[salok] Bhagath Kabeer Jeeo Kae

[lowest of the low singhni]

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

kbIr myrI jwiq kau sBu ko hsnyhwru ]

kabeer mayree jaat ka-o sabh ko hasnayhaar.

Kabeer, everyone laughs at my social class.

bilhwrI ies jwiq kau ijh jipE isrjnhwru ]2]

balihaaree is jaat ka-o jih japi-o sirjanhaar.

I am a sacrifice to this social class, in which I chant and meditate on the Creator.

"jaat" = social status/caste

"sabh" = all

"hasnayhaar" = laugh

"balihaaree" = sacrifice

"is jaat" = this social class

"jih" = in which

"japio" = chant/meditate

"sirjanhaar" = Creator God

Bhagat Kabeer Ji was born into the lowest caste of the Hindus, and this couplet highlights how people mocked him. Generally, most people in the "lower castes" were illiterate, but since Bhagat Kabeer Ji was able to worship Maharaj and show his love for Him, he was eternally grateful that he was born into the caste that Maharaj has placed him in.

Those who belonged to the higher castes, like the Brahmins, were supposed to be experts spiritually because they could read the various holy books. They'd consider themselves the most superior (still do) because of their high ranking.

Indirectly, Bhagat Kabeer Ji could be saying that if he'd been born into a higher social class he might have neglected Maharaj's worship due to being carried away by arrogance which was prompted by society at the time. Imagine the humility of Bhagat Kabeer Ji.

:kid:

This issue of social class is pretty relevant today as well - with all the posts on caste in marriage and Gurdware. But we can help ourselves and other people by trying our best not to judge anyone if they're different to us. Forget about what kind of school or university or job they're from, or whether they're gay or dress different or look down at you. Maharaj's Light is in *everyone* we see. When we can start to see that in everyone we come across, then maybe we'll get somewhere.

:wub::

~l~

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh