[salok] Bhagat Kabeer Jeo Kae

[lowest of the low singhni]

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

ਕਬੀਰ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਭਇਆ ਜੈਸਾ ਗੰਗਾ ਨੀਰੁ ॥

kabeer man nirmal bha-i-aa jaisaa gangaa neer

Kabeer, my mind has become immaculate, like the waters of the Ganges.

ਪਾਛੈ ਲਾਗੋ ਹਰਿ ਫਿਰੈ ਕਹਤ ਕਬੀਰ ਕਬੀਰ ॥੫੫॥

paachhai laago har firai kahat kabeer kabeer

The Lord follows after me, calling, "Kabeer! Kabeer!"

ਨਿਰਮਲੁ = pure; ਗੰਗਾ = Ganges; ਨੀਰੁ = water; ਪਾਛੈ = behind; ਹਰਿ = God; ਫਿਰੈ = follows; ਕਹਤ = calling.

Because so many consider the water of the Ganges river to be pure, Bhagat Kabeer Ji uses it as an example to make them understand the point. Many believe that being 'religious' simply involves going on pilgrimages once in a lifetime, or by being baptised/bathed in water at different places. Some believe that merely labeling themselves as part of a religion is enough to ensure peace after death. Unfortunately this attitude has crept into the minds of the Sikhs today as well.

But Bhagat Kabeer Ji tells us clearly that the rituals which so many people follow are useless in attaining the ultimate truth. In the previous Salok (54) Bhagat Ji told us that only bhagti and loving worship of Akaal Purakh can result in salvation. So many times we think Guru Ji has 'forsaken' us or left us in a pickle to deal with on our own. Our blindness and lack of understanding breeds resentment towards our King, and hatred towards others who are happier. But can we really say that we're trying to understand hard enough? Taking this forum as an example - talikhaak veerji did some vichaar on Bhagat Fareed Ji's Salok, talking about hurtful words. There have only been 21 views! We get so caught up in arguing with each other that we forget that we're all children under the same Father. Each and every one of us has the light of Akaal Purakh inside us, yet we're busily sending death threats to our siblings instead of focusing on our source. We forget that Maharaj can see what we're doing, that He's always with us, so we radiate negative energy to everyone in the vicinity. As a result we forget why we're even here.

The truth is that we have no right to 'blame' our King because of our own laziness. Time is passing so quickly and we don't even realise it. (It's already been a year since the bird flu panga.) Bhagat Kabeer Ji says that by recognising Maharaj in every second of the day and constantly keeping our minds fixed to His feet, the mind becomes pure. We think this is humanely impossible, but we forget that if we have Akaal Purakh with us, anything is possible. He's given us so many gifts, but we casually take them for granted. We're surrounded by friends or family who love us, and different foods to eat so many times in the day, yet we find it much easier to complain about things rather than humbly remaining grateful for the wonderful gifts He gives us.

Bhagat Ji says that once meditation of Akaal Purakh becomes as natural to us as our breath is, He will also be calling after His loving servant. He's our safety net if we ever fall, and is always there holding our hand every step of the way.

:umm::

~l~

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh