The Ocean of Love

http://www.spiritualawakeningradio.c...g_01_intro.pdf

Excerpts from Anurag Sagar of Kabir:-

Whatever people have written
about the Great Masters has been written many years after their
departure from this world. That is why Kabir's life sketch has
different versions. According to most of the traditions, Kabir
Sahib was born in 1398 in Benares and he died in 15 18, living for
120 years.
There are many different stories of Kabir and of his effect on
others, some of which are told in the Introduction to this book.
Dharam Das was Kabir's gurumukh disciple and successor, who
was a very wealthy person and an idol-worshiper. It is said that
once when he was doing his worship, Kabir appeared to him and
asked, "What are these little idols? If this big idol is God, what
are these small ones?" and then disappeared, leaving Dharam
Das to think about what had happened. At that time, of course,
he didn't know that it was Kabir Sahib who had appeared to him.
Second time Kabir appeared to Dharam Das was in the form of
a sadhu. Dharam Das and his wife were sitting by the fire, and
Kabir Sahib said to Dharam Das, "You are a sinner." Dharam
Das's wife could not bear this criticism so she said, "How can
you say that he is a sinner? You are a sinner!" Then Kabir Sahib
replied, "Dharam Das, look in the wood that you are burningand
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you will see what you are really doing." When they looked,
they saw many insects in the wood, and Kabir said, "You are
burning so many insects alive! What is this? Are you not
sinning?" After saying this he again disappeared, and Dharam
Das realized the truth of it: "I am a great sinner."
Because he was a good soul devoted to God and he wanted the
knowledge of God, he remembered that he had met someone
before who had asked him about idols, and he realized both of them
were the same person. Now Dharam Das repented very much, and
he thought that if his wife had not got upset at Kabir Sahib, he
might have been able to get the knowledge of God. When he told
that to his wife, she said, "Well, flies come to the sugar. You have
so much money; if you perform some kind of yajna and announce
that you are going to donate things to the sadhus, many sadhus will
come. It is possible that this sadhu will also come, and you can talk
to him and get some knowledge of God from him." So Dharam
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Das performed many yajnas in the town of Benares, but Kabir
Sahib never came there. Then Dharam Das went to other places and
there also he performed many yajnas, but Kabir Sahib never came.
In that way he just went on spending his money, and even after he
performed his last yajna after selling every single thing, Kabir Sahib
still didn't come.
So when Dharam Das had lost all his money and still didn't get to
see the Sadhu, he thought, "Why should I go back home when I
have lost everything? It is better to commit suicide." So he went to
the bank of the river and was about to jump in when Kabir appeared
there. And then Dharam Das touched Kabir Sahib's feet
and said, "0 Lord, If I had met You before, 1 would have given
You all the wealth which 1 had, instead of wasting it performing
the yujnus." Kabir Sahib replied, "This was the right time for
you to come to me. If you had come to me earlier, when you
had all that wealth, it is possible that you would not become
what you will become now."
So Kabir Sahib gave him initiation and, after Kabir Sahib left
the body, Dharam Das continued the work of giving initiation into
Shabd Naam. And the book Anurag Sagar is in the form of questions
from Dharam Das and Kabir Sahib's replies to those questions.

 
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__________________
God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close.

Kabir took initiation from a Guru, and the Guru was Ramananda. Relationship of Kabir and
Ramananda in detail as follows:
Kabir Sahib was all-powerful and even if he had not taken anyone
as Guru, still it would not matter much. But still he didn't break the
limits and traditions and that's why he took Ramananda as his
Master. But the fact was that Ramananda was liberated by Kabir
Sahib. Ramananda was an idol worshiper and didn't have any
knowledge of spirituality. But the Hindu people were taking him as
a very great holy man, and they were also criticizing Kabir Sahib
because he didn't have any Master or guru, saying that to take initiation
or to take a mantra from him is a sin. Kabir Sahib was a very
clever Mahatma, and he thought that if he took any small Mahatma
as his Master, then these people would not believe. So he should
take somebody who is well-known among all these people as his
Master. But since Ramananda was not happy in even seeing any
Muslim, and because Kabir was born in a Muslim family, there was
no question of taking initiation from Ramananda. It was impossible
for him.
Ramananda used to go, every morning, to the River Ganges. So,
because Kabir Sahib wanted to take him as his Master, Kabir
changed his form into a small child. He lay down on the steps on
which Ramananda was coming back. It was very dark, and accidentally
Ramananda stepped on that child. And Kabir, who was
that child, started weeping. Who knows whether Ramananda really
stepped on Kabir Sahib or not? But still Kabir wanted some excuse
to weep, so he started weeping. Ramananda was very much afraid
and he said, "0 man of God, repeat 'God.' 0 man of God, repeat
'God' "--like that. But Kabir Sahib went on weeping. And he
again said this thing, "0 man of God, repeat 'God.' " And
Ramananda came back home and Kabir disappeared from that
place.
After that Kabir Sahib started saying to people, "Ramananda is
my Master. I have got initiation from Him." So the Hindu people
were very upset with Ramananda, and they came to him, saying,
"You have got thousands of Hindu disciples but you are still
hungry for more. Why did you make this Muslim your disciple?"
In those days, people were believing very much in caste. So Ramananda said, "Who said he is my disciple? I do not know any Kabir
and I have not given initiation to any Kabir." So all the Hindu people
came to Kabir Sahib and told him, "You come with us to Ramananda.
You are saying that he is your Master but he doesn't believe
that. You come with us." So Kabir went to Ramananda's home.
And at that time Ramananda was worshiping an idol of Lord
Vishnu. Because he was never happy to see the faces of Muslim people,
he had a curtain and Kabir Sahib was sitting on the other side of
the curtain. Ramananda was playing with the idol and at the end he
put the crown on the head of the idol, but he forgot to put the chain
on the neck. So he was very confused at what to do then, because if
he removed the crown from the head that meant disrespect and
there was no other way to put the chain on the neck. So Kabir
Sahib, who was all-conscious, said, "Master, Guru Ji, why are you
so confused? Just unhook the chain and then again hook it and
then you will be able to put the chain around the neck." When he
saw Kabir Sahib was sitting there on the other side of the curtain
and couldn't even see him, he thought, "How did he know I had
this problem? And he has solved my problem!" He was very surprised.
So he talked with him and said, "When did I initiate you?"
Kabir Sahib reminded him of the incident and he told him, "You
stepped on me and you told me to repeat this thing, so I am
repeating that, and you are my Master."
So Ramananda said, "That was a child; but you are Kabir." He
said, "If you want me to become a child, I can show you. Now also
I can change myself into a child and I can show you that I am the
same thing." So when Ramananda came to know all this he said,
"If you are all-conscious, then why is there this curtain between you
and me? Remove that curtain." So after that Kabir Sahib liberated
Ramananda.
Even though Ramananda had received a lot from Kabir, still he
was involved in all the practices he was doing, rites and rituals and
idol-worshiping. Once Ramananda was performing the ceremony
in which they make many good foods and they give it to the people,
saying, "This is going to our fathers and forefathers, those who
have died and who are residing in the heavens." For that ceremony
Ramananda sent all his disciples including Kabir Sahib into the
village to get some milk to make rice pudding and other things. So
Kabir also went and there he saw that there was one dead cow, and
by force he started putting some food in the mouth of that dead
cow. Because she was dead, she couldn't eat by herself. But by
using a stick, he was forcing the food in her mouth. He started
milking her. But she was dead; how could she give milk? So theother disciples, when they saw Kabir doing this thing, they came to
Ramananda and reported it. Ramananda called Kabir and rebuked
him and said, "Oh man, the dead cow cannot eat food and she cannot
give milk." So Kabir Sahib said, "Guru Ji, are you sure that the
dead cow cannot eat anything or give any fruit?'' So he said, "Yes,
that is definitely true." So he said, "Well, how are you sure that the
food that you are giving to other people, saying, 'This is going to go
to your fathers, those who are residing in the heavens?' will really
give you fruit?" Ramananda didn't have any reply to that. And
Kabir Sahib only did this to teach him a lesson because Kabir Sahib
had made up his mind to liberate Ramananda.
KABIR AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES
Kabir's impact on his contemporaries was profound. Many stories are
told which illustrate his power, insight, and various aspects of his extraordinary
personality-including his honesty, unforced humility, total
dependence on God, compassion and bluntness.The people attribute this incident to my miraculous powers. It is just
as it once happened with Kabir Sahib. The pundits, the pseudo-
Saints and the well-read people were jealous of Kabir Sahib.
Accordingly they proclaimed throughout the town that on a certain
day there would be a Bhandara (a religious gathering and feast) at
Kabir Sahib's place. Kabir Sahib came to know about this trick the
evening before. How could He feed thousands of men? [He was of
course very poor.] He left the place in the evening and hid Himself
in the jungle, remaining there until the next day. From His place of
hiding He could see the people returning from His home the next
day, and all of them were remarking, "Well done, Kabir! What
delicious food you provided for the Sadhus!"
Kabir Sahib did not know what this meant.. . . He returned home
and His family told Him, "Well, you were here all the time and you
yourself fed all the people." Kabir Sahib at once understood that it
was all the mercy and blessing of the Supreme Father. [He is
reported to have exclaimed: "Kabir did not do it, could not do it,
would not do it; it is God Who has done it, and the credit has gone
to Kabir! "1 The same is the case in this incident.At the time of Kabir Sahib there was a certain pundit or religious
teacher. His story is written in the scriptures, and it tells of how he
studied the holy and other books extensively and became the most
learned man for many miles around, so he called himself Sarbajeet,
meaning one who has won above all others. On completion of his
studies, he returned to his mother's house. She was a follower of
Kabir Sahib, and he said to her, "Mother, I have become Sarbarjeet;
you should call me that from now on." She replied, "I
will, if you can beat Kabir Sahib in knowledge." Worldly
knowledge often encourages pride, and carelessly picking up his
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books he said, "Oh, that is nothing," and went off to Kabir Sahib's
humble dwelling.
Kabir Sahib said to the young man, "Well, Punditji, what has
brought you here?" The proud pundit replied, "I am Sarbajeet,
and I have come to beat you in knowledge." Kabir Sahib smiled at
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him and saad, "I do not want to argue over this, so you just write
down that Sarbajeet has won and Kabir has lost; and I will sign it."
The pundit was very pleased that Kabir had given in so easily; he
quickly wrote the words and got Kabir to sign it. He went home,
and flourishing the paper at his mother, he said, "Now you will
have to call me Sarbajeet, for Kabir Sahib has acknowledged it."
She took the paper and read aloud, "Sarbajeet has lost and Kabir
has won." Unbelieving, he read it for himself, and said, "How is
this possible? There must be some mistake-1 will go back to Kabir
Sahib." On arriving at the Saint's house, he blurted out, "Maharaj,
I made a slight mistake, so I want to rewrite the paper." Kabir
Sahib amiably agreed, and signed the new declaration. When the
pundit reached home, his mother read the paper and said, "But it is
still written, 'Sarbajeet has lost and Kabir has won."' In frustration
he shouted, "I will go again to Kabir!" and hurried off. It is a rule
with all great Masters that they never belittle a person, but with love
they make the people understand. If one does not listen even then,
they will go to the extent of operating, like a doctor who will do his
very best to cure a tumor, even if it means resorting to surgery. So,
with great kindness, Kabir Sahib pointed out to the pundit, "How
can your mind and mine become one?In the time of Kabir Sahib, once on the banks of the River Ganga a
person of low caste was bathing and a pundit was passing by. And it
happened that one drop of water from the body of that low-caste
man touched the body of the pundit, and he became very upset
because he considered himself polluted; but Kabir Sahib told him
very lovingly, "Oh Brahmin, you were also born of a woman; how
can you be called brahmin when we shudras came into the world
from the same place and we were born in the same manner? How
can you say that we and you are different? You have blood and we
also have the same blood!" So Kabir Sahib lovingly explained to
him that all men are the same.' '

Revolutionary sentiments like this have endeared Kabir to such modern
Indian visionaries as Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore, but
had the opposite effect in his own time. A caste-conscious Hindu society
and an orthodox Muslim establishment both viewed the presumptuous
julaha with horror, and he was persecuted a number of times, primarily
by the Emperor Sikander Lodi. He was drowned in the Ganges chained
in a boat full of stones, but either was miraculously saved at the last
minute or resurrected from the dead; he was buried alive, but survived
that also; he was bound and thrown in front of an elephant, but the
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elephant refused to touch him. These stories are part of the tradition, but
of course are not verifiable; nevertheless, that Kabir's teaching and actions
brought him into conflict with authority and eventually persecution
is overwhelmingly probable; to survive such persecution either
through divine intervention or resurrection is not without precedent; and
in any case, Kabir's survival is well attested, as is his death in Magahar at
an advanced age.The earliest written reference to Kabir is in the Bhakta Mala, a poem on the lives of various Saints, written
by Nabha Das about 1600 (eighty years after Kabir's death). It is a very
interesting and accurate brief summing-up of his career as seen from
outside:
Kabir refused to acknowledge caste distinctions, or to recognize the
authority of the six Hindu schools of philosophy;. . .He held that
religion without bhakti [loving devotion for God] was no religion at
all, and that asceticism, fasting and almsgiving had no value if
unaccompanied by bhajan [meditation]. By means of ramainis,
shabdas and sakhis [different types of songs] he imparted religious
instruction to Hindus and Mohammedans alike. He had no preference
for either religion, but gave teaching that was appreciated by the followers of both. He spoke out his mind fearlessly, and never
made it his object merely to please his hearers.
Kabir had a number of disciples who became Masters and gave initiation after his
passing: some of them are known only from his writings, but many are
famous in their own right. Ravidas and Dadu Sahib are two well-known
Saints who derived directly or indirectly from Kabir, and there are many
others. The two that are of concern to us here are Dharam Das, who was
his gurumukh successor and who is honored today especially by the
members of the Kabir-panth, a religious sect in northern India (it has
Hindu and Muslim sections) which claims to have been founded by
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Kabir, and Baba Nanak, the first guru of the Sikhs, who is honored
today especially by the followers of the Sikh religion.
It is one of the ironies of history that the line continuing through
Dharam Das, whose special relationship with Kabir is vividly described
in the Foreword, should have decayed and become eventually
one of ceremonial religious leadership, while the line continuing through
Nanak, who only met Kabir twice and who was himself a swateh sant,
"born free,"12 should be the line through which Kabir's power and impulse
continue in their fulness in the modern world.' But it is true: the
Kabir-panth today has no knowledge of the inner teachings, and has
reduced its initiation to one of ritual only. While the same is true of the
Sikh religion, that line went underground after the death of the tenth
Sikh Guru and has continued unabated down to the present.
KABIR'S PASSING
When Kabir was ready to leave, it is said that his Hindu and Muslim
disciples were prepared to fight over whether his body should be
cremated or buried. After rebuking them sternly for forgetting his
teachings so soon, he lay down, covered himself with sheets, and told
everyone 1 o leave. When they came back into the room, his body was
gone; where it had been was a heap of flowers. His Muslim followers
took half of the flowers and buried them, and his Hindu disciples took
the other half and burned them. Thus in death as in life, Kabir demonstrated
the universality of the Masters.
It is also said that Kabir made a number of resurrection appearances
after his death, including at least one to Dharam Das in which he gave
him further instruction along the lines of the Anurag Sagar.

ANURAG SAGAR

PROLOGUE
Gurudev is perfect
The Master is an Ocean of Grace, He showers grace on the
miserable ones.
Rare are those who know His secret: He manifests Himself in those
who recognize Him.
Who deserves it?
HYMN
Only the connoisseur, who will test the Shabda
And listen to the teachings with full attention
And within whom these teachings will dwell, only he will understand
this.
He within whom the Sun of Knowledge will manifest and remove
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the darkness of attachment-only he will understand this.
I am telling you this Anurag Sagar (Ocean of Love)-only rare
saints will understand.
Without love one cannot achieve it
COUPLET
Any learned saint who thinks over my words and has love in his
heart will achieve Nirvana.
THE SIGNS OF A LOVER
Dharam Das said:
0 Satguru, folding my hands I beg You, please clear up this doubt
of mine:
How do I recognize the one within whom love manifests?
What does a lover look like? Without love the jiva cannot be
liberated-
0 my God, tell me about that love, and give examples to explain it
to me.
Examples of a lover's qualities
The Satguru said:
0 Dhararn Das, I will explain to you the qualities of the lover; listen
attentively so that you may recognize him.
Example of the deer
Intoxicated by the music, the deer runs and comes to the hunter.
He doesn't have any fear, not even when he sacrifices his head.
Hearing the music he sacrifices his life-a lover should do the same.
Example of the moth
A lover should be like a moth when it goes near light.
Example of Sati
0 Dharam Das, listen to more examples and manifest the Satguru's
Shabda.
Be like the woman who burns herself with her dead husband, and
while burning doesn't move her body;
One who leaves her house, wealth and friends, and in the pain of
separation, goes alone;
She doesn't stop even when people bring her son before her, and try
to catch her in attachment-
When people say, "Your son is weak and will die, and without you
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your home will be lonely"-
When people say, "You have plenty of wealth, come back
homew-
She is in the pain of separation from her husband and nothing attracts
her.


What does the Satguru do?
Defeating Kal, He takes the soul to the Motionless Plane, where Sat
Purush is.
Reaching there, one finds infinite happiness and is freed from corning
back to this world.

PROLOGUE
Who can reach the Motionless Plane?
HYMN
One who will climb the Path of Truth believing my words,
Like the warrior who marches ahead in battle and doesn't worry
about what is behind-
So become like the warrior and the Sati, and take the Knowledge of
the Path from the Saint.
Take refuge in the Satguru and, developing Mritak, rid yourself of
Kal's pain.
Rare are those who deserve it
COUPLET
Kabir says this, after reflection: Only the brave one who does this
can achieve the Beloved.
WHO IS A MRITAK?
Dharam Das said:
0 my God, tell me the qualities of mritak, so that the fire which is
burning in my mind may be extinguished.
0 cloud of nectar, explain to me-how can this life die?
Examples of Mritak
Kabir said:
Dharam Das, this is a complicated thing.
Only a few can learn this from a perfect Master.
Example of bhringi
Those who serve the Saints as Mritak, ultimately-grasping Shabda
-achieve the Path to God.
Just as the insect who, coming in contact with bhringi, develops its
body.
Bhringi attacks the insect with its sound, and one who catches that
sound
Is taken by the bhringi to his home, where he turns it into his own
form.
The insect who catches the sound of bhringi, itself becomes bhringi.
Rare are the insects who catch the sound of bhringi at the first
attempt.
Some catch it at a second attempt, some at a third, and sacrificing
their body and mind they become the form of bhringi.
PROLOGUE 9
The insect who doesn't catch the sound of bhringi remains as an
ordinary insect forever.
0 Dharam Das, the disciple should receive the knowledge from the
Master as the insect receives the sound from bhringi.
How does one achieve the quality of bhringi?
One who is determined to accept the teachings, I make him My
own form:
The jiva who has no duality realizes Me.
One who believes the words of the Masters, only he becomes the
bhringi.
When the crow merges itself into Shabda and leaves all her desires,
she becomes a hansa.
What is a hansa?
COUPLET
He who leaves the path of the crow and dwells on the true Shabda
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within, eating pearls-
Who gives his life to Sat Purush by following the Path shown by the
Masters-is a hansa.
More examples of Mritak
Hear 0 Saints, the nature of Mritak; rare are those who practice the
Path of God.
PROLOGUE
Hear more attributes of Mritak: Mritak serves the Satguru.
Mritak manifests love within him, and receiving that love the jiva
gets liberation.
Example of the earth
The earth hurts no one-you be like that.
Some put sandalwood on her, some throw dirt on her-still she
hates no one.
Mritak also hates no one-He is very happy even when opposed.
Example of the sugar cane
Listen to more attributes of Mritak, and step on the Path shown by
the Master only after testing and understanding it:
When the farmer makes jaggery out of sugar, he cuts the sugar cane
into pieces;
Then it is crushed in the press and the juice is heated in the cauldron.
After boiling the juice jaggery is made, and boiling the jaggery, raw
sugar is obtained.
Heating the raw sugar, refined sugar is obtained.
When sugar again burns herself, rock candy is obtained.
Kabir says: From rock candy, sugar candy-which is liked by everyone-
is made.
In the same way, if the disciple bears all his sufferings, with Master's
grace, he can easily cross the Ocean of Life.
Who can develop the qualities of Mritak?
HYMN
Dharam Das, to develop the qualities of a Mritak is hard; only a
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brave soul can do it.
The coward cannot bear to hear it. He runs away and feels as if his
body and mind are burning.
Only those disciples who are looked after by the Master can board
the boat of Master's Knowledge.
And this is true: that one who gets that knowledge, definitely goes
to his eternal home.
Only Mritak is a Sadhu
COUPLET
Only he who becomes Mritak is a Sadhu and only he realizes the
Satguru.
PROLOGUE
He removes all illusions and even the gods depend on him.
Who is a Sadhu?
0 Dharam Das, the path of the Sadhu is very difficult. He who lives
as Mritak is a perfect Sadhu.
He who has controlled the five organs of senses and drinks the
nectar of Naam day and night is a Sadhu.
Controlling the organ of seeing
First of all control the eyes, and meditate on the Naam received
from the Master.
Seeing the Beautiful Form of God is the only worship for these eyes;
he should not desire any other.
One who understands "beautiful" and "ugly" as the same, and
doesn't look at the body, enjoys happiness forever.
Controlling the organ of hearing
His ear should be fond of hearing good words, and should not like
to hear bad words;
But he who bears both-good and bad words-likes the Knowledge
of the Master to remain in his heart.
Controlling the organ of smell
The nose is controlled by pleasant smells, but the clever saints keep
it in their control.
Controlling the organ of taste
The tongue wants pleasant tastes: sour, sweet and delicious tastes.
But the Mritak does not know any difference between tasty and
tasteless things.
He does not get excited even if he is brought the Five Nectars.
He does not refuse food without salt, and lovingly accepts whatever
is served him.
PROLOGUE
Controlling the male genital organ
This organ is wicked and very sinful. Lust is conquered by only a
few ones.
A lustful woman is the mine of Kal. Leave her company and become
the Knower of the Guru.
Controlling lust
Whenever the wave of lust comes one should wake himself up.
He should put his attention into Shabda and, keeping quiet, should
drink the Nectar of Naam.
When he merges into the Elementless, lust will be finished.
The god of lust is a robber
HYMN
Lust is a mighty, dangerous and pain-giving negative power,
Which made the gods, munis, yakshas, ghandharvas, indulge in
sex.
All of them were plundered-only a few who remained determined
with the quality of their knowledge were saved.
Those who have the Light of the Satguru's Knowledge and are with
Him, have the secret of the Path.
The ways of escaping from lust, the robber
COUPLET
Enlighten your inner Self with the Lamp of Knowledge.
Meditate on the Satguru Shabda and the thief of darkness will run
away.
Example of the anul bird
With the grace of the Master the jiva is called "Sadhu," and, becoming
the and bird, goes back to his eternal home.
Dharam Das, understand these words: I am telling you about the
anul bird,
Who lives in the sky and is supported by the air day and night.
She performs the sexual act through the eyes and in that way becomes
pregnant.
She lays her eggs in the sky, where there is no support:
The egg is nourished while falling; in the sky it is hatched and the
young bird takes birth;
It is on the way that it opens its eyes, and on the way that it gets its
wings.

PROLOGUE 13
When it finally reaches the earth it realizes that this is not its home-
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Realizing that, it flies back to where its parents live.
The anul bird doesn't come down to bring the baby back-it itself
goes home, treading the path.
Many birds live in this world, but very few of them are anul birds.
Birds like that are rare, and rare are the jivas who merge themselves
in Naam.
If the jiva can practice this path, he can go back to Sat Lok, triumphing
over Kal.
When does a Sadhu become like an anul bird?
HYMN
When he goes only in the refuge of the Satguru and keeps only one
desire-of Naam;
When he keeps himself in the service of the Satguru day and night,
and has no desire for wealth and property;
PROLOGUE
When he forgets son, wife, and all the enjoyments and keeps himself
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22331
attached to Satguru's feet.
[Then he becomes like an anul bird.]
What does the Master give to such a Sadhu?
With the grace of the Satguru he gets relief from the unbearable
pain and achieves Sat Lok.
How does one get to the Motionless Plane?
COUPLET
By remaining in the Master's remembrance, in thought, word,
and deed, and by obeying the orders of the Master-
Master gives one who does this the gift of liberation and merges him
in Naam.
The greatness of merging in Naam
As long as the jiva doesn't merge himself in Naam, he wanders in
this world.
When he contemplates on the Formless and merges into Naam, all
his doubts go away.
If he merges into Naam even for a moment, Its greatness cannot be
described.
Everybody talks about Naam but rare ones achieve the formless
Naam.
Even if one lives in Kashi for ages, without the Essential Shabda
he will go to hell.
Nimkhar, Badri Dham, Gaya or Prayag-even if he bathes in these
holy places,
And goes to all the sixty-eight places of pilgrimage, yet without the
Essential Shabda illusion cannot go away.
What can I say further about that Naam, repeating which the fear
of Yama goes away?
What does one get who receives Naarn?
One who gets Sat Naam from the Satguru goes to Sat Lok climbing
the rope of Naam.
Dharam Rai bows his head to him whose soul merges into the elementless.
What is the Essential Shabda?
The Essential Shabda is a bodiless form. The Essential Shabda is
beautiful, wordless.

PROLOGUE 15
The body has elements and nature: The Essential Shabda is elementless
and bodiless.
In all four directions Shabda is talked about-only the Essential
Shabda can liberate the souls.
The Naam of Sat Purush Itself is the Essential Shabda and the Simran
of Sat Purush is the Essential Shabda's recognition.
One who merges into It without doing the Simran by tongue-even
Kal is afraid of him.
The path of the Essential Shabda is subtle, easy and perfect; but
only the brave can follow it.
PROLOGUE
It is neither a word, nor a simran, nor a japa. It is a perfect thing,
achieving which one can conquer Kal.
The support of the soul is in the head, and now I will tell you of the
recognition of Shabda.
One who gets connected with the Unrepeated Repetitiong gets to see
the infinite-petaled lotus.
When he reaches the astral door, he [ultimately] goes to Agam and
Agochar [by way of] the True Path.
His inner Self-where Adi Purush resides-gets enlightened.
Recognizing Him, the soul goes to Him-and He takes the soul to
its origin.
The soul is of the same essence as Sat Purush and is also called Jiva-
Sohang.
Dharam Das, you are a wise saint. Recognize that Shabda
which gives liberation.

HYMN
Repeat the Unrepeated and with the grace of the perfect Master,
test it.
Keeping the wing of mind at rest, see the Shabda; and, climbing the
mind, finish your Karma.
Reach the place where the Sound is produced without tongue and
the rosary beads are moved without hands:
Merging into the Essential Shabda, go to the world of immortality.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22331
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22331
COUPLET
The glory of the Inconceivable is limitless-millions of suns and
moons cannot vie with one hair.
The radiance of one soul is equal to the light of sixteen suns.
The jubilation of Dhararn Das:
0 God, I sacrifice myself at Your Feet. Removing my pain, You
have made me happy.
Hearing Your words I am as happy as a blind man given eyes.

PROLOGUE 17
Kabir said:
Dharam Das, you are a pure soul, who, meeting with me, have removed
your pain.
Just as you have loved me, leaving your wealth, home and sons,
In the same way, the disciples who will do this and, with determination
will attach their mind to Master's Feet,
And will manifest love within themselves for Master's Feet, sacrificing
their body, mind and wealth on the Satguru-
They will be most dear to me, and no one can ever stop them.
The disciples who won't sacrifice everything, and keep fraud in
their hearts while showing love on their faces,
How can they go to Sat Lok? Without manifesting Master within
they cannot achieve Me.
Dharam Das ' confession of gratefulness:
All this you have done, my God; I was very dirty.
Showering grace on me You Yourself came to me and, holding my
hand, have saved me from Kal.

THE END

NamJap ji,

Correct me if I am wrong. But the story of Bhagat Kabir's passing is identical to the janamsakhi of Guru Nanak's passing.

KABIR'S PASSING
When Kabir was ready to leave, it is said that his Hindu and Muslim
disciples were prepared to fight over whether his body should be
cremated or buried. After rebuking them sternly for forgetting his
teachings so soon, he lay down, covered himself with sheets, and told
everyone 1 o leave. When they came back into the room, his body was
gone; where it had been was a heap of flowers. His Muslim followers
took half of the flowers and buried them, and his Hindu disciples took
the other half and burned them.

So I am wondering if the people at the spiritualawakening.com link realize this or whether some other issue or problem is at work. In other words, they may have gotten the text of two stories mixed up? Does the story of the passing of Kabir match up on other sites and sources? As one who has researched somewhat the hymns and life of Sant Kabir, I cannot remember there being an account of his passing, except for the spiritualawakening.com site. There is almost no primary historical evidence to document the life of Kabir, and most scholars support the conclusion, that much of what we know, we know from legend only.

Guru Nanak's Passing

The philosophy, teaching and principles of many faith traditions are revealed in the telling of stories. Some are historical. Many may not have happened exactly as they’re told. But they are none the less unerringly true.

An example is the story of the death of Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism. According the some versions of the story, as Nanak’s impending death became apparent a dispute arose among his disciples as to what should be done with the body. Those with a Hindu background spoke of cremation. Those with a Muslim background spoke of burial. The disagreement became quite sharp. Nanak had a plan to settle the dispute. "When I die," he said, "lay me out on the bier. Have the Hindus place flowers on one side of my body. Have the Muslims place flowers on the other side of my body. Close the door and leave me alone through the night. The next morning whosever flowers are fresh is how to dispose of my body. If the Hindus' flowers are fresh and the Muslims' flowers are wilted, then burn the body. If the Muslims' flowers are fresh and the Hindus' flowers are wilted, then bury the body."

A few day later Guru Nanak died. His body was placed on the table. The Hindus placed flowers on one side of the body. The Muslims placed flowers on the other side. The door was closed and they waited through the night. The next morning the disciples went in to prepare the body for either cremation or burial. Whose flowers would be fresh and whose would be wilted? To their amazement neither set of flowers was wilted. Both were fresh. But it didn’t matter because the body was gone. http://www.worldreligions.ca/blog/ne...aks-death.html

This is the actual account of Guru Nanak's passing written by Macauliffe, in History of the Sikhs.

Guru Nanak went and sat under a withered acacia tree, when lo! it became green, and produced leaves and blossoms. Angad again fell at his feet in adoration. Guru Nanak's family, relations, and disciples began to weep. On that occasion he composed the following:--

Hail to the Creator, the True King, who allotted to the world its various duties!
When the measure[1] is full, the duration of life is at an end; the soul is led away;
When the destined hour arriveth, the soul is led away and all one's relations weep.
The body and soul are separated, O my mother, when one's days are at an end.
Thou hast obtained what was allotted thee, and reaped the fruit of thy former acts.
Hail to the Creator, the True King, who allotted to the world its various duties!
Remember the Lord, O my brethren; all must depart.
The affairs of this world are transitory, only for four days; we must assuredly proceed onwards:
We must assuredly proceed onwards like a guest; why should we be proud?
Repeat the name of Him by whose worship thou shalt obtain happiness in His court.
In the next world thou canst in no wise enforce thine authority; every one shall fare according to his acts.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22331
Remember the Lord, my brethren, every one must depart.
That which pleaseth the Omnipotent shall come to pass this world is an illusion.
The true Creator pervadeth sea and land, the nether regions, and the firmament.
The true Creator is invisible, unequalled; His limit cannot be found.
Profitable is their advent into this world who have meditated with their whole hearts upon Him.
The Adorner by His order demolisheth and again constructeth.
That which pleaseth the Omnipotent shall come to pass this world is an illusion.
Saith Nanak, O Father, they shall be considered to have wept who weep through love.
If men weep for the sake of worldly things, all their weeping, O Father, shall be in vain:
All their weeping shall be in vain; the world is not mindful of God, and weepeth for mammon.
They know not good from evil, and thus lose their human lives.
All who come into this world must depart; false are you who practise pride.
Saith Nanak, men shall be considered to have wept, O Father, if they weep through love.[1] (Macauliffe's translation)

this the assembled crowd began to sing songs of mourning, and the Guru fell into a trance. When he awoke therefrom, his sons, on seeing a stranger appointed to succeed their father, inquired what provision had been made for themselves. Guru Nanak replied, 'O my sons, God giveth to His creatures; you shall obtain food and clothing in abundance, and if you repeat God's name you shall be saved at last.'

The Musalmans who had received God's name from the Guru, said they would bury him after his death. His Hindu followers on the contrary said they would cremate him. When the Guru was invited to decide the discussion he said, 'Let the Hindus place flowers on my right, and the Musalmans on my left. They whose flowers are found fresh in the morning, may have the disposal of my body.' Guru Nanak then ordered the crowd to sing the Sohila:--

In the house in which God's praise is sung and He is meditated on,
Sing the Sohila and remember the Creator.
Sing the Sohila of my fearless Lord; I am a sacrifice to that song of joy by which everlasting comfort is obtained.
Ever and ever living things are watched over; the Giver regardeth their wants.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22331
When even Thy gifts cannot be appraised, who can appraise the Giver?
The year and the auspicious time for marriage[1] are recorded; O relations, meet and pour oil on me the bride.[2]
O my friends, pray for me that I may meet my Lord.
This message is ever sent to every house; such invitations are ever issued.
Remember the Caller; Nanak, the day is approaching.[3] (also Macauliffe's translation) The concluding slok of the Japji was then sung. The Guru drew a sheet over 'him, uttered 'Wahguru', made obeisance to God, and blended his light with Guru Angad's. The Guru remained the same. There was only a change of body produced by a supreme miracle.

When the sheet was removed next morning, there was nothing found beneath it. The flowers on both sides ere in bloom. The Hindus and the Musalmans removed their respective flowers. All the Sikhs reverently saluted the spot on which the Guru had lain. He breathed his last on the tenth day of the light half of the month of Assu, Sambat 1595 (A.D. 1538) at Kartarpur in the Panjab.



So I am verily puzzled by the account of Kabir's death.

Aad Ji,

Is it really true that Kabir liberated his Guru ?

It is like water travelling upstream !!?!!