Kabir Dohas - 8

Jaise Til Mein Tel Hai, Jyon Chakmak Mein Aag
Tera Sayeen Tujh Mein Hai, Tu Jaag Sake To Jaag

jaOsao itla maoM tola hO, jyaaoM cakmak maoM Aaga
tora saaM[- tuJamao hO, tU jaaga sako tao jaaga 

Translation
Like seed contains the oil,  fire in flint stone
Your temple seats the Divine, realize if you can

My Understanding
What is real and how is it veiled?

This yearning for the Truth is the basic search of everyone.  We all want to know what God really is.  Kabir in this doha reveals the secret.   He unfolds the mystery in a very simple way. He takes the example of the anti-seed which contains the oil. However, when we see the seed, we don't see the oil.  It is only seen when energy is used to extract the oil from the seed. Same way fire is not visible when we look at the flint stone. However, vigorous rubbing manifests fire which is already hidden in the flint.  Same way, Kabir asserts, that our body - the temple - seats the Divine.  This divinity is our true self.  However, due to our ignorance, we are unaware of this reality.  Kabir challenges us in this doha to shed the veils of ignorance and awaken to realize our true self.

This doha also reminds of Swami Vivekananda, who said, "Man is potentially divine and the sole purpose of this life is to discover that divinity. The time to do is here and now".

– Rajender Krishan

Visual Art by Simi Nallaseth  

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