“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
– Aristotle
Kabir – The couplet
जाती न पूछो साधू की, पूछ लीजिये ज्ञान |
मोल करो तलवार का, पड़ा रहने दो म्यान ||
Transliterated:
Jati na poochho sadhu ki, pooch lijiye gyan |
Mol karo talwar ki, pada rehne do mayaan ||
Translation:
Ask not of the wise their background, rather feast on their wisdom|
Focus on the strength of the sword, ignoring the distractions of the scabbard ||
My understanding:
The base human mind is forever trying to establish its own identity and greatness over all else. This petty one-upmanship leaves us much the poorer, for it leaves us unable to take advantage of opportunities that continue to present themselves to us all the time.
This is what Kabir is advising in this beautiful couplet – to take the wisdom from the wise, ignoring the rest of the persona. The beauty of the scabbard can distract us – but the scabbard by itself is of little value – it’s true value is the power of the sword it holds. So we should focus first on the sword – only if it is of the right value does the scabbard become relevant.
Even Aristotle is telling the same thing – albeit differently. His quote emphasizes the importance of being open to different perspectives and viewpoints, even if they conflict with our own beliefs. By considering different viewpoints, we can gain wisdom and insight that we might not have otherwise been able to obtain. Rather than picking sides or adhering strictly to our own beliefs, we can learn from others and broaden our understanding of the world.