insights impermanence offers us we can suffer less, and live a deeper, more fulfilling life."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

जीवन जोवत राज मद, अविचल रहै न कोय I

जु दिन जाय सत्संग में, जीवन का फल सोय II

Youth is a currency that quickly fades. Spend yours wisely. Anything that appears will soon disappear. What rises must set. What comes and goes is time-bound, thus unreal or temporary. So, we are urged by Kabir not to get attached to anything fleeting.

"Kabir says, Satsanga or association with the Guru is an armour and fortress to guard you against all temptations and unfavourable forces of the material world. 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. Satsang leads to us opening our own perceptions about life. We get to see things more clearly – and this helps us detach from being possessed by our possessions, rather than the other way around."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

मन उन्मना न तोलिये, शब्द के मोल न तोल I
मुर्ख लोग न जान्सी, आपा खोया बोल II

"In this short yet potent composition Kabir lays bare the fallacy of seeking solace through inflicting pain. He says, "no one heals himself by wounding another," reminding us that true healing isn't found in the jagged edges of inflicted misery.
Pain begets pain, not solace. When we lash out, when we wound others to ease our own hurt, we perpetuate a cycle of suffering. The temporary relief might feel like sunshine breaking through storm clouds, but the shadows of our actions linger, poisoning both ourselves and those we've harmed.
This doesn't imply ignoring our wounds or pretending they don't exist. It's about choosing healthier avenues for healing – paths paved with introspection, forgiveness, and seeking support from those who offer a balm, not a blade.
Kabir's words offer a profound truth: the path to wholeness doesn't lie in wounding others. It lies in tending to our own scars with kindness, in reaching out for hands that mend, not weapons that wound. So, let his message be a guiding light, urging us to break the cycle of suffering and choose the path of compassion, for within its gentle embrace, we all find the true path to healing."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

बेटा जाए क्या हुआ, कहा बजावै थाल I
आवन जावन ह्वै रहा, ज्यौं कीड़ी का नाल II

"Kabir says, rejoice not much at the birth of child, for it is not much different than the bodies within the ambit of the 8.4 milion species, subject to birth and death just like the sewer worms."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

धीरे-धीरे रे मना, धीरे सब कुछ होय । 
माली सींचे सौ घड़ा, ऋतु आए फल होय ॥

In this composition Kabir offers a gentle reminder to be patient with ourselves, trust the process, and celebrate the quiet moments of progress on our unique journeys towards personal growth and fulfillment. He urges us to embrace the reality that growth often happens slowly and subtly. Comparing ourselves to others or wishing for instant leaps can lead to frustration and discouragement. Imagine a seed patiently germinating underground, invisible process happening before the sprout emerges. 
Kabir emphasizes the importance of faith and trust in the process of change and development. Even when progress seems imperceptible, consistent effort, like studying, reflecting, trying, are still contributing to positive growth. Imagine a sculptor meticulously refining a piece, each stroke contributing to the final masterpiece.
This composition of Kabir highlights the organic nature of growth, likening it to the blossoming of a rosebud. Just as a flower unfolds in its own time, so too does our potential. Trusting this natural process allows for authentic and sustainable development. Kabir suggests that like a rosebud reaching full bloom, moments of sudden clarity or significant progress can emerge after consistent effort and patience."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कबीर टुक टुक देखता, पल पल गयी बिहाये I
जीव जनजालय परि रहा, दिया दमामा आये II

"Kabir says, what we take for granted dwindles into the background, unnoticed, unmeasured, meaningless. ... the countless disparate moments that make a life.
Though the mankind is engrossed in Maya, the worldly temptations and entanglements, death has sounded the trumpets long back and is already on the move to catch us unawares."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कबीरा तेरी झोपड़ी, गलकटियन के पास I
जो करेगा सो भरेगा, तू क्यों होत उदास II

"Kabir says, do not feel down just because you live near the butcher's shop, for their conduct they only shall pay. One needs to be like a Lotus flower that grows in swampy and dirty water and yet remains untouched by it."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कबीर सो धन संचे, जो आगे को होय I
सीस चढ़ाए पोटली, ले जात न देख्यो कोय II

"Kabir says, The TRUTH is, that all of the “STUFF” here on earth we work so hard to buy and accumulate..does NOT mean a thing. 

At the end of the day...people will be cleaning out our "STUFF", going thru our "STUFF", figuring out what to do with all of our "STUFF"....this "STUFF" we've accumulated in our life. 

The only thing of VALUE that remains are the MEMORIES and what we deposit into others. 

May we all learn to spend less time accumulating "STUFF" and spend way more time making MEMORIES."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

भक्ति भेष बहु अन्तरा, जैसे धरनि अकाश I
भक्त लीन गुरु चरण में, भेष जगत की आश II

"Kabir says, a Sadhu is not recognized by their external appearance. There is a huge difference between devotion and putting getup of a Sadhu. Devotion is all about being absorbed in the lotus feet of the Guru. Those who give emphasis on special clothing and appearance do so to impress the world. It is for the world, not for the Lord."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कहाँ से आया कहाँ जाओगे
खबर करो अपने तन की
कोई सदगुरु मिले तो भेद बतावें
खुल जावे अंतर खिड़की

"Kabir says, how a Jiva is born and where the Jiva ends up after death has confronted human mind since time immemorial. It is only through the wisdom of Sadguru, one can know about death and meaning of life in its full depth and dimension. It is through his wisdom one comes to the realisation that life is much more than what we think it is."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

आया अनआया भया, जे बहु राता संसार I
पड़ा भुलावा गाफिलाँ, गये कुबुद्धी हारि II

"Kabir says, thinkers and seers over the ages have reminded aspiring humanity that the precious gift of being born as a human should never be allowed to be thrown away or wasted. To be born as a human among the innumerable species of life, is itself a unique blessing in the arduous journey through countless births. Even in the brief life span, there is an opportunity to gain access to knowledge of God, experience His infinite greatness, and seek salvation. An individual has to know the truth of his real self and the purpose of his life. This precious birth should not be squandered away in short-lived pleasures. Before us is a unique opportunity to achieve the true goal of human birth, God Realisation. We should make proper use of this birth to deeply inquire into our true essence and understand the real source of peace and happiness."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

देखा देखी भक्ति का, कबहू न चढ़सी रंग I
विपत्ति पड़े यों छाडसि , केचुलि तजसि भुजंग II

Devotion is expressed through intention and attention, not just emotion and action.
Even when we practice bhakti steadily, we may still do it ritualistically – out of deference to cultural convention or religious tradition. But such ritualistic devotion is like going to work just to mark our attendance instead of working attentively to get things done. When we practice bhakti, we aren’t meant to just mark our attendance at certain rituals; we are meant to invest our attention in doing them, knowing that these practices offer us precious opportunities to connect our consciousness with God and to experience his presence. Devotion is not just offerings, practise of rituals or leading an austere life, but it is something done with pure love for the Supreme Being.

"Kabir says, often devotion is practiced just because someone has praised a temple or a Guru or a Holy place, for the devotion taken under the influence of others or as a fashion doesn't last. Such devotion is only skin deep, for as soon as there is trouble, one loses faith in the Lord as the snake sheds its skin."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

सातौ सबद जु बाजते, घरि घरि होते राग I
ते मंदिर खाली पड़े, बैठन लागे काग II

Our life is a tissue of opposites interwoven at different junctures in various forms. Happiness and sorrow, love and hatred, truth and lies, failure and success, and other countless contraries in which one is the flip side of another; one positive and the other negative.
A trail of failures inflames our will to succeed. One may not bask in the sunshine of success unless he had not waded through the blurry nebulousness of dusk. Few tiff and sulks strengthen relationships. A chaotic mind yearns for peace. Hatred amplifies the quest for love. Ignorance impels the urge for knowledge. Thus every negative aspect grapples for positivity.
The bounteous nature is also a blend of opposites ; sunrise and sunset, sunny and cloudy , spring and autumn and many more. Water that nourishes can also wreak havoc. Fire that warms can also devastate immeasurably. Every bloom withers with time and so does human life with the ceaseless circle of life and death.

"Kabir says, in the end, “time is ruthless” serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility and preciousness of life. Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away. Great empires ceased and once flourishing civilizations disappeared without trace, for time turns places of abundance into ruins."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

बुगली नीर बिटालिया, सागर चढया कलंक I
और पखेरू पी गये, हँस न बौवे चंच II

The world in which we live is not very different from the hall of illusions which Duryodhana entered. It is a giant illusion in itself, where our egos grow in strength, experience emotions and where we assume one thing for another and suffer from confusion, delusion and emotional turmoil. If Mayasabha symbolizes the world, Duryodhana symbolizes the egoistic individual (jiva) and Draupadi personifies Nature or Maya who instigates beings into different states of delusion, confusion and mental or emotional instability. Maya is ubiquitous in this world, and none is spared by it. The influence of Maya manifests in every aspect of our lives. It clouds our judgment and creates confusion and conflicting states whereby people fail to see things as they are or make wise choices. 

"Kabir says, it is said that, if diluted mixture of milk and water is given to a swan, swan is able to extract milk and drink it. When it comes to extracting milk from a mixture, swan is swan and crane is crane. i.e. crane does not have this ability. A Realised Soul like a swan lives amidst worldly chores (Maya) yet remains intuitively absorbed within, living in the world but not of the world."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

चन्दन गया बिदेस, सब कोई कहत पलास I
ज्यो ज्यो चूल्हा झोंकिये, त्यों त्यों महके बास II

It is not appropriate to assess people on the basis of their appearance. Some people take a look at the cover of a book and feel that the designer colour and fancy text may mean it is better than a plain book. However, that does not happen, the inside of the book maybe not what you expected, so never judge a book or person by its cover. Beautiful souls often get put into plain bodies, hard to recognize merely by their outward appearance.The Grace is all around us, if we only have the eyes to see it.

"Kabir says, not everyone can recognize a block of sandalwood merely by looking at it, but as soon as it burns the rich aroma is unmistakable. In other words we often realize the importance of people in our lives only after they are gone.

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कस्तूरी कुंडलि बसे, मृग ढूंढ़े वन माहिं I
ऐसे घट-घट राम है, दुनिया देखे नाहि II

There once was a Musk Deer who very early in her life began to notice this heavenly scent in the air. Intoxicated by its smell, the Deer set out to search for the source of this divine aroma. She searched high and low and every where she went she could smell it lightly in the air, but its source always eluded her. She searched the depths of every forrest, smelled around every tree, tasting every blade of grass and still couldn't discover where this scent was coming from. She remained determined because the scent was so glorious she knew deep down that she would be profoundly happy once she finally found it.
She ended up devoting her entire life to her search and one day fell exhausted onto the forest floor. As she fell one of her horns pierced her own belly. Suddenly the air was overwhelmingly flooded with this divine heavenly scent. After a lifetime of searching, in the presence of the final moments of her precious life she realized the scent was coming from her naval.

"Kabir says, Musk Deer and it's search for the musk smell is a wonderful analogy for "searching outside for what is within." We seek to be happy, to find the source of our happiness somewhere out there in the world. We search tirelessly to discover it. However all that we seek is right here. We are the source of our peace, happiness and wellbeing."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

 

ज्यों तिल माहि तेल है, ज्यों चकमक में आग I
 तेरा साईं तुझ ही में है, जाग सके तो जाग II

This doha of Kabir shatters the notion of the divine as a distant entity perched on high. 
Kabir says, the divine is not something high above us, but woven into the very fabric of existence. He reminds us that it's all around us – in the sun's warmth, the whisper of the wind, the majestic sweep of a mountain range. It's a divine tapestry woven into the very fabric of the natural world, accessible to all. It is inside us. The divine spark resides within each of us, shimmering in our hearts, minds, and very being. Through introspection, through mindful connection with the world around us, we can ignite that spark, allowing it to shine outwards, illuminating both ourselves and those we encounter.
More than just a philosophical musing, look for it in the sunrise, feel it in the embrace of a loved one, listen for it in the quiet moments of contemplation. And most importantly, nurture the divine spark within our own being, allowing it to guide our actions and illuminate our path. In doing so, one'll discover that the divine isn't some distant object of worship, but an ever-present force pulsating within and around us, waiting to be awakened.

"Kabir says, the sesame seed contains oil. However, when we see the seed, we don't see the oil. The oil needs to be extracted from the seed. Same way fire is not visible when we look at the flint stone. However, vigorous rubbing ignites the fire which is latent in the flint. Same way, Kabir asserts, that our body - the temple - seats the Divine.  This divinity is our true self.  However, due to our ignorance, we are unaware of it. Man is potentially divine and the sole purpose of this life is to discover that divinity. The time to do is here and now".  

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

प्रेम छिपाए न छुपे, जा घट प्रगट होय I
जो मुख से कछू ना कहे, तो नैन दिया है II

"Kabir says, the eyes are windows into the soul, revealing deep emotions that we might otherwise want to hide. You could trust what the eyes speak much more than what the mouth does."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

गुरु किया है देह का, सतगुरु चीन्‍हा नांहि I

भवसागर के जाल में, फिर फिर गोता खांहि II

"Kabir says, the Guru is not the physical body. The Guru is the divine light that resides within the body. A Guru is the one who consciously carries the intense living presence of the Divine within him and it is this presence that makes a Guru the real Guru. In a truer sense, the Guru is a channel or representative or the manifestation of the Divine
It is not the physical appearance, attire or colour of people’s clothes that makes them Guru, but the colour of the heart, which should be steeped in devotion. Without the help of Guru, it is not possible to cross Bhavasagar', the ocean of worldly temptations full of corrupting influences."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कबीर गाफील क्यों फिरय, क्या सोता घनघोर I
तेरे सिराने जाम खड़ा, ज्यों अंधियारे चोर II

"Kabir says, every minute someone leaves this world behind. Age has nothing to do with it. We are all in "the line" without knowing it.
We never know how many people are before us. We can not move to the back of the line. We can not step out of the line. We can not avoid the line. Death looms over all of us, like a thief on prawl, waiting for a chance to rob man of his life."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

काल करे सो आज कर, आज करे सो अब  I
पल में परलय होएगी, बहुरि करेगा कब II

"Kabir says, the present moment is the only thing that exists. The past and the future are just concepts in our minds, pulled from the present moment and used to create our perceptions of life. Unfortunately, most people live in their heads, placing their perceptions ahead of reality, which creates problems.
It is said that,
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery and today is a gift – that is why it’s called the present”
It perfectly nails the whole point ‘Life is about living in the present moment’ and being in the ‘Now’. If one ever want to live life to the fullest, the best way is to be in the present moment. The only way to truly explore and enjoy this, is by not thinking about past and worry about the future."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

फुलवा भार न ले सके, कहे सखियन सो रोय I
जो जो भिजे कामरी, त्यो त्यो भारी होय II

Being detached—not being without emotion or feeling, but being one in whom feeling is not sticky or blocked, and through whom the experiences of the world pass like the reflections of birds flying over water.

"Kabir says, we are so delicate, that weight of even a flower is too much to bear! Still, we get involved in life and become heavy like a drenched blanket. The problem is not with life; the problem is when we start getting entangled in it. Attachment is the problem. How large or small that attachment is, makes no difference."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II

 II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

कबीरा जब हम पैदा हुए, जग हँसे हम रोये I
ऐसी करनी कर चले, हम हँसे जग रोये II

The true virtue doesn't reside in grand pronouncements or occasional acts of charity. It lives in the consistent choices we make, the words we speak, and the way we navigate the seemingly mundane moments. Every interaction, every decision, becomes a brushstroke on the canvas of our character, revealing our commitment to fairness, honesty, and compassion.

"Kabir says, human life is mortal. However, it can be made immortal by performing lasting good deeds. The mankind mourns those who live in deeds, and not in years."

II श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम II

II श्रीसद्गुरूचरणार्पणमस्तु II