Don’t gain the world and lose your soul; wisdom is better than silver or gold.
– Bob Marley
Kabir – The couplet
अटकी भाल शरीर में, तीर रहा है टूट ।
चुम्बक बिना निकले नहीं, कोटि जातां को फूट ||
transliterated:
Atki bhãl sharir mein, teer raha hai toot |
Chumbak bina nikle nahee, koti jatan ko phoot||
Translation:
The shaft of the arrow that struck the body is out, but the head is stuck inside |
Without a magnet to help, it is very difficult to pull it out||
My understanding:
The soul, at birth, get’s this body as a tool to achieve its stated purpose.
Then, the world, society, our physical senses and our individual interpretation of the need to achieve something in this physical world take over. That seems to override the original programming that states the body is the tool, and instead makes it the primary purpose of existence.
The soul, now, is trapped in this vehicle it was supposed to use, helpless and confused. At some point, it succumbs to the overriding demand for physical existence, and follows the body’s lead, instead of leading the body.
The only one who can help correct the situation is the one we trust the least, and approach only under extreme duress – a true guru. For our physical programming does not allow us to trust a person who expects nothing but our own improvement as the only payment for his efforts.
However, the guru is the only magnet that can remove the trapped arrowhead and cleanse the blood of the accompanying poison and infection, without destroying the body, so the soul can still put it to effective use.
So find that guru, and hang on till you truly find enlightenment – since that is the way to find our true purpose in life.