Kabir – Day 10

Today’s Quote

 

“When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.”

-Ernest Hemingway

 

Some responses to reactions from yesterday’s couplet, first (and yes, please feel free to correct me when I miss steps – it is these missed steps that tell me I am human, and am but a student, thirsting for more knowledge):

 

A dear friend wrote:

“- a thought occurred to me when I read your interpretation. 

 

In Tamil Nadu and perhaps other southern states, I have known people beg as an act of atonement to the Lord – for e.g., perfectly middle class people may beg to raise the money to go to Tirupathi or somewhere else to offer prayers. I guess they are putting themselves to so much humiliation as an act of atonement?”

 

In my own understanding, this is not begging in the traditional semantic sense of the word, but rather an act of humiliation to put perspective around a specific occurrence – similar in some ways to the confessions practiced by some religions. Here, the begging is not a source of daily life support, but rather a way of apologizing – and hence different from begging for a livelihood (as confession is different from using inability as an excuse to take the easier path).

 

..and now, Kabir Day 10 (special? Three couplets that are related, for today!)

 

1)

..the couplet, transliterated…

Maya Mari Na Man Mara, Mar Mar Gayee Shareer Asha Trishna Na Mari, Keh Gaye Das Kabir

 

Translation

 

Neither illusion nor the soul ever die, death cometh only to the gross body Hope and desire do not die, so sayeth Kabir

 

My Understanding

 

Here, Kabir takes on the great ‘illusion’ or maya – defined as the source of all suffering and pain. This takes me back to a conversation from yesterday night with another friend. Allow me to elaborate:

 

In the Hindu faith, there is emphasis on the cycle of rebirth till the ultimate emancipation of the soul from the binding of this world. Looked at in light of that thought, this life is a preparation for the next, not a life meant to entertain or gorge ourselves with pleasures of the ‘now’. Simplicity, satisfaction and satiety (The condition of being full or gratified beyond the point of satisfaction; surfeit) are what will help in such a quest – for the chasing of material pleasures is a thirst that can never be quenched. This then is the beginning of the understanding of the concept of ‘MAYA’ Kabir speaks of.

 

Even the 13th century Persian poet Rumi reflects similar thinking in the poem below – this is a universal thought and not limited to a specific culture or time:

“

Our death is our wedding with eternity.

What is the secret? “God is One.”

The sunlight splits when entering the windows of the house.

This multiplicity exists in the cluster of grapes; It is not in the juice made from the grapes.

For he who is living in the Light of God, The death of the carnal soul is a blessing.

Regarding him, say neither bad nor good, For he is gone beyond the good and the bad.

Fix your eyes on God and do not talk about what is invisible, So that he may place another look in your eyes.

It is in the vision of the physical eyes That no invisible or secret thing exists.

But when the eye is turned toward the Light of God What thing could remain hidden under such a Light?

Although all lights emanate from the Divine Light Don’t call all these lights “the Light of God”; It is the eternal light which is the Light of God, The ephemeral light is an attribute of the body and the flesh.

…Oh God who gives the grace of vision!

The bird of vision is flying towards You with the wings of desire.

“

 

So in the above couplet, Kabir emphasizes that neither illusion nor the soul ever die – death is a state for only the gross physical body. The average human, even on the death bed, clings to this material world, relations, possessions and yearnings for those desires not fulfilled (trishna) – the very desire and illusion Kabir wants us to shed. The purpose of the repeated life is to help gradually lose interest in materialism (from surfeit?) and ultimately focus on the true meaning and purpose of Life.

 

Two more couplets that explain the same thought in different ways:

 

a) the couplet transliterated:

Maya dolai mohini, bolai madhur bain

Koi ghayal na milai, Sain hirdai sain||

 

Translation:

Maya is like a beauteous woman, bewitching with her art, But he in whom the Lord is Manifest (realized) – she cannot effect or hurt.

 

Here , Kabir likens Maya to a beautiful woman trying to ensnare man in the bonds of the material world. Most every religion and fable have used the common understanding of the concept of the female as the lure and man as the fish – this is not a reflection on the gender, but rather a simple way to explain a deeper concept to the unrealized person.

 

b) the couplet transliterated:

Deepak paavak aaniya, tel bhi aaniya sang Teenoo mil kar joiya, udi udi padey patang||

 

Translation:

The lamp, finding the wick, and the oil, lights up (as desire) The three (oil, wick and lamp) attract men like flies, save the soul with Realization.

 

Here the meaning is more hidden – Kabir used more allegorical expression here. As flies are attracted to the light of the lamp, Kabir says that man is attracted to desire – but just as the flies get burnt, Kabir is warning man to keep a distance and protect the soul.