Another break in the flow happened yesterday – schedules meant I had absolutely no time to think – is that really possible? My apologies anyways.

 

So , first, today’s thought – and a lesson for myself –

 

“Anything you’re good at contributes to happiness.”

– Betrand Russell

 

Russell , despite the description of being a dour person, had many gems he contributed to the global body of knowledge , and this one is of particular relevance for me today ?

 

.. and now Kabir day 12:

 

First , the couplet , transliterated:

 

Kabira Man Nirmal Bhaya, Jaise Ganga Neer |

Pache Pache Har Phire, Kahat Kabir Kabir ||

 

Translation

 

(at some point of time) Kabir’s mind got cleansed, clear as the water of the (river) Ganges

(when that happened) everyone followed Kabir (in all his wanderings) chanting “Kabir, Kabir”!

 

My Understanding

 

All humans desire, at some level , fame and popularity. Everyone wants to be known as someone, to belong to an entity that is larger than life. However, in our chase of the daily chaos that life is, we are unable to focus on what is necessary and important. Small babies and animals are the best sensors of this chaos – they get closest to the one with the most peaceful mind and aura.

 

In this couplet, Kabir addresses this dilemma – we are able to scale those peaks of fame and popularity only after we release ourselves from the shackles that the desire for fame bind us in. Here the Saint is teaching us that we first need to be free of the binds of passion, desire, complicity and ego before we can admit others into our existence.

 

Once we are free, we become the compassionate, caring and loving being that we love to associate with. Others pick on this change, and flock to the unencumbered individual as moths to a lamp or sheep to the shepherd. Only the truly unencumbered individual will be in harmony with nature and existence.