Ramblings of another geek

“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…

“If you want to reach a state of bliss, then go beyond your ego and the internal dialogue. Make a decision to relinquish the need to control, the need to be approved, and the need to judge. Those are the three things the ego is doing all the time. It’s very important to be aware…

“Time and tide wait for no man.” – Geoffrey Chaucer   Kabir – The couplet पाँव पालक की सुधि नाही, करे कल की साज । कल अचानक मारसि, ज्यों तीतर को बाज ||   transliterated: Paav palak ki sudhi naahi, kare kal ki saaj| Kal achaanak marasi, jyon teetar ko baaj || Translation: We have…

“Politeness is the flower of humanity.” – Joseph Joubert   Kabir – The couplet   सुख सागर का शील है, कोई न पावे थाह । शब्द बिना साधु नहीं, द्रव्य बिना नहीं शाह || transliterated: Sukh Saagar Ka Sheel Hai, Koi Na Paave Thaah | Shabd Bina Sadhu Nahi, Dravya Bina Nahi Shah || Translation:…

“If my love is without sacrifice, it is selfish. Such a love is barter, for there is exchange of love and devotion in return for something. It is conditional love.“ – Sadhu Vaswani   Kabir – The couplet   कामी क्रोधी लालची, इनसे भक्ति क्या होए । भक्ति करे कोई सूरमा, जाती वर्ण कुल खोए…

“What is important in meditation is the quality of the mind and the heart. It is not what you achieve, or what you say you attain, but rather the quality of a mind that is innocent and vulnerable. Through negation there is the positive state. Merely to gather, or to live in, experience, denies the…

“Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter.” – Izaak Walton   Kabir – The couplet ऋद्धि सिद्धि मांगो नहीं, मांगो तुम पाई ये । निसदिन दर्शन साधु को, प्रभु कबीर कहु दे ||   transliterated:Riddhi Siddhi Mangou Nahi, Mangou Tum Pai Yeh |Nishidin Darshan Sadhu Ko, Prabhu Kabir Kahu Deh || Translation:Wealth or fame…

“How strange that Nature does not knock, and yet does not intrude!” – Emily Dickinson   Kabir – The couplet दास बनना कठिन है, मैं दासों का दास । अब तो ऐसा होए रहूँ, पाँव तले की घास ||   transliterated: Pakhaa pakhi ke kaarane, sab jag rahaa bhulaan | Nirpakh hoi ke hari bhaje,…

“You cannot fulfill God’s purposes for your life while focusing on your own plans. ” – Rick Warren   Kabir – The couplet दास बनना कठिन है, मैं दासों का दास । अब तो ऐसा होए रहूँ, पाँव तले की घास ||   transliterated: Daas bananna kathin hai, main daason ka daas | Ab to…

Virtue is relative to the actions and ages of each of us in all that we do. – Plato   Kabir – The couplet सोना सज्जन साधु जान, टूट जुड़े सौ बार । दुर्जन कुम्भ कुम्हार के, एके धक्का दरार||   transliterated: Sona sajjan sadhu jan, toot jude sau baar | Durjan kumbh kumhaar ke,…

Don’t gain the world and lose your soul; wisdom is better than silver or gold. – Bob Marley   Kabir – The couplet अटकी भाल शरीर में, तीर रहा है टूट । चुम्बक बिना निकले नहीं, कोटि जातां को फूट ||   transliterated: Atki bhãl sharir mein, teer raha hai toot | Chumbak bina nikle…

Guru is like an axe who cuts the attachments deep within one’s heart. Real diksha means that he has no attachment to anything of this material world. – Subhag Swami   Kabir – The couplet पावक रूपी साइयां, सब घाट रहा समाई । चित चकमक लागे नहीं, ताते बुझि बुझि जाइ ||   transliterated: Pãwak…

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln   Kabir – The couplet बहुत दिवस ते हिंदिया, सुनिए समाधि लागै । करहा पारा गढ़ में, दुरी पारा पछताए ||   transliterated: Bahut diwas te hindiya, suniye Samadhi laagai| Karha paara gadh mein,…

“Having a low opinion of yourself is not ‘modesty.’ It’s self-destruction. Holding your uniqueness in high regard is not ‘egotism.’ It’s a necessary precondition to happiness and success.” – Bobbe Sommer   Kabir – The couplet बन ते भागा बिहड़े परा, करहा अपनी बन । बेदन करहा कसो कहै, को करहा को जान || transliterated:…