Kabir Doha II (Mind)

Mind is the base on which everything else is build.This fact has been proven again and again in our everyday life.Human agency and free will flow from the mind.One who has a control on his mind is the happiest being on earth.Mind management is life management is one of the oft quoted line.So what does Kabir,the saint from India (13th-14th century),have to say about mind?

1.Nahaye dhoye kya hua,jo man mail na jaye
Meen sada jal mein rahe,dhoye bas na jaaye
[what will daily bathing do,if mind is not made clean;
Fish lives in water always,the smell doesn't leave on washing]
My understanding is that the inside matters more than outside.You may look the most cultured man from outside but till you have control over your mind,your inner beauty will not come out and you would not actualise your potential.

2.Kabir Soyee Soorma, Man Soon Maande Jhoojh
Panch Pyada Paari Le, Door Kare Sab Dooj

[O Kabir, He alone's the Warrior ,who takes on the "mind" head-on
Crushing the shield of the sensual five, all duality is gone]
Till we conquer our five senses { smell(nose),sight(eyes),hearing(ears),taste(mouth) and feeling(skin)}we can come closer to god and realise the ultimate truth.And for this control to happen we have to tame our mind - the biggest battle on earth.As someone said the biggest battle is what we fight within ourselves.

3.Moond Munddavat Din Gaye‚ Ajhun Na Miliya Raam
Raam Naam Kahu Kya Karey‚ Je Man Ke Aurey Kaam
[Ages have passed shaving the head, yet union with Ram is not here
what will Ram Naam do, when mind is engaged elsewhere]

This is a critique of the way some search for God by shaving off their head and engaging in recitation of HIS name without working on mind.If the mind is not in one's control then all amount of recitation will take you nowhere in your spiritual search.

4.Keson Kaha Bigadia, Je Moonde Sau Baar
Man Ko Kahe Na Moondiye, Jaamein Vishey Vikaar
[What harm have the hair done, you shave them hundred times
Why not shave the mind,filled with poisonous & materialistic thoughts]

5.Bura Jo Dekhan Main Chala, Bura Naa Milya Koye
Jo Mann Khoja Apnaa, To Mujhse Bura Naa Koye
[I searched for the wicked, found no one
When I searched within, No one was more wicked than me]
This is Kabir's way of saying that stop finding fault with the world.If you will look inwards and do a deep introspection you will find that roots of all troubles lie within.The fault we see in others are first present within us and they get manifested in others(because we see them in that way).

6.Chinta Aisee Dakini, Kat Kaleja Khaye
Vaid Bichara Kya Kare, Kahan Tak Dawa Lagaye
[Worry is the bandit that eats into one's heart
What's the doctor to do, where to put in the ointment?]
The biggest problem with our lives is the endless worries our mind engages in.WE either worry about the past events which were not to our liking or worry about the future which is yet to come.We just keep on recycling the same thought again and again.Hardly 10-15% of thoughts are original in our day to day existence.There is no medicine available for the worries.If we could reduce the amount of worries half our problems would be solved.


7.Maala Pherat Jug Bhaya, Mita Na Man Ka Pher
Kar Ka Manka Chhor De, Man Ka Manka Pher

[Ages passed spinning rosary, yet restless remains the mind
Give up the beads of rosary and rotate the beads of mind]
Again the same point is made more emphatically:Take control of your mind.

8.Kabir Maala Kaath Kee, Kahi Samjhave Tohi
Man Na Firave Aapna, Kaha Firave Mohi
[Kabir, the rosary made of wooden beads,wants to tell you
(If) you can't get your mind in (focus) motion, (then)why rotate me.]
If one can't exert control on one's mind taking it where one wants,to what end it is to count beads.If you are a student and can sit for study when you want(control over mind) to what end the prayers work?How many times is it that we go according to our mind instead of the mind to ours?Till the mind is controlled one can't be a better human being.

Well this does it for today.Buddha said that miseries exist because we have desires.And giving in to desires is not the way to liberation.For smaller desires lead to bigger desires and one is never satiated.No one has conquered desire by hoarding material things.The only end in sight is to get out of this vicious cycle of desires.And the one and only way is to take control of one's mind.For Mind is terrible servant but a wonderful master.

Kabir Dohas

Today after many years I came across Kabir's dohas once again and was struck by the deep philosophical insight offered in two lines.In India, Kabir is a household name and his dohas(couplets) find mention in the school textbooks.But as with all things taught in school it is merely learned by heart without understanding its significance.
So after finding these dohas after so long a time, a time during which I have grown as a person both physically as well as mentally,I have a new found love for his poetry.The entire essence of philosophy can be found in the two lines written by him.Today I will try to explain a few of his dohas:
1.His most famous (according to me)
Guru Govind dono khare, kake lagun paye
Balihari Guru aapno,Govind diyo batay.

Guru in Indian terms is the spiritual teacher,one who initiates a person in the direction of God.In english parlance he may be seen as a preacher(one who has realized God) who preaches about Him and hears confessions.Here the meaning is:
Guru and God both are standing;whose feet shall I touch
Thanks(fall in your feet) to thou O Guru! told me about God.
i.e. The Guru here assumes more importance and his is the first priority.This may seem amusing to any foreigner but it is the essence of India. A spiritual Guru here commands a great respect as he is the one who shows us the path,he is the one who takes us from darkness to light,he is the intermediary between us and God.
Another famous poem in India, which is recited daily by millions of Indians in praise of their Guru goes like this:
Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu;Gururev Maheshwarah
Guru sakchat paramBrahma ; tasmai Sri Guruve namah!
The word GOD can be taken as an acronym for Generator,Organisor and Destroyer.In Indian mythology there are three principle(trinity) Gods- Brahma,Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva).Here Guru is equivalent to Brahma, vishnu & Mahesh and placed on the same pedestral.HE (Guru) himself is the BRAHMAN (supreme God in a loose sort of way), and to such a Guru we pay obeisance.

In India of old discipleship was not easily given, one had to earn it.And once given the bond bond would stay on for the eternity.Guru would be there till the disciple became enlightened again.It is considered to be the most sacred bond possible.If one wants to know more read the following two books: Autobiography of a yogi and Play of Consciousness.

2.Kabira te nar andh hai, Guru ko kahte aur
Hari ruthe Guru thaur hai,Guru ruthe nahin thaur
Kabir says,that man is blind;who does not recognize (respect) Guru
If God is angry,Guru is there(for shelter);If guru is angry there is no shelter( anywhere in earth or heaven).
Here again a very deep thought has been conveyed by Kabir in just two lines that shows the importance of a Guru.He can deflect the anger of God,but God will not deflect his anger.

3. Dheere Dheere Re Mana, Dheere Sub Kutch Hoye
Mali Seenche Sau Ghara, Ritu Aaye Phal Hoye
[Slowly slowly O mind, everything happens at its own pace.
The gardner may water with a hundred buckets, fruit arrives only with season]
Do not be in too much haste.Things arrive at their own time and somethings are beyond our control.You can only work, the result is not entirely upto you.

4.Sayeen Itna Deejiye, Ja Mein Kutumb Samaye
Main Bhi Bhookha Na Rahun, Sadhu Na Bhookha Jaye
[Give so much, O God, sufficient to envelop my clan
I should not go hungry, nor the visitor go unfed]
This is very simple in in its meaning but the hidden meaning is very deep.Too much craving for material things leads only to its accumulation.It never satisfies anyone. Too much wealth brings along with it miseries of life in the form of numerous problems which do not leave the mind peaceful. As Jesus said,the chance of a rich man going to heaven was the same as to a camel passing through a needle,which is impossible.At the same time in India a saying goes,"Atithi Devo Bhava" (Guest is a form of God), and hence the yearning of Kabir to have that much that a guest does not depart hungry.It is beautiful in its meaning that one should be satisfied with what one has and not run after riches loosing his calm and peace of mind.

5.Jab Tun Aaya Jagat Mein, Log Hanse Tu Roye
Aise Karni Na Kari, Pache Hanse Sab Koye
[When you were born in this world,Everyone laughed while you cried
Do not conduct yourself in a manner,That they laugh when you are gone]

6.Kabir So Dhan Sanchiye, Jo Aage Ko Hoye
Sees Charaye Potli, Le Jaat Na Dekhya Koye

[Kabir, save the wealth that 'remains' in the moment ultimate
Departing with a crown of material wealth, none has crossed the gate]

i.e. Do good,help others and lead a good life.Ultimately you will be judged by the deeds you performed on the earth and not by the wealth you created.You cannot take anything along with you to the heaven- you came naked with an empty hand and so would you depart,therefor seek the wealth that you can take along with you.

7.Dukh Mein Sumiran Sab Kare, Sukh Mein Kare Na Koye
Jo Sukh Mein Sumiran Kare, To Dukh Kahe Ko Hoye
[In anguish everyone prays to Him, in joy no one does
To One who prays in happiness, how can sorrow come]
One should always keep God close at heart- whether good times or bad times.Good and Bad times are like a cycle,they come and go at their own accord.But we should always keep praying and seeking God for HE is the ultimate truth.

8.Jaise Til Mein Tel Hai, Jyon Chakmak Mein Aag
Tera Sayeen Tujh Mein Hai, Tu Jaag Sake To Jaag
[Just as oilseeds contain oil, fire's in flint stone
Your body seats the Divine, realize it if you can]
The Kingdom of Heaven lies within one's own self, one just has to realise it.Each soul is potentially divine,proclaimed Swami Vivekananda, it's just whether he realises this potential or not.God is present in each person-saint or sinner alike, its just that one has to realise it.

Enough for the day.Next time I plan to post his writings about the mind :the most important part of our body,for everything lies between the two ears according to some psychologists.So it (the post) will be when it will be.

Parallel Universes

Today i had a spooky experience.I bet many among you have gone through it-the time when you hear someone call your name ;only to find no one when you turn.Now in my case it happened at three in the morning while i was having a liesurely stroll in the park.
That set my mind racing and i come to remember an explanation offered by one of many magazines i read.here it goes...
Evidently we are not alone in the universe.There exists a number of parallel universes each with its own peculiarity.Evidently the universe contains our mirror image though it is our anti matter.If you were to shake ur hands with ur anti then both of u would vanish in a bang.This parallel universe thing came into the mind of a graduate named Hugh Everette in 1954.Now a days scientists working on the string theory have started placing emphasis on it.I remember a movie "the one"of jet li in which the character goes across different universes killing of his carbon copies therby gaining in strength.Now the same hypothesis may hold true-An infinite no. of universes with an infinite no. of ur carbon copies each differing from youin a unique way.Sounds crazy,doesn't it?
Not according to superstring theory,according to which there are 11 dimensions instead of the three we are familiar with.They say that our Universe is just one bubble among an infinite no. of bubbles which ripple as they wobble through the eleventh dimension.
Now quantum does not offer much solace either!Photons behave both as a particle as well as wave.On top of which comes Heisenberg's principle which says that by observing quantum event we effect its behaviour(pos. & vel.).Bohr said that partcles exist in all of its possible states which is given by wave function and principle of superposition.The moment we view it,it is forced to choose one of possible states thereby altering its natural behaviour.
What ever be the reality the idea holds fascination.
(This is an old article written by me.Just wanted it to put on Blogspot)

Bad days for America?

Recently while browsing through the net I came across the following two stories.One is by a man of God: A respected pastor, best-selling author and founder of a major ministry,David Wilkerson; another by the founder of trend research institute, A man supposed to be associated with science. Both have something gloomy to say about USA.
1)David Wilkerson is the author of "The Cross and the Switchblade".
"An earth-shattering calamity is about to happen," he writes. "It is going to be so frightening, we are all going to tremble – even the godliest among us."

Wilkerson's vision is of fires raging through New York City.

"It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires – such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago," he explains. "There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting – including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God’s wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

2) Gerald Celente labeled in December 2007 that 2008 would be called the "Panic of 2008"...centered on financial morass (pretty accurate).

Overview...Called "Collapse of 2009" - will see a range of Calamities that will leave no sector unscathed.

Next in line...retail which accounts for 70% of consumer spending.
Multiple bankruptcies of major retailers.
Thousands of stores closing.
Commercial Real Estate Crashes.
Credit Card sector financial stability further impacted.
Some trends

1.) Collapse Of 2009. Continued bailouts and actions to maintain status quo.

Government attempts at all levels to increase taxes, fees to replace lost revenue and cost of bailouts to maintain government operating as normal.
Taxpayers will resist--rise of anti-tax, anti-government movements and will flourish.
Tax revolt kits on how to get referendums to voters will become available.
2.) The Greatest Depression. A combination of factors will lead to this being the decline and fall of the American Empire.

Serious questions about safety of banks and your money.
Sales of Safes and Guns are rising dramatically.
Increases in crime as economy deteriorates.
3.) The Second American Revolution...no longer not a question of if...but when and how will unfold.

Combination of factors and actions by government (bailouts, special interests) leading to concentration of power.
Question is what will be the spark(s).
This is and will be unprecedented in American History.
4.) Obama-rama.

Election of Obama marketed and sold to world and people as ushering a new political era.
Obama success will be more sleight of hand and deception than integrity and determination of honoring principles.
Example: Obama cabinet is largely a retread of Clinton's team.
No evidence Obama can ameliorate or arrest points 1 through 3 above.
5.) Economic Slimfast.

Americans will go on debt, spending and fitness diet.
Return of frugality in daily lives (individual and use of groups)...just beginning...will accelerate conditions worsen.
6.) Bush Gardens

Increase in gardening and ways to become self sufficient.
Local efforts to reduce local living costs.
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The above articles have been taken from the net and are properties of the respective owners.My only idea is to bring these articles on one common platform. I have nothing to say regarding this matter. What happens will happen!It can turn out true or false and is not in our hands.
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