Kabir Dohas - 33

Jab Mein Tha Tab Hari Nahin‚ Jab Hari Hai Mein Nahin
Sab Andhiyara Mit Gaya‚ Jab Deepak Dekhya Mahin

jaba maOM qaa tba hir nahIM‚ Aba hir hO maOM naaihM
saba AMiQayaara imaiT gayaa‚ jaba dIpk do#yaa maaMih

Translation
When "I" was then Hari was not, Now Hari "is" and "I" am not
All the darkness (illusions) mitigated, When I saw the light (illumination) within.
  
My Understanding
From the root word "Har" (everything) is derived the word "Hari" which is used as yet another name or expression for God – the most common being "Hari Om".  In this doha, Kabir explains that till such time we are engrossed within the bounds of our (limited) ego – the mundane "I" –  we are not able to experience or realize the all-pervasive attribute of God. Resultantly we are in a state of conflict, chaos and a state of ignorance aptly expressed as darkness or illusion in the doha. This darkness – the state of ignorance – diminishes, rather eliminates, when the all-pervasive effulgence of God (the light within) is perceived, realized or experienced. With this conviction we are able to transcend the bondage enforced by our ego.

In the same thought Guru Nanak in his Japuji Sahib, Pauri # 5 onwards, reminds

Guran Ek Deh Bujhai
Sabna Jiyan Ka Eko Dăăta,
So Mein Visar Na Jayee 

– Rajender Krishan
April 27, 2002

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