Bani

QUEST1984 · #1 (**permalink**) 28-Apr-2007, 03:16 AM

Kabeer, rare is such a person, who remains dead while yet alive. [1364]

Sorry im a little confused about this bani; 'dead while yet alive'

could anyone explainn to me what it means?

thanks

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Narayanjot Kaur · #2 (**permalink**) 28-Apr-2007, 04:33 AM

QUEST JI

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-youth/15285-bani.html
Kabeer is not easy. His use of imagery is difficult because the mental images in one part of a poem have no clue in something more concrete, or they are linked to other images that also have no clue in something concrete.

Thanks for the page number. Kabeer has become a kind of hobby for me. Looking up his verses to see what the entire poem seems to be saying. This starated on SPN by the way. SPN is a vast ocean of mental challenges, as you have probably already noticed.

Tonight I will find the entire poem, and try to figure it out. By then a well-versed expert on Kabeer is certain to respond. But I will post anyway. My hunch is that Kabeer is saying this: There only a few people who have truly died unto themselves, have detached from Ego, and in a sense have died, as their Ego identity is no more. These rare people are alive in another way. They are alive because they are imbued with the blessings of Akal Purath, Satgur, Waheguru.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15285

In the meantime, I did find a web site with a number of references from Siri Guru Granth Sahib ji that appear to describe related ideas.

He is truly blind, who follows the way shown by the blind man. O Nanak
why should the one who can see, get lost? Do not call them blind, who
have no eyes in their face. They alone are blind, O Nanak, who wander
away from their Pure Being (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji 954). Without the Shabad (or Divine
Name), the world does not hear, and does not see; deaf and blind, it
wanders around (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji 429). Those who do not serve the True Guru (the
Self, God, etc.), and who do not contemplate the Word of the Shabad (or
Divine Name) - Spiritual Wisdom does not enter into their Heart; they are
like dead bodies in the world (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji 88). They do not serve the True Guru,
and they do not embrace love for the Divine Name. Do not even think that
they are alive - the Creator Himself has killed them (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji 589). The
Manmukhs (material beings) are sick and diseased in the world (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji 118).

Good question.

simpy · #3 (**permalink**) 28-Apr-2007, 04:54 AM

Respected Quest 1984 Ji,

Quote:

Source:Sikhitithemax:

kbIr AYsw eyku AwDu jo jIvq imrqku hoie ]

kubeer aisaa eaek aadh jo jeevuth miruthuk hoe

Kabeer, rare is such a person, who remains dead while yet alive.

inrBY hoie kY gun rvY jq pyKau qq soie ]5]

nirubhai hoe kai gun ruvai juth paekho thuth soe

Singing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, he is fearless. Wherever I look, the Lord is there. ||5||

What me neech understand is: here Kabir Ji is talking about iness. Human Life is given to a Soul to find its Eternal abode. and to get there Iness/Haumai/mai/Mera/ has to be eradicated. Live the life while keeping your EGO dead/eradicated/smothered . (ego is always there to attack in many forms so seeker/bhagat has to be very careful of this enemy all the time-KEEP IT UNDER CHECK)

so Kabir Ji is saying, while living this human life, having your iness killed-IS DONE BY VERY RARE PEOPLE.

open to questions and concerns

forgive me please

ekmusafir_ajnabi · #4 (**permalink**) 28-Apr-2007, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QUEST1984

Kabeer, rare is such a person, who remains dead while yet alive. [1364]

Sorry im a little confused about this bani; 'dead while yet alive'

could anyone explainn to me what it means?

thanks

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The question you asked is quite fundamental for a sikh because this is the pre-requiste for one who wishes to dwell on the path of sikhi. Yet it is the most difficult to follow and extremely confusing for some even to understand it.

In order to understand what Bhagat Kabeer ji is saying, explain what is your terminology of Life and Death.

QUEST1984 · #5 (**permalink**) 28-Apr-2007, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ekmusafir_ajnabi

The question you asked is quite fundamental for a sikh because this is the pre-requiste for one who wishes to dwell on the path of sikhi. Yet it is the most difficult to follow and extremely confusing for some even to understand it.

In order to understand what Bhagat Kabeer ji is saying, explain what is your terminology of Life and Death.

Life and death are both the same i see no difference between either state.

simpy · #6 (**permalink**) 28-Apr-2007, 05:20 AM

Respected Saadh Sangat Ji

Dhan Dhan Siri Guru Arjan Dev Ji De Bachan

pihlw mrxu kbUil jIvx kI Cif Aws ]
hohu sBnw kI ryxukw qau Awau hmwrY pwis ]

Quote:

Source: Sikhitothemax

Page 1102

slok mÚ 5 ]
sulok mu 5
Shalok, Dakhanay Fifth Mehl:

pihlw mrxu kbUil jIvx kI Cif Aws ]
pehilaa murun kubool jeevun kee shadd aas
First, accept death, and give up any hope of life.

hohu sBnw kI ryxukw qau Awau hmwrY pwis ]1]
hohu subhunaa kee raenukaa tho aao humaarai paas
Become the dust of the feet of all, and then, you may come to me. ||1||

forgive me please

QUEST1984 · #7 (**permalink**) 28-Apr-2007, 05:24 AM

^^^ sorry u've lost me.

simpy · #8 (**permalink**) 28-Apr-2007, 05:33 AM

Quest Ji think over it for a few days- Life and Death of what??????

What is Iness
What is life
What is All

MOOL MANTRA, Siri Japji Sahib Ji's first two pauris- Do some Vichaar on that ..... (Dhan Dhan Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji-PAGE 1)

puzzle will start to get solved.........
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15285
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15285
forgive me please

Narayanjot Kaur · #9 (**permalink**) 28-Apr-2007, 09:16 AM

QUEST1984 ji,

With your forgiveness, I am starting your thread BANI over again for you.

You asked about the meaning of this line from a shalok of Kabeer the Poet, "Kabeer, rare is such a person, who remains dead while yet alive." The line is to be technically correct a raag or song. Surinder Cheema ji and I had responded. But in the return of the new web "site, your thread and our responses were lost. Eventually they will be uploaded again. I was able to find your post in my browser History, but not our responses.

So starting over because it is so interesting, here is your statement.

Kabeer, rare is such a person, who remains dead while yet alive. [1364]

Sorry im a little confused about this bani; 'dead while yet alive'

could anyone explainn to me what it means?

thanks

This is what I found for you. Kabir was a Muslim poet, probably a mystic, and his shaloks are in the raag section of Siri Guru Granth Sahib. There are many internet sites about him. All you have to do is Google Kabeer or Kabir. His poetry, it is said, has remained popular with Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus over many generations because he used the language of ordinary people and scenes from everyday life.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15285

The shalok is much too long to post. But here is the link.
http://www.sikhnet.com/Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji/translation/1364.html

Many of the images describe a state of love—this is a kind of love poem. The lover Kabeer is nothing without his connection to God. At the beginning of the shalok, Kabeer compares his relationship with the Lord to a bumble bee that clings to the lotus flower. He says that we are miserable when our hearts are not pierced by the love of Waheguru “when mortals forget the Merciful Lord God, then they are truly plundered.” He would give up everything to be at the lotus feet of Waheguru, and that is where inspired souls desire to be at all times. Kabeer compares his state of mind to an intoxication with Waheguru, and the eyes of Waheguru to lotus eyes. Kabeer lists all of the things that a person can be attached to, even the climbing of a mountain, as nothing compared to the mystery of Satguru.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=15285

So as Surinder ji has said, this is about losing oneself. Kabeer is talking about losing oneself in love. “Kabeer, kill only that, which, when killed, shall bring peace.” The line you quoted (line 15) is saying it is rare to find people who have died by leaving their ego's or separate identities behind in order to live their love of a merciful and loving God.

Once things are back to normal either Aman Singh or one of the moderators (Surinder ji probably) will be able to retrieve the original conversation and connect it up with any responses on this thread that happen.

Hope to hear from you