Introduction to Sant Kabir
Kabirdas, a great devotee, was greatly attracted to the Hindu spiritual
tradition though by birth he was not one and was drawn to saint Ramananda,
whom he recognised as his Guru. Every day he used to stand outside the
gates of the saint's Ashram since he could not muster enough courage
to enter the premises with the fond hope that his presence would be
noticed by his disciples who would convey the matter to the saint.
Days rolled on and his wish remained unfulfilled. At last God Himself
decided to intercede. The saint while going out for his bath overheard the
idols of Rama and Lakshmana in his worship speaking to one another, to
the effect that they should leave the Ashram because a great devotee had
not been welcomed there.
The saint who was not aware of Kabir's daily visit to his Ashram found him
weeping on the banks of the river and in the darkness of the morning hour
stumbled on him and invountarily utterred ``Rama''. Kabir fell prostrate at
his feet in gratitude for he received this utterance as his initiation and the
touch of his Guru's feet as the greatest blessing and became a great saint in
due course. Such was his devotion and faith.
मोको कहां ढूढे रे बन्दे
- कबीर (Kabir)
मोको कहां ढूढे रे बन्दे
मैं तो तेरे पास में
ना तीर्थ मे ना मूर्त में
ना एकान्त निवास में
ना मंदिर में ना मस्जिद में
ना काबे कैलास में
मैं तो तेरे पास में बन्दे
मैं तो तेरे पास में
ना मैं जप में ना मैं तप में
ना मैं बरत उपास में
ना मैं किर्या कर्म में रहता
नहिं जोग सन्यास में
नहिं प्राण में नहिं पिंड में
ना ब्रह्याण्ड आकाश में
ना मैं प्रकति प्रवार गुफा में
नहिं स्वांसों की स्वांस में
खोजि होए तुरत मिल जाउं
इक पल की तालाश में
कहत कबीर सुनो भई साधो
मैं तो हूँ विश्वास में
----
English translation by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore
O Man, where dost thou seek Me?
Lo! I am beside thee.
I am neither in temple nor in mosque:
I am neither in Kaaba nor in Kailash:
Neither am I in rites and ceremonies,
nor in Yoga and renunciation.
If thou art a true seeker,
thou shalt at once see Me:
thou shalt meet Me in a moment of time.
Kabîr says, "O Sadhu! God is the breath of all breath."