[salok] Bhagat Kabeer Jeeo Kae

[lowest of the low singhni]

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

ਕਬੀਰ ਤਾ ਸਿਉ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਜਾ ਕੋ ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਰਾਮੁ ॥

kabeer taa si-o pareet kar jaa ko thaakur raam

Kabeer, be in love with only that one, whose Master is the Lord.

ਪੰਡਿਤ ਰਾਜੇ ਭੂਪਤੀ ਆਵਹਿ ਕਉਨੇ ਕਾਮ ॥੨੪॥

pandit raajay bhooptee aavahi ka-unay kaam

The Pandits, the religious scholars, kings and landlords - what good is love for them?

“preet” = love

“takhur” = master

“bhooptee” = landlord (I think)

“kaunay” = poetic way of saying “what good will it do”

“kaam” = impure love

In this Salok Bhagat Kabeer Ji tells us that it’s useless to rely on other people or Maya for our happiness and salvation. If we went out on the street and asked people what would make them happy, the average answers would include wealth, family, loving husband/wife or even chocolate.

The BBC actually did a survey like this once. Then scientists came up with a ‘happiness formula’ which wasn’t very useful because it unfortunately didn’t include Maharaj. They discovered soon afterwards that following the formula had the opposite effect to the one intended, but anyway.

If we’re looking for happiness, Maharaj is the One to turn to. What is the use of following other people around, when they have not been able to liberate themselves? We get taught by teachers because we want to have as much knowledge as them – there’s no point going to someone lacking in knowledge in order to get taught; it’s common sense. No-one knows as much as Maharaj; His knowledge is incomprehensible to most of us. At the final moment of our life we will come to realize that crying out for our family or friends is not going to change anything or make anything better. They are no more powerful than us, and won’t be able to save us miraculously. Maharaj will :D which is a comforting thought.

(This Salok does not mean that we should go around treating people like dirt, nor that we should hate them or call them stupid. That is not Gursikhi, but unfortunately many of us still do it. We shouldn’t judge other people when we have no right to – we should try to look into ourselves before jumping to criticise.)

:D:

~l~

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh