Hi Friends, This is wisdom for u. ENJOY!!!! Kabir ranks among the world's greatest poets. In India, he is perhaps the most quoted author, with the exception of Tulsidas. Kabir has criticized perhaps all existing sects in India, still he is mentioned with respect by even orthodox authors. Vaishnav author Nabhadas in his Bhakta-Mal (1585) writes: hindU turuk pramAn ramainI sabadI sAkhI pachchhapat nahiN bachan sabahiN ke hit kI bhAkhI [His "ramaini" "shabda" "sakhi" (sections of his "Bijak") are accepted by Hindus and Turks alike. He spoke without discrimination for the good of all] He lived perhaps during 1398-1448. He is thought to have lived longer than 100 years. He had enormous influence on Indian philosophy and on Hindi poetry. His birth and death are surrounded by legends. He grew up in a Muslim weaver family, but some say he was really son of a Brahmin widow who was adopted by a childless couple. When he died, his Hindu and Muslim followers started fighting about the last rites. The legend is that when they lifted the cloth covering his body, they found flowers instead. The Muslim followers buried their half and the Hindu cremated thier half. In Maghar, his tomb and samadhi still stand side by side. Here I quote some of his verses from his "Bijak", from the section called "sakhi". My translation follows the Gurumukh TIkA by Puran Sahib done perhas a century ago. He was associated with the Kabirpanthi center at Burhanpur. Kabir's writings can be hard to translate, not only because the language is old, but Kabir's expressions are different from what we are used to seeing. The verses below use the term "hira" (diamond). It should be noted that during the time of Kabir, diamonds were very rare. At that time, diamonds were found only in India and nowhere else. hIrA soi srAhiye sahai ghanan kI choT kapaT kurangI mAnavA parakhat nikrA khot Admire the diamond that can bear the hits of a hammer. Many deceptive preachers, when critically examined, turn out to be false. [Here diamond is siddhanta (the basic principles or doctrine).An experienced diamond cutter can hit the diamond using a chisel so that the chips will break off as expected. A diamond because if its crystalline structure tends to break off at specific angles. Similarly the true doctrine would come out shining when it is critically examined]. _______________________________________________________
hIrA tahaN na kholiye jahaN kunjroN kI hAT sahajai gaNthI bANdhike lagiye apni bAT Don't open your diamonds in a vegetable market. Tie them in bundle and keep them in your heart, and go your own way. [Don't discuss gyan (knowledge) with those who can not understand it]. ___________________________________________________ hIrA parA bajAr maiN rahA chhAr lapaTAy ketihe murakh pachi mUye koi pArakhi liyA uThAy A diamond was laying in the street covered with dirt. Many fools passed by. Someone who knew diamonds picked it up. [Those who understand gyan-siddhanta (true knowledge/principles), pause to acquire it]. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "English Learner's Cafe" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/english_learners?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
