Daily Archives: May 9, 2011

“In history as in human life, regret does not bring back a lost moment and a thousand years will not recover something lost in a single hour.”
– Stefan Zweig

Kabir – The couplet
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???? ??? ? ?????, ?? ???? ??? ||

transliterated:
Man unmana na toliye, shabd ke mol na tol|
Murakh log na jaanasi, aapa khoye bol ||

Translation:
When the mind is disturbed, pay no heed to the words that flow – they mean nothing |
The fool, ignorant of this simple truth, raves, rants and loses||

My thoughts:
In the previous post, I had talked about the need to listen to that, which is not being said. Even here, that statement holds true. Find inner silence, and then listen to that which is not being said. That allows us to hear past the anger and emotion, and arrive at the heart of the matter quickly. This allows us to offer appropriate help, or stay away till the others find their own inner peace.

Juxtaposing this couplet on the previous one, one is able to see the completion of the circle – speak only after understanding, express with love, and silence the self when overcome by emotion.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
– Maya Angelou

Kabir – The couplet
????? ???? ????????, ???? ???? ??? |
???? ??? ??? ??, ???? ?? ??? ? ??? ||

transliterated:
Pehele shabd pehchaaniye, peeche kije mol |
Parakhi parakh rattan ko, shabd ka mol na tol ||

Translation:
Recognize the words being said, then understand, leave the judgment for much later |
A goldsmith can tell us the value of the gold, but not the value of the gift ||

My thoughts:
Once again, this is a couplet that says more with what is not being said. The value of a jewel is not just its commercial value – which any reasonable appraiser can help determine. The true value is determined by the thought behind the gift, the effort to ensure it is shaped just the right way to say that which words cannot express.

So Kabir is asking us to dig deeper, go beyond that which is being said, to understand that which is being expressed. To really be able to do this, I have to silence my inner voice, find complete peace and silence, and then let the words fill me. Then I am able to hear without interference, and perceive the true meaning of the statement, the look, and the gesture.

This state of peace is the first step to true understanding, and thenceforth to real bliss!