Gurbani Contemplation - Selok Bhagat Kabir Ji

[Astroboy]

Originally Posted by gurvinder_janu
ਕਬੀਰ ਡੂਬਾ ਥਾ ਪੈ ਉਬਰਿਓ ਗੁਨ ਕੀ ਲਹਰਿ ਝਬਕਿ ॥
कबीर डूबा था पै उबरिओ गुन की लहरि झबकि ॥
Kabīr dūbā thā pai ubri▫o gun kī lahar jẖabak.
Kabeer, I was drowning, but the waves of virtue saved me in an instant.
ਜਬ ਦੇਖਿਓ ਬੇੜਾ ਜਰਜਰਾ ਤਬ ਉਤਰਿ ਪਰਿਓ ਹਉ ਫਰਕਿ ॥੬੭॥
जब देखिओ बेड़ा जरजरा तब उतरि परिओ हउ फरकि ॥६७॥
Jab ḏekẖi▫o beṛā jarjarā ṯab uṯar pari▫o ha▫o farak. ||67||
When I saw that my boat was rotten, then I immediately got out. ||67||

Sri Kabir Ji says that in the ocean of materialistic world where the waves are virtues, and I was drowning in the waves of virtues which was comforting my confidence and increasing my desires for more pleasure (of worldly happiness), in such situation I was pulled out quickly by the realization of ultimate truth obtained from GuruJi's sermon.

When I realized, this physical body (boat) will rot, I quickly got off it and realized that I am a separate entity from it altogether. I am not subject to birth and death, worldly happiness and sorrow, youth and old age, etc.

 

[Astroboy]

ਕਬੀਰ ਪਾਪੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਭਾਵਈ ਹਰਿ ਪੂਜਾ ਨ ਸੁਹਾਇ ॥
कबीर पापी भगति न भावई हरि पूजा न सुहाइ ॥
Kabīr pāpī bẖagaṯ na bẖāv▫ī har pūjā na suhā▫e.
Kabeer, the sinner does not like devotion to the Lord; he does not appreciate worship.

ਮਾਖੀ ਚੰਦਨੁ ਪਰਹਰੈ ਜਹ ਬਿਗੰਧ ਤਹ ਜਾਇ ॥੬੮॥
माखी चंदनु परहरै जह बिगंध तह जाइ ॥६८॥
Mākẖī cẖanḏan parharai jah biganḏẖ ṯah jā▫e. ||68||
The fly abandons the sandalwood tree, and goes after the rotten smell. ||68||

KabirJi says that a sinner does not prefer Almighty's meditation, and nor does Almighty's worship suits him.

Just as the fly forsakes sandal and goes to where there is bad (evil) odor, in the same way, sinners always prefer to disunite with true congregation and joyfully join the evil company. The satisfaction of the desires are ranked highest thus ignoring all the responsibilities of the human i.e. to meditate on the Almighty, serve others, etc.

 

[spnadmin]

Nam Jap ji

We have almost completely different understandings. I wonder why.

 

[Astroboy]

Aad Ji,

Virtues of worldly nature is also called trigun maya. It takes the hand of the true guru to escape the mesmerizing effect of gunas or virtues. The guru is always within us. At the source of all creation. It is extremely hard to escape the satas guna as it is actually a copy of the real. Like a Xerox copy but even it is subject to dissolution and decay.

For example the dazzling lights of Brahm Lok equivalent to Sao Chanda and Hajjar Sooraj is still pitch darkness as compared to the ultimate home of souls, Mansarovar Hansla. Without the Guru's sermon, we would be forever stuck in the illusion.

 

[spnadmin]

Nam Jap ji

I appreciate the description of trigun maya. There are still some ideas in your vichaar that I don't see in the shabad. But things work for now.

Sat Sri Akaal!
Antonia

 

[Astroboy]

ਹੇ ਕਬੀਰ! (ਸੰਸਾਰ-ਸਮੁੰਦਰ ਵਿਚ) ਮੈਂ ਡੁੱਬ ਚੱਲਿਆ ਸਾਂ, ਪਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦੀ ਸਿਫ਼ਤਿ-ਸਾਲਾਹ ਦੀ ਲਹਿਰ ਦੇ ਧੱਕੇ ਨਾਲ (ਸੰਸਾਰਕ ਮੋਹ ਦੀਆਂ ਠਿੱਲਾਂ ਵਿਚੋਂ) ਮੈਂ ਉਤਾਂਹ ਚੁਕਿਆ ਗਿਆ। (ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਮੋਹ ਵਿਚ ਮਸਤ ਸਾਂ, ਹੁਣ ਅੱਖਾਂ ਖੁਲ੍ਹ ਆਈਆਂ) ਉਸ ਵੇਲੇ ਮੈਂ ਵੇਖਿਆ (ਕਿ ਜਿਸ ਸਰੀਰਕ ਮੋਹ ਦੇ ਬੇੜੇ ਵਿਚ ਮੈਂ ਸੁਆਰ ਹਾਂ ਉਹ) ਥੋੜਾ-ਬਹੁਤ ਪੁਰਾਣਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ (ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਛੇਕੋ-ਛੇਕ ਹੋਇਆ ਪਿਆ ਹੈ)। ਮੈਂ ਛਾਲ ਮਾਰ ਕੇ (ਉਸ ਅਪਣੱਤ ਦੇ ਬੇੜੇ ਵਿਚੋਂ) ਉਤਰ ਪਿਆ (ਮੈਂ ਅਪਣੱਤ, ਸਰੀਰਕ ਮੋਹ ਛੱਡ ਦਿੱਤਾ। ਪਰ ਇਹ ਸਭ ਕੁਝ ਇਸੇ ਕਰਕੇ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਮੈਂ ਉਹ 'ਦਰੁ' ਨਾਹ ਛੱਡਿਆ ਜਿਸ ਦਰ ਤੇ ਟਿਕਿਆਂ 'ਹਟਕੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੋਇ')।੬੭।

I will try to translate Prof Sahib Singh's version of this selok:

Kabir, I was drowning, but with the powerful surge of the waves of God's praises, I came out of the worldly attachments and got uplifted. Earlier, I indulged in Moh but now my eyes are open and in an instant I can see that this physical body Moh which I was caught up in is getting very old and I have disowned this boat.

 

[spnadmin]

NamJap ji

Now Professor Sahib Singh is translating as "but with the powerful surge of the waves of God's praises" and not as the trigun of Maya.

Not to press the point to hard, but that is much closer to my understanding that the source of support is outside, in the Ocean of the Satguru,

"I think this is important to note because it explains how Sikhism sees the source of virtue -- virtue comes from the Satguru. Virtue is bestowed by the grace of the Satguru, and He saves us by his mercy because He is an ocean of mercy. So Kabeer will not drown in the ocean. Instead he will be saved by the ocean of virtue coming from Akaal."

I do agree that the rotten boat is the body -- though I also would extend that to physical existence in general.

 

[Astroboy]

Aad Ji,

May God bestow me with His wisdom so that I can excel towards His cause.

 

[spnadmin]

NamJap ji

Sounds good to me.

 

[gurvinder_janu]

ਕਬੀਰ ਬੈਦੁ ਮੂਆ ਰੋਗੀ ਮੂਆ ਮੂਆ ਸਭੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥
कबीर बैदु मूआ रोगी मूआ मूआ सभु संसारु ॥
Kabīr baiḏ mū▫ā rogī mū▫ā mū▫ā sabẖ sansār.
Kabeer, the physician is dead, and the patient is dead; the whole world is dead.

ਏਕੁ ਕਬੀਰਾ ਨਾ ਮੂਆ ਜਿਹ ਨਾਹੀ ਰੋਵਨਹਾਰੁ ॥੬੯॥
एकु कबीरा ना मूआ जिह नाही रोवनहारु ॥६९॥
Ėk kabīrā nā mū▫ā jih nāhī rovanhār. ||69||
Only Kabeer is not dead; there is no one to mourn for him. ||69||

 

[gurvinder_janu]

ਕਬੀਰ ਰਾਮੁ ਨ ਧਿਆਇਓ ਮੋਟੀ ਲਾਗੀ ਖੋਰਿ ॥
कबीर रामु न धिआइओ मोटी लागी खोरि ॥
Kabīr rām na ḏẖi▫ā▫i▫o motī lāgī kẖor.
Kabeer, I have not meditated on the Lord; such is the bad habit I have developed.

ਕਾਇਆ ਹਾਂਡੀ ਕਾਠ ਕੀ ਨਾ ਓਹ ਚਰ੍ਹੈ ਬਹੋਰਿ ॥੭੦॥
काइआ हांडी काठ की ना ओह चर्है बहोरि ॥७०॥
Kā▫i▫ā hāʼndī kāṯẖ kī nā oh cẖarĥai bahor. ||70||
The body is a wooden pot; it cannot be put back on the fire. ||70||

 

[Gyani Jarnail Singh]

the Wooden Pot analogy.... and the idea of Human Birth so precious..ONLY ONCE !!
Bhagt kabir Ji is asserting this vital point once more...this body is like a wooden pot..can be used only once.....take the opportunity to merge back with your creator..

 

[gurvinder_janu]

ਕਬੀਰ ਐਸੀ ਹੋਇ ਪਰੀ ਮਨ ਕੋ ਭਾਵਤੁ ਕੀਨੁ ॥
कबीर ऐसी होइ परी मन को भावतु कीनु ॥
Kabīr aisī ho▫e parī man ko bẖāvaṯ kīn.
Kabeer, it came to pass, that I did whatever I pleased.

ਮਰਨੇ ਤੇ ਕਿਆ ਡਰਪਨਾ ਜਬ ਹਾਥਿ ਸਿਧਉਰਾ ਲੀਨ ॥੭੧॥
मरने ते किआ डरपना जब हाथि सिधउरा लीन ॥७१॥
Marne ṯe ki▫ā darapnā jab hāth siḏẖa▫urā līn. ||71||
Why should I be afraid of death? I have invited death for myself. ||71||

 

[spnadmin]

ਕਬੀਰ ਬੈਦੁ ਮੂਆ ਰੋਗੀ ਮੂਆ ਮੂਆ ਸਭੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥
कबीर बैदु मूआ रोगी मूआ मूआ सभु संसारु ॥
Kabīr baiḏ mū▫ā rogī mū▫ā mū▫ā sabẖ sansār.
Kabeer, the physician is dead, and the patient is dead; the whole world is dead.

ਏਕੁ ਕਬੀਰਾ ਨਾ ਮੂਆ ਜਿਹ ਨਾਹੀ ਰੋਵਨਹਾਰੁ ॥੬੯॥
एकु कबीरा ना मूआ जिह नाही रोवनहारु ॥६९॥
Ėk kabīrā nā mū▫ā jih nāhī rovanhār. ||69||
Only Kabeer is not dead; there is no one to mourn for him. ||69||

Guru Nanak gives a clue I think, on Ang 22.

ਮੁਇਆ ਜਿਤੁ ਘਰਿ ਜਾਈਐ ਤਿਤੁ ਜੀਵਦਿਆ ਮਰੁ ਮਾਰਿ ॥
mueiaa jith ghar jaaeeai thith jeevadhiaa mar maar ||
To reach your True Home after you die, you must conquer death while you are still alive.

Kabir is not dead, for he lives in the " Lord's Love." The world around him is dead to him, he is not longer attached to it. Why mourn? He remains quite alive, even when his body is dead to him, and the doctor, who cannot cure the disease of life and death, is dead to him, and the whole world is lies dead to him, because he is one who lives in the Lord's Love.

 

[spnadmin]

ਕਬੀਰ ਐਸੀ ਹੋਇ ਪਰੀ ਮਨ ਕੋ ਭਾਵਤੁ ਕੀਨੁ ॥
कबीर ऐसी होइ परी मन को भावतु कीनु ॥
Kabīr aisī ho▫e parī man ko bẖāvaṯ kīn.
Kabeer, it came to pass, that I did whatever I pleased.

ਮਰਨੇ ਤੇ ਕਿਆ ਡਰਪਨਾ ਜਬ ਹਾਥਿ ਸਿਧਉਰਾ ਲੀਨ ॥੭੧॥
मरने ते किआ डरपना जब हाथि सिधउरा लीन ॥७१॥
Marne ṯe ki▫ā darapnā jab hāth siḏẖa▫urā līn. ||71||
Why should I be afraid of death? I have invited death for myself. ||71||

Once more in the selokas Kabir demonstrates he is master of poetic irony.

A contrast or discrepancy between what is said and what is meant or between what happens and what is expected to happen in life and in literature. In verbal irony, characters say the opposite of what they mean. In irony of circumstance or situation, the opposite of what is expected occurs...http://novella.mhhe.com/sites/0072405228/student_view0/poetic_glossary.html

Kabir says he does what he pleases. And who would expect that it would please him to invite death? But Kabir gets what he wants. He overcomes the fear of death by freely inviting death itself.

 

[gurvinder_janu]

ਕਬੀਰ ਰਸ ਕੋ ਗਾਂਡੋ ਚੂਸੀਐ ਗੁਨ ਕਉ ਮਰੀਐ ਰੋਇ ॥
कबीर रस को गांडो चूसीऐ गुन कउ मरीऐ रोइ ॥
Kabīr ras ko gāʼndo cẖūsī▫ai gun ka▫o marī▫ai ro▫e.
Kabeer, the mortals suck at the sugar cane, for the sake of the sweet juice. They should work just as hard for virtue.

ਅਵਗੁਨੀਆਰੇ ਮਾਨਸੈ ਭਲੋ ਨ ਕਹਿਹੈ ਕੋਇ ॥੭੨॥
अवगुनीआरे मानसै भलो न कहिहै कोइ ॥७२॥
Avgunī▫āre mānsai bẖalo na kahihai ko▫e. ||72||
The person who lacks virtue - no one calls him good. ||72||

 

[gurvinder_janu]

ਕਬੀਰ ਗਾਗਰਿ ਜਲ ਭਰੀ ਆਜੁ ਕਾਲ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ਜੈਹੈ ਫੂਟਿ ॥
कबीर गागरि जल भरी आजु काल्हि जैहै फूटि ॥
Kabīr gāgar jal bẖarī āj kāliĥ jaihai fūt.
Kabeer, the pitcher is full of water; it will break, today or tomorrow.

ਗੁਰੁ ਜੁ ਨ ਚੇਤਹਿ ਆਪਨੋ ਅਧ ਮਾਝਿ ਲੀਜਹਿਗੇ ਲੂਟਿ ॥੭੩॥
गुरु जु न चेतहि आपनो अध माझि लीजहिगे लूटि ॥७३॥
Gur jo na cẖīṯėh āpno aḏẖ mājẖ lījhige lūt. ||73||
Those who do not remember their Guru, shall be plundered on the way. ||73||

 

[gurvinder_janu]

ਕਬੀਰ ਕੂਕਰੁ ਰਾਮ ਕੋ ਮੁਤੀਆ ਮੇਰੋ ਨਾਉ ॥
कबीर कूकरु राम को मुतीआ मेरो नाउ ॥
Kabīr kūkar rām ko muṯī▫ā mero nā▫o.
Kabeer, I am the Lord's dog; Moti is my name.

ਗਲੇ ਹਮਾਰੇ ਜੇਵਰੀ ਜਹ ਖਿੰਚੈ ਤਹ ਜਾਉ ॥੭੪॥
गले हमारे जेवरी जह खिंचै तह जाउ ॥७४॥
Gale hamāre jevrī jah kẖincẖai ṯah jā▫o. ||74||
There is a chain around my neck; wherever I am pulled, I go. ||74||

 

[gurvinder_janu]

ਕਬੀਰ ਜਪਨੀ ਕਾਠ ਕੀ ਕਿਆ ਦਿਖਲਾਵਹਿ ਲੋਇ ॥
कबीर जपनी काठ की किआ दिखलावहि लोइ ॥
Kabīr japnī kāṯẖ kī ki▫ā ḏikẖlāvahi lo▫e.
Kabeer, why do you show other people your rosary beads?

ਹਿਰਦੈ ਰਾਮੁ ਨ ਚੇਤਹੀ ਇਹ ਜਪਨੀ ਕਿਆ ਹੋਇ ॥੭੫॥
हिरदै रामु न चेतही इह जपनी किआ होइ ॥७५॥
Hirḏai rām na cẖeṯhī ih japnī ki▫ā ho▫e. ||75||
You do not remember the Lord in your heart, so what use is this rosary to you? ||75||

 

[gurvinder_janu]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Respected Jios

Rosary may be begining and one day it may lead to remembering Waheguru from Heart. Your views on this are welcome.

Bhul chuk lai Muaffi Ji