Kabeerdaas ji is categorized as a saint but his thoughts and compositions are not confined to religion, spirituality, meditation and bhajans alone. He also deals with worldly life – the character and behaviour of individuals; practices (and malpractices) rampant in society; evils of caste system which divides people into ‘high’ and ‘low’ classes, etc. He also goes in depth in denouncing superstitions and hypocrisy prevalent in practice of religions and sects in general. He considers them as obstructions in the way of health, peace and happiness of society. We should take all these things into account if we want to understand and interpret Kabeerdaas ji’s poetry correctly.
— Kusum Banthia
लंबा मारग, दूर घर, बिकट पंथ बहु मार ।
कहो संतो क्यों पाइए, दुर्लभ हरि दीदार ।।
Lambaa maarag, duur ghar, bikat panth bahu maar
Kaho santo kyon paaiye, durlabh hari deedaar
Kabeerdaas ji believes that it is necessary to meditate on the Brahman if one wants to get out of this illusory world created by Maya. But he knows that the process of this spiritual practice is a very difficult one. In this couplet he says, addressing other seekers, that the way to liberation is very long and fraught with dangers. You have to put your life at stake to reach the distant goal. Reaching the presence of God is extremely difficult.
Kabeerdaas ji is not enumerating the difficulties of this journey to scare the people away. It is a kind of test to gauge the sincerity of the seekers. Shallow and insincere persons will give up their attempt but sincere people with deep faith, who are really seeking liberation, will brace themselves for the journey with a new determination and proceed towards their goal.
कबीर निर्भय राम भज, जब लगि दीवै बाति ।
तेल घट्या, बाती बुझी, तब सोवै दिन राति ।।
Kabeer nirbhay raam bhaj, jab lagi deevai baati
Tel ghatyaa, baatii bujhii, tab sovai din raati
In this couplet Kabeerdaas ji is addressing the people who, because of involvement in worldly affairs or simply out of idleness, keep postponing their meditation or other spiritual practices. Kabeerdaas ji is exhorting them to chant God’s name with a mind free of doubt, while the lamp of their life is still aglow/burning. They can work towards liberation of their souls only as long as they are alive. Once the oil in this lamp is exhausted and the light dies out, there will be time enough for undisturbed sleep.
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Thus Spake Kabeer 01
Kabeerdaas ji is categorized as a saint but his thoughts and compositions are not confined to religion, spirituality, meditation and…
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Thus Spake Kabeer 02
Kabeerdaas ji is categorized as a saint but his thoughts and compositions are not confined to religion, spirituality, meditation and…
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Thus Spake Kabeer 03
Kabeerdaas ji is categorized as a saint but his thoughts and compositions are not confined to religion, spirituality, meditation and…