Category: Philosophy

“Trust because you are willing to accept the risk, not because it’s safe or certain.” -Anonymous   Kabir – The couplet जो तू चाहे मुक्ति को, छोड़ दे सबकी आस । मुक्त ही जैसा हो रहे, सब कुछ तेरे पास ॥   Transliterated: Jo Tu Chaahe Mukti Ko, Chhod De Sabki Aas | Mukt Hi…

“But what is liberty without wisdom, and without virtue? It is the greatest of all possible evils; for it is folly, vice, and madness, without tuition or restraint.” – Edmund Burke   Kabir – The couplet आवत गाली एक है, उल्टन होए अनेक । कहे कबीर नहीं उलटिए, वही एक की एक ॥   Transliterated:…

“Whenever the cloud of ego threatens to engulf me, I remind myself of my roots. It helps keeping my feet on the ground.” – Faraaz Kazi   Kabir – The couplet ऊंचे पानी न टिके, नीचे ही ठहराय । नीचे हो सो भरी पिए, ऊंचे प्यास जाय ॥   Transliterated: Oonche Paani Naa Tike, Neeche…

“In our stillness, we acknowledge God’s greatness and we are at peace in our life. Stillness saturates us in the Presence of God.” – E’yen A. Gardner, Humbly Submitting to Change – The Wilderness Experience   Kabir – The couplet हरि संगत शीतल भया, मिटी मोह की ताप। निशिवसर सुख निधि, लहा अन्न प्रगत आप॥…

“Don’t let your ego consumes you so that in the race of getting ahead from every one you don’t lose those who truly cared for you.” – Unknown   “…the human being to lack that second skin we call egoism has not yet been born, it lasts much longer than the other one, that bleeds…

“Physical pleasure is a sensual experience no different from pure seeing or the pure sensation with which a fine fruit fills the tongue; it is a great unending experience, which is given us, a knowing of the world, the fullness and the glory of all knowing. And not our acceptance of it is bad; the…

“In a deep metaphysical sense, all that is conditioned is illusory. All phenomena are literally ‘appearances,’ the outer masks in which the One Reality shows itself forth in our changing universe. The more ‘material’ and solid the appearance, the further is it from reality, and therefore the more illusory it is.” -Annie Besant   Kabir…

” “Man raises himself toward God by the questions he asks Him,” he was fond of repeating. “That is the true dialogue. Man questions God and God answers. But we don’t understand His answers. We can’t understand them. Because they come from the depths of the soul, and they stay there until death. You will…

“Real kindness seeks no return – what return can the world make to rain clouds?” -Tiruvalluvar, Tamil Sage and Poet   Kabir – The couplet कबीर मन फुल्या फिरे, करता हूँ मैं धम्म । कोटि क्रम सीरी ले चल्या, चेट न देखै भ्रम ॥   Transliterated: Kabir Man Phulya Phire, Karta Hoon Main Dhamm |…

“The human brain is a complex organ with the wonderful power of enabling man to find reasons for continuing to believe whatever it is that he wants to believe.” -Voltaire   Kabir – The couplet कबीर इस संसार का, झूठा माया मोह । जिहि घरी जीता बढ़ावना, तिहि घर तीता अन्दोह ॥   Transliterated: Kabir…

“The ignorant mind, with its infinite afflictions, passions, and evils, is rooted in the three poisons. Greed, anger, and delusion.” -Bodhidharma   Kabir – The couplet कबीर माया पापिनी,फंध ले बैठी हाटी । सब जग तो फंदे पद्य, गया कबीरा काटी ॥   Transliterated: Kabir Maaya Papini, Phandh Le Baithi Haati | Sab Jag Tou…

“Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing, only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness; So on the ocean of life, we pass and speak one another, only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence.” -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow   Kabir – The couplet…

“O my wealth-coveting and foolish soul, when will you succeed in emancipating yourself from the desire for wealth? Shame on my foolishness! I have been your toy! It is thus that one becomes a slave of others. No one born on earth did ever attain to the end of desire…. Without doubt, O Desire, your…

“nāty-aśnatas tu yogo ’sti, na caikāntam anaśnataḥ na cāti-svapna-śīlasya, jāgrato naiva cārjuna” There is no possibility of one’s becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough. – Bhagavad Gita 6.16   Kabir – The couplet कामी लज्या न कराइ, मन माहे…

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.”   – Siddartha Guatama Buddha   Kabir – The couplet देह धरे का दंड, सब कहु को होइ । ज्ञानी…

“Freedom is to stand alone, unattached and unafraid, free in the understanding of desire which breeds illusion.” J.Krishnamurthi   Kabir – The couplet पुत्र पियारो पितः को, गोहाटी लागि ढाई । लोभ मिठाई हाथी दे, अपन गया भुलाई॥   Transliterated: Putr Piyaari Pitah Ko, Gohari Lagi Dhai | Lobh Mithai Haathi De, Apan Gaya Bhulai…

“Laziness erodes a person of his enthusiasm and energy. As a result the person loses all opportunities and finally becomes dejected and frustrated. The worst thing is that he stops believing in himself.” The Sama Veda   Kabir – The couplet कबीर सोता क्या करे, सोते जोई अकाज । ब्रह्म को आसन त्यागा, सोयत काल…

“The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul, a waking angel stirs.” James Allen   Kabir – The couplet तन को जोगी सब करे, मन को बिरला कोई । सहजै सब बिधि पाइए, जो मन जोगी होइ ॥   Transliterated: Tan Ko Jogi…

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Abraham Lincoln   Kabir – The couplet जिन जिन संभल न कियो, अस पुर पतन पाई । झाली पड़े दिन अथये, संभल कियो न जाई ||   Transliterated: Jin Jin Sambhal Na Kiyo, As Pur Patan…

“Attachment is the great fabricator of illusions; reality can be obtained only by someone who is detached.” Simone Weil   Kabir – The couplet जब लग भक्ति सकामता, तब लग निर्फळ सेव । कहै कबीर वह क्यों मिलै, निष्कामी निज देव ||   Transliterated: Jab Lag Bhakthi Sakaamta, Tab Lag Nirphal Sev | Kahai Kabir…

“A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but a little want of knowledge is also a dangerous thing.” Samuel Butler Kabir – The couplet ग्यानी मूल गवैय्या, आपन भये कर्ता । ता ते संसारी भला, मन में रहे डरता|| Transliterated: Gyaani Mool Gavaiyya, Aapan Bhaye Karta | Taa Te Sansari Bhala, Man Mein Rahe Darta…

“Our Souls have sight of that immortal sea Which brought us hither, Can in a moment travel thither, And see the Children sport upon the shore, And hear the mighty waters rolling evermore.” – William Wordsworth (Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood) Kabir – The couplet तन बोहित मन काग है, लाख…

“Your life quality is affected by the quality of your thoughts.” – MARCUS AURELIUS Kabir – The couplet बाहर कहाँ देखि ऐ, अंतर कहिये राम । कहो माहौल खलक सो, पर धनीसे काम || Transliterated: Baahar Kahan Dehi Ai, Antar Kahiye Ram | Kaho Maahaul Khalak So, Para Dhanise Kaam || Translation: Why do you…

“The battle you are going through is not fueled by the words or actions of others; it is fueled by the mind that gives it importance.” – Shannon L. Alder Kabir – The couplet सकलो दुर्मति दूर करू, अच्छा जनम बनाव । काग गवन गति छांडि के, हंस गवन चलि आव || Transliterated: Sakalo Durmati…

“What is life? A madness. What is life? An illusion, a shadow, a story. And the greatest good is little enough; for all life is a dream, and dreams themselves are only dreams.” – Pedro Calderon de la Barca Kabir – The couplet माया छाया एक सी, बिरला जाने कोई । भागात के पीछे लगे,…

“Please give me the light of your wisdom To dispel the darkness of my mind And to heal my mental continuum.” – from a prayer to Buddha   Kabir – The couplet पांच पहर धंधा किया, तीन पहर गया सोय । एक पहर भी नाम बिन, मुक्ति कैसे होय ||   Transliterated: Paanch Pahar Dhandha…

“My happiness is not the means to any end. It is the end. It is its own goal. It is its own purpose.” – Any Rand (Anthem)   Kabir – The couplet भक्ति निसैनी मुक्ति की, संत चढे सब ढाई । जिन जिन मन आलस किया, जनम जनम पछिताई|| Transliterated: Bhakti Nisaini Mukti Ki, Sant…

“Self-realization is the knowing – in body, mind, and soul – that we are one with the omnipresence of God; that we do not have to pray that it come to us, that we are not merely near it at all times, but that God’s omnipresence is our omnipresence; that we are just as much…

“There is no path to peace. Peace is the path.” – Mahatma Gandhi   Kabir – The couplet आपा तजे और हरि भजे, नख सीख ताजे विकार । सब जीवन से निरबैर रहे, साधु मति है सार || Transliterated: Apa Taje Aur Hari Bhaje, Nakh Seekh Taje Vikaar | Sab Jeevan Se Nirbair Rahe, Sadhu…

“When you connect to the silence within you, that is when you can make sense of the disturbance going on around you.” – Stephen Richards   Kabir – The couplet सुमिरन किया तब जानिया, तन मन रहा समाय । आदि अंत मध्य एक रस, भुला कबहु न जाय || Transliterated: Sumiran Kiya Tab Jaaniya, Tan…

“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” – Marcus Aurelius   Kabir – The couplet सुमिरन थोर ही भला, जो करी जाने कोई । सूत न लागि बनवानी, सहज सेवा सुख होइ|| Transliterated: Sumiran Thor Hi Bhala, Jo Kari Jane Koi | Soot Na…

“The saints, too, had wandering minds. The saints, too, had constantly to recall their constantly wandering mind-child home. They became saints because they continued to go after the little wanderer, like the Good Shepherd.” – Peter Kreeft   Kabir – The couplet सुमिरन की सुधि यूँ करो, ज्यों सुरभि सुतचहि । कहहि कबीर चर चरि,सुरभि…

“Never complain, never explain. Resist the temptation to defend yourself or make excuses.” – Brian Tracy   Kabir – The couplet ज्ञान कथे बक बक मरे, काहे करे उपाधि । सद्गुरु हमसे एनु कहे, सुमिरन करे समाधि || Transliterated: Gyan Kathe Bak Bak Mare, Kaahe Kare Upaadhi | Sadguru Hamse Enu Kahe, Sumiran Kare Samadhi||…

“If someone corrects you, and you feel offended, then you have an EGO problem.” – Nouman Ali Khan   Kabir – The couplet अहंग अग्नि ह्रदय दहे, गुरुते चाहे मन । तिन्हो को यम न्योता देहि, तुम हो मेरे मेजमन|| Transliterated: Ahang Agni Hriday Dahe, Gurute Chahe Man | Tinho Ko Yam Nyota Dehi, Tum…

“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh   Kabir – The couplet तू तू करता तू भया, मुझमे रहा नु हू । बरी फेरी बलि गई, जीत देखूं तित तू || Transliterated: Tu Tu Karta Tu Bhayaa, Mujhme Raha Na Hoo | Bari…

“True love is when you will do anything and everything that you can just to make your love happy.” -Anurag Prakash Ray   Kabir – The couplet प्रेम गली अति संकरी, तामे दोउ न समाई । जब मई था तब हरि नहीं, अब हरि हा मई नाही || Transliterated: Prem Gali Ati Sankari, Tame Dou…

“We are moving toward a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as for certain and which has as its highest goal one’s own ego and one’s own desires.” – Pope Benedict XVI   Kabir – The couplet पिया चाहे प्रेम आस, रखा चाहे मन । दोउ खड़ग एक मयान में, देखा सुना न…

“When you stop living your life based on what others think of you real life begins. At that moment, you will finally see the door of self acceptance opened.” – Shannon L. Alder   Kabir – The couplet ह्रदय भीतर आरसी, मुख देखा नहीं जाय । मुख तो तबही देखिलो, जब दिल की दुविधा जाय||…

“Learning to let go should be learned before learning to get. Life should be touched, not strangled. You’ve got to relax, let it happen at times, and at others move forward with it.” – Ray Bradbury   Kabir – The couplet जो तू चाहे मुक्ति को, छोड़ दे सबकी आस । मुक्त ही जैसा हो…

“I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.” – William Penn   Kabir – The couplet…

“Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain. – Joseph Campbell   Kabir – The couplet हंसी हंसी कांत न पायी, जिन पाया तीन रोये । जो हंसी ही हरी मिले, तो कौन दोहागिन होए॥ Transliterated: Hansi Hansi Kant Na Paayi, Jin Paaya Tin Roye | Jo Hansi…

“Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.” – Kahlil Gibran   Kabir – The couplet केसों कहा बिगाडिया, जे मुंडे सौ बार ।…

“Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.” – Norman Maclean   Kabir – The couplet हेरत हेरत हे सखी, रहा कबीर हेराइ । बूँद समाई समुंद में, सो कत हरी जाइ || Transliterated: Herat Herat He Sakhi, Rahaa Kabir Heraai | Boond Samaai Samund Mein, So Kat Heri Jaai|| Translation:…

“Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.” – Winston Churchill   Kabir – The couplet कबीरा कलह अरु कल्पना. सत संगती से जाय । दुःख बासे भागा फिरै, सुख में रहे समाय|| Transliterated: Kabira Kalah Aru Kalpana, Sat Sangati Se Jaay…