[salok] Bhagat Kabeer Jeeo Kae

[lowest of the low singhni]

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

ਕਬੀਰ ਜਿਸੁ ਮਰਨੇ ਤੇ ਜਗੁ ਡਰੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਮਨਿ ਆਨੰਦੁ ॥

kabeer jis marnay tay jag darai mayray man aanand

Kabeer, the world is afraid of death - that death fills my mind with bliss.

ਮਰਨੇ ਹੀ ਤੇ ਪਾਈਐ ਪੂਰਨੁ ਪਰਮਾਨੰਦੁ ॥੨੨॥

marnay hee tay paa-ee-ai pooran parmaanand

It is only by death that perfect, supreme bliss is obtained.

"marnay" = death

"jug" = world

"darai" = afraid

"mann" = mind

"anand" = bliss

"pooran" = full

"parmanand" = bliss

Bhagat Kabeer Ji talks about death in this Salok - but what kind of death? Either death of the mind to materialistic things, or actual physical death. It would make more sense for Bhagat Ji to be talking about spiritual death because in the second line of this Salok he says that it is only by this death that supreme bliss can be attained. And a fundamental principle of Gursikhi is jeevan-mukti [salvation whilst still alive] - so we don't need to wait around for our physical body to die in order for us to be happy.

Most people in the world want to "fit in" with everyone else, through anything - looks, beliefs, culture. We feel under pressure to be "normal". But what is normal? People are afraid to be themselves, follow their religions, their hearts or their consciences. They're so engrossed in attachment to other people and fear being outcasts from society, but don't realise that they can live worthwhile lives whilst being a part of society as a whole - gristhi jeevan. We can still be respected when we follow Gursikhi. Maybe not in India though :D . Anyway, Maharaj will always love us for following His path, which is all that matters.

By meditating on Maharaj for just one second with the utmost devotion and faith, we can fall in love with Him instantly. It doesn't matter what other people think of us. As long as we know we're doing our best, and doing the right thing, we have nothing to worry about. Maharaj will always know. This is what will make us happy. We can run around after society and act under its pressures all we want, but it won't make us happy. We hear this all the time - Jap Naam and you'll be happy. Yet we still turn our backs and look for alternatives, which just shows how much faith we really have in Maharaj.

If we actually did what He said for once, we'd understand that we can live in peace and tranquility, without being distracted by Maya. This is the death Bhagat Kabeer Ji talks of.

:D:

~l~

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh