Inspiration

The lessons of ‘Love’ when learnt and practiced in all aspects of life, make lives flow with ease even in the ‘turbulence’ of our modern day existence;
Kabir’s couplet:                                                        पोथी पढ़ पढ़ जग मआु , पंडत भया न कोय,                      ढाई आखर ेम का पढ़े सो पं डत होय   

Translation: You may read many scriptures on ‘Love’. And yet not become a ‘Pandit’ – A wise one! The one who internalizes love, is considered to be ‘Truly’ learned.                                Reflection: Kabir reassures us that we do not need to acquire bookish knowledge to be considered learned. All we need is to imbibe the essence of Love. Learning from the head our logical mind creates barriers through the ‘should’ thinking. The judgments diminish our capacity to love and relate to others.

If it can hurt others, it also has the capacity to heal self and others.
Kabir’s couplet:                                                     ऐसी बानी बो’लये, मन का आपा खोय,                           औरन को शीतल करे, आप हु शीतल होय
Translation: Communicate in a manner that opens the mind, soothing all who hear, while calming self too.
Reflection: Kabir reminds us to speak in a manner that dissolve our ego, soothing all who listen and quietening ourselves too. The power of our speech helps us to build strong connections and foster healing. Let us also remind ourselves to guard against the negative traits that can cause harm to others.

The essential quality to strike a fine balance through the ups and downs of life as we know it                                                                                          Kabir’s couplet:                                                 कबीरा खडा बाझार म#, सब क6 मांगे खैर,                       ना काहु से दो7ती, ना काहु से बैर                                                                                                                          Translation: Kabir stands in the marketplace, wishes for the well-being of all. Neither is he friends with anyone nor does he have enmity for any one                                                            Reflection: Kabir’s inter-actions were devoid of clinging or aversion. He engaged with people from different segments of society in a detached and yet a genuinely compassionate way. Being humane is about finding a way to relate to everyone from a neutral perspective. A compassionate witness holds equanimity in each moment to strike a balance through the ups and downs in life as we know it.

That vital ingredient that drives us to manifest the higher purpose of our existence                                                                                                           Kabir’s couplet:                                                 मायला जब लग तेल दया रे माह! बाती,                            थारा मंद”रया म# होयो उजीयारो रे परदेसी                                                                                                                  Translation: Oh! Traveller! As long as there is oil to feed the wick of the lamp, your temple is lit.
Reflection: Says Kabir, when we replenish the ‘oil’ of hope, the flame of brilliance – ‘aliveness’ continues to glow in our life. If we consider our body or our home as a temple, how could we keep the energy alive or replenished? Hope is a critical ingredient to light the path we walk on.

The roots that nourish our action in daily life
Kabir’s couplet:                                                         बडा हुआ तो +या हुआ, जैसे पेड़ खजुर,                          पंथी को छाया नह!ं, फल लागे अ1त दरू
Translation: So what if you are tall, like the date palm; it gives no shade to the traveller, nor are the fruits within reach.
Reflection: Of what use is our growth, when it does not benefit our fellow travellers or those less fortunate than us? What’s the point of being self serving? When we open our hearts and resourcefulness to benefit others, we celebrate our growth in the real sense. Through compassionate action to make life more wonderful for beings around us, this is how we nourish ourselves in daily life.

The inner truth, guiding our ‘being’
Kabir’s couplet:                                                  चाक6 चाक6 सब कहे, 4क’ल कहे न कोइ,                       जो 4क’ल से लगा रहे, वाको बाल न बाकां होय
Translation: Everyone seeks pleasure outwardly, and suffers. The one who remains centered, stays unharmed and whole.
Reflection: Kabir says, when you are in touch with the core of your being, you find yourself undisturbed by the daily grind (or worldly challenges). Let us remain anchored within by living a life of integrity guided by our inner truth.

That divine moment that extends to the infinite Universe
Kabir’s couplet:                                                       म; लागा इस एक से, एक भया सब माय,                             सब मेरा, म; सबन का, कहां दसरा नाह ू
Translation: I am connected to the One, I find myself merged in all beings; All are mine, I belong to all, there is no ‘other’
Reflection: When I am connected with that divine self within, I experience ‘Oneness with the Universe’. This awareness liberates us from the conflict and confusion caused by ‘Othering’.