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    Kabir: Songs of the Divine
    Kabir: Songs of the Divine
    Kabir: Songs of the Divine
    Ebook211 pages1 hour

    Kabir: Songs of the Divine

    By Jagessar Das

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    About this ebook

    Satguru Kabir (1398-1518 CE) was born in the city of Kashi, in northern India. At the time, India
    was passing through a period of transition. There was confusion and chaos everywhere. Kabir appeared on the scene and realized the problem that was staring India in the face – the disunity of Hindus and Muslims. He was pained to see how children of God raised barriers that kept their hearts apart. He sought to break those barriers with the key of mysticism and inspire people to rise above the differences of birth and be rid of the hollow ritualism that made mimicry of religion. He saw the enormous waste of time and energy involved in religious bigotry. He wanted to bring unity and peace through love and compasion. He criticized both Hindus and Muslims for their ignorance and illusion. His teachings of religious tolerance and love had a great impact on people. Love and devotion is the central theme of Kabir’s phoilosophy. Although devotion to God was not uncommon in the religious history of India, Kabir gave a new turn to the philosophy. He embraced simplicity, self-sacrifice, truthfulness in thought, word, and deed as preconditions for Bhakti. Kabir’s God is without name or form and resides in the hearts of all living beings. One has to search for him in the depths of one’s own heart through meditation. Simply turn your mind inwards. Listen to the divine music in your heart.

    Satguru Kabir was hailed as the Father of Hindi poetry, and as the greatest exponent of Nirgun Bhakti (devotion to God who is formless and without attributes). He was the first to introduce Sant Mat (company of saintly people) and the first to teach the concept of Sahaj Yog to attain Sahaj Samadhi (easy realization of unity with God). His life and teachings give ample testimony to them, and research has validated them. He was always attuned to God, and gave his mystical teachings from that vantagepoint. Many people are familiar with the refrain: “kahat kabir suno bhai sadho” (Kabir is speaking: O brother sadhus! Please listen). This was his poetic stamp of instruction to the people. And he did not make use of any existent scripture, but taught from his inner knowledge. He did not isolate himself from humanity, but taught publicly for the benefit of all people: kabir khada bazar men, sab ko chahe khair; na kahu se dosti, na kahu se bair (Kabir is standing in the marketplace and wishes the welfare of all impartially. He is neither a friend nor an enemy to anyone).

    The scholar Charlotte Vaudeville stated: “Kabir is one of the best-known and most revered names in Indian tradition. From the Panjab to Bengal and from the Himalayan frontiers to South India, he has long been hailed by Hindus and Muslims alike as a great mystic and bold religious reformer....In Indian religious history, Kabir is unique: to the Hindus, he is a Vaishnava bhakta, to the Muslims a pir, to the Sikhs a bhagat, to the sectarian Kabir-panthis an avatar of the Supreme Being; to modern patriots, Kabir is the champion of Hindu-Muslim unity, to neo-vedantins a promoter of the Universal Religion or the Religion of Man...”

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJagessar Das
    Release dateDec 8, 2020
    Kabir: Songs of the Divine
    Author

    Jagessar Das

    M. D. Retired. Writing, Lecturing, Meditation, Spirituality

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      Book preview

      Kabir - Jagessar Das

      KABIR

      SONGS OF THE DIVINE

      J. Das

      SURREY

      BRITISH COLUMBIA

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

      Published by Jagessar Das, M. D.

      Surrey, BC, Canada,

      Published in 2020. ISBN: 978-1-7772456-3-4

      CONTENTS

      Preface . . .

      Introduction . . .

      Poems

      the fish in the water . . .

      every step you take . . .

      appointment with death . . .

      keep the mirror polished . . .

      fabric of the body . . .

      renunciation . . .

      pure devotion . . .

      in an instant of time . . .

      the only refuge . . .

      heartfelt meeting with God . . .

      this cage you’re in . . .

      precious jewel of life . . .

      better is the animal . . .

      let them . . .

      see clearly . . .

      without the Word . . .

      ego mind . . .

      strange times . . .

      harbour a deep love . . .

      so full of bliss . . .

      how can I enlighten you . . ?

      unfathomable . . .

      now is the life . . .

      come decorate my hair . . .

      drum of victory . . .

      the city of love . . .

      steadfast consciousness . . .

      discern the condition . . .

      where I make my dwelling . . .

      see what the seed has . . .

      why spend your life in illusion . . ?

      glittering like a dewdrop . . .

      mine,

      mine,

      mine . . .

      how lucky . . .

      divine melody . . .

      beware of the world of illusion . . .

      only the brave . . .

      words are precious . . .

      from the heart . . .

      I am That,

      I am That . . .

      a drum above your head . . .

      the teacher’s instructions . . .

      tethered by karmas . . .

      isn’t it time to wash the fabric . . ?

      the caged parrot . . .

      seek to reach the highest goal . . .

      drown yourself in God’s love . . .

      do it now . . .

      key that opens the lock . . .

      farewell . . .

      the greatness of the saint . . .

      wake up,

      brother,

      wake up . . .

      inertia of ignorance . . .

      wake up,

      morning has arrived . . .

      flag of God’s name . . .

      whose family is bigger . . ?

      illusion is where you’ve camped . . .

      the body is transitory . . .

      within all . . .

      the land I live in . . .

      only in life . . .

      everywhere I turn,

      I see God . . .

      natural state of union . . .

      wherever you are . . .

      spend some time . . .

      imperishable . . .

      bead-carrying frauds . . .

      water as needle . . .

      cave of the void . . .

      silent meditation . . .

      this worldly ocean . . .

      the authoritative Word . . .

      immersed in God . . .

      two-day guest . . .

      better a virgin . . .

      the heart,

      pierced . . .

      this fabric . . .

      wellspring of holiness . . .

      brightness of a million suns . . .

      simplicity and humility . . .

      why sleep . . ?

      river of life . . .

      what’s in the pot . . .

      entangled . . .

      mingle with the dirt . . .

      the stealthiest of thieves . . .

      surrender . . .

      trading in for a cowry . . .

      great and holy . . .

      five thieves . . .

      merge into your Self . . .

      no one heeds my instructions . . .

      yet you starve . . .

      uttering God’s name . . .

      an escort of dry wood . . .

      think very carefully . . .

      finally married . . .

      the best of love . . .

      the sun of knowledge . . .

      the real jewel . . .

      about heaven . . .

      the one colour . . .

      absorbed in God . . .

      tell me . . .

      nectar of God . . .

      a promise to God . . .

      mere illusions . . .

      what a great ascetic . . .

      how unfortunate a state . . .

      remember to be cordial . . .

      fetch some strong soap . . .

      God is before you . . .

      swallow your sorrow . . .

      intoxicated with love . . .

      transformed . . .

      just about had enough . . .

      liable to suddenly bite the dust . . .

      when God touches you . . .

      don’t be foolish . . .

      mindful of God’s presence . . .

      think of all the slaps . . .

      foolish lover . . .

      a fatal blow . . .

      those wild animals . . .

      the mind turns inward . . .

      through the eye of the needle . . .

      ride the horse . . .

      colour of God’s love . . .

      many noble qualities . . .

      who is it that dies . . ?

      bondage to ignorance . . .

      lily-like soul . . .

      give me shelter . . .

      long journey . . .

      ocean heart of mercy . . .

      how long will you sleep . . ?

      you are quite mistaken . . .

      God devotion . . .

      liberation in this life . . .

      cheating God . . .

      make a boat from God’s name . . .

      only what you have sown . . .

      the only true dwelling . . .

      so brazenly foolish . . .

      the only liberation there is . . .

      in this body . . .

      how subtle the path is . . .

      become conscious of your life . . .

      the invisible within the visible . . .

      the true disciple . . .

      lost opportunities . . .

      a tree growing in space . . .

      horse of water . . .

      no better than an animal’s . . .

      relinquish your bags of ignorance . . .

      the parrot will fly . . .

      this storm of a quarrel . . .

      only your good name . . .

      absolute light . . .

      I must escape . . .

      neither–nor . . .

      knowledge of true reality . . .

      world of a strange drama . . .

      there’s a witch somewhere . . .

      so many have died . . .

      everyone suffers . . .

      where there is neither day nor night . . .

      it is not an animal . . .

      my eyes were thirsty . . .

      forest of blooming flowers . . .

      the journey is long . . .

      be as you are . . .

      still lost . . .

      the perfect diamond . . .

      the arrow of meditation . . .

      stuck fast in duality . . .

      the true warrior . . .

      beyond all reckoning . . .

      pangs of separation . . .

      realize me inside your heart . . .

      About the Author

      PREFACE

      A few years ago as I was reviewing some prose translations of Kabir’s bhajans, I thought it would be a good idea to produce a book of a large number of his poems. This book is the result. Although I was brought up in the Kabir Panth (Path), and my main language is English, there was no book available

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