Today’s quote:

It’s a fascinating phenomenon if you stop and think about it. People are willing to damage their current and future financial situation in order to keep up with the Joneses.
– Brian Kim (http://briankim.net/blog/2008/03/how-to-stop-keeping-up-with-the-joneses/ )

..and now, Kabir, day 27

The couplet – transliterated:

Aisi gati sansar ki, jyon gaarad ko that |
Ek pada jaihi gaad mein, sabai jaahi tehi baat ||

Translation:
The world’s people are like herds of sheep, following one other without reason |
If the leader falls into a pit, the rest follow into the same in unison ||

My understanding:
Kabir is requesting us to awaken to our reasoning ability, and behave in a fashion that helps us achieve our own goal, not that of others. Man has been blessed with the ability to rationalize and function sensibly – if only he chooses to.

A long time ago, wealth was defined as a goal to aspire for, and the chase of lucre has since taken over as the primary goal a large portion of the world’s population’s base function. Most people collect “stuff” without reasoning why or rationalizing the need for it.

Instead of hoarding wealth, if we were to emulate the rest of the animal world by “taking what we need, giving all we can” would most of the strife in the world have any reason to exist?