A Reminder From Bhagat Kabir Ji

pk70 · #1 (**permalink**) 23-Mar-2008, 20:04 PM

A Reminder from Bhagat Kabir Ji

As Sikhs we seriously try to pay attention to our Lord; however, intoxicating Maya keeps us dragging away from Him. Bit by bit we lose precious time of our life. Maya loots us all the time, very rarely we realize about this robbery that takes place within us. Youth is taken over by middle age as time lapses and eventually it starts getting enveloped in old age. End seems closer. If self analysis is done, repentance surges up. Any warning may turn us around. May be with Guru’s blessing, we get imbued to Him and possibility of His grace gleams. This kind of story is told by Bhagat Kabir ji in Rag Soohi.. Some one sang it melodiously; it just goes through the heart. Here it is
ਸੂਹੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ॥ ਥਰਹਰ ਕੰਪੈ ਬਾਲਾ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਨਾ ਜਾਨਉ ਕਿਆ ਕਰਸੀ ਪੀਉ ॥੧॥ ਰੈਨਿ ਗਈ ਮਤ ਦਿਨੁ ਭੀ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਭਵਰ ਗਏ ਬਗ ਬੈਠੇ ਆਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਕਾਚੈ ਕਰਵੈ ਰਹੈ ਨ ਪਾਨੀ ॥ ਹੰਸੁ ਚਲਿਆ ਕਾਇਆ ਕੁਮਲਾਨੀ ॥੨॥ ਕੁਆਰ ਕੰਨਿਆ ਜੈਸੇ ਕਰਤ ਸੀਗਾਰਾ ॥ ਕਿਉ ਰਲੀਆ ਮਾਨੈ ਬਾਝੁ ਭਤਾਰਾ ॥੩॥ ਕਾਗ ਉਡਾਵਤ ਭੁਜਾ ਪਿਰਾਨੀ ॥ ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹ ਕਥਾ ਸਿਰਾਨੀ ॥੪॥੨॥ {ਪੰਨਾ 792}
Here is the situation, life is wasted, a little realization occurs about that fact. There is a disturbing idea which pierces through mind.
ਥਰਹਰ ਕੰਪੈ ਬਾਲਾ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਨਾ ਜਾਨਉ ਕਿਆ ਕਰਸੀ ਪੀਉ ॥੧॥
[ In essence: my soul awfully trembles. Since life will be over soon, I don’t know how my Husband Lord will treat me (because I remained unfaithful to Him so long (1)

It is all about repentance, and still a better state of mind than being lost in Maya and remained unaware of the important wealth that is lost. It is a close warning about passing away without Naam. This is the way Gurbani takes us very close to that moment when not much time is left and a hint is given about our being asleep in Maya intoxication.

ਰੈਨਿ ਗਈ ਮਤ ਦਿਨੁ ਭੀ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਭਵਰ ਗਏ ਬਗ ਬੈਠੇ ਆਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
[ In essence: Black hairs are replaced by grey hairs as time lapsed. Youth is passed, and I don’t want this old age be gone without His Simran( night reflects intoxicated youth with black hair and day reflects wearisome old age with grey hair] 1 Pause

The facts of wasted long life without being in love with our Lord are enormous. There is no time to miss the only chance available because every moment, it inches towards the end. Here stress is given on the present for past is over

ਕਾਚੈ ਕਰਵੈ ਰਹੈ ਨ ਪਾਨੀ ॥ ਹੰਸੁ ਚਲਿਆ ਕਾਇਆ ਕੁਮਲਾਨੀ ॥੨॥
[ In essence: It is well understood fact that water leaks through unbaked clay pot. Same way, this body won’t be able to hold the soul forever. So when Soul-Swan departs, body will go flaccid (2.]

It is an awakening about our limits. Giving in to ego, running a cat race for wealth and harbouring a desire to own every thing, will not be helpful at that moment. Under illusion
Self centered calls fallacy an actual achievement, for a Gurmukh, truly it is all wastage because only love for Him is helpful, and all rest is transitory.

॥੨॥ ਕੁਆਰ ਕੰਨਿਆ ਜੈਸੇ ਕਰਤ ਸੀਗਾਰਾ ॥ ਕਿਉ ਰਲੀਆ ਮਾਨੈ ਬਾਝੁ ਭਤਾਰਾ ॥੩॥

( In essence: we are performing religious rituals which has nothing to do with love for our Lord; it is just like a unmarried virgin decorates herself without having a husband, what is the use of it? No one is there to appreciate or recognize it; it is all wastage (3).)
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/bhagats/20706-a-reminder-from-bhagat-kabir-ji.html

In a very beautiful way Bhagat Kabir ji exposes worthlessness of religious ritualism which is merely a ceremony to satisfy our own desires, because love for Him is above all. It is easy to do ritual but very hard to change Maya enveloped mind for nourishing love for Him. It is a battle; it needs resolute courage unlike doing ritual.

ਕਾਗ ਉਡਾਵਤ ਭੁਜਾ ਪਿਰਾਨੀ ॥ ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹ ਕਥਾ ਸਿਰਾਨੀ ॥੪॥੨॥ {ਪੰਨਾ 792}
( In essence It is pitiable to see one gets tired of doing something which is futile in the end, like sitting idle and driving crows away. The story of life is over as end gets near and last breath is inevitable.)
What is done in whole life? A million dollar spiritual question is hinted at us. So it was spent building mini empires! That is just like driving the crow away because for what the life is wasted, will not be helpful at the end since soul departs alone. Whole Shabad taunts us over our wrong path we take and how easily we get detoured from our Creator. Then hopes and urges fill the mind with filth. In that situation fears fabricate rituals to please the God. Ones, who realize Him, feel about the other aspect of this game and call it wastage of time. They see people on materialistic race just asleep in Maya and their inability to wake up from it since it is strengthened moment by moment. Kabir ji is offering a hand to us saying,” come on, it is time, and wake up before it gets too late”. What a wonderful guidance given amazingly in beautiful words.