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Mystic Songs - 15
Na Mein Dharmi Na Hi Adharmi
Na Mein Jati Na Kaami Ho |
Na Mein Kehta Na Mein Sunta
Na Mein Sevak Swami Ho ||
Na Mein Bandha Na Mein Mukta
Na Mein Virat Na Rangi Ho |
Na Mein Kahu Se Nyara Hua
Na Kahu Ke Sangi Ho ||
Na Hum Narak Lok Ko Jaate
Na Hum Swarag Sidhare Ho |
Sab Hi Karam Hamara Kiya
Hum Karman Se Nyare Ho ||
Ya Mat Ko Koi Birla Bujhe
So Atal Ho Baitha Ho |
Mat Kabir Kaho Ko Thape
Mat Kahu Ko Mete Ho || |
naa maOM QamaI- naa
hI AQamaI-
naa maOM jatI naa kamaI hao.
naa maOM khta naa maOM saunata
naa maO saovak svaamaI hao..
naa maOM baMQaa
naa maOM mau@ta
naa maOM ivart naa rMgaI hao .
naa maOM kahU sao nyaara huAa
naa kahU ko saMgaI hao..
naa hma nark laaok
kao jaato
naa hma svaga- isaQaaro hao.
saba hI krma hmaara ikyaa
hma krmana sao nyaaro hao..
yaa mat kao kao[-
ibarlaa baUJao
saao ATla hao baOza hao.
mat kbaIr kahU kao qaapo
mat kahU kao maoTo hao..
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Translation
Neither am I Righteous nor Non-Righteous
Neither am I an Ascetic nor a Sensualist ||
Neither Do I Speak nor Do I Listen
Neither Am I a Servant nor a Master ||
Neither Am I Constrained nor Liberated
Neither Am I Sad nor Jubilant ||
Neither Am I Distinctly Isolated from Anything
Nor Am I Identified Completely with Anything ||
Neither Do I go to the World of Hell
Nor Do I Proceed to the World of Heaven ||
All Actions are Really My Actions
But Yet I am Distinct From the Actions ||
This Truth Only A Rare Exceptional One Realizes
Such A Person Sits in Quiescence ||
Oh Kabir Don't Bring Forth Any Creation
And Don't Efface Anything Either ||
Explanation
 This song exemplifies vintage Kabir mysticism. Since the ultimate cannot be truly described in language or by using analogies from the physical reality, Kabir uses the concept of negation as a means of instruction. Here, the master mystic shows that the contrasting polarizing forces are of a similar nature and truly the opposite sides of the same "worldly" coin. Ultimate Truth is
not a balancing of these opposites but actually beyond.
It is made clear that the path of righteousness is as binding as the path of non-righteousness, because worldly matters veritably drive both of these. According to Kabir, an ascetic is as far from the ultimate as an utter materialist, as their focus continues to be on the physical reality - the ascetic goes to great lengths to negate or move away from it, while a materialist seeks it with relentless persistence. By negating these polar views the song indicates an approach that tries to do neither - leading a natural and spontaneous existence where the path emerges as the journey proceeds.
In such a state of detachment, the person is identified with the constant observer within, and therefore realizes that he is neither the one speaking or listening. He is not the master who commands nor the servant who obeys, but really the consciousness that unifies everything. Since this observer self is the superset of everything, it cannot be constrained by anything because there is nothing outside of itself to be constrained by. If there are no constraints, then there is no question of liberation either. Also no desire to see a certain reality manifest implies no jubilation or sadness. However, lack of jubilation
does not mean absence of happiness.
Here Kabir also clarifies that since he is in a state of oneness he cannot be characterized as different from something or identified with something - because there is
no-thing other than him. He also makes it clear that heaven and hell are just mental realities and comparable to dream-like states that one experiences in sleep. Such limited experiences are not, however, in the realm of his aware and awakened state.
He describes his state of oneness by saying that he is not the doer of the actions but, at the same time, the actions would not be possible without him being there. Since he is identifying himself with his invariant Self, there can be no action. For example, the deep of the ocean in not in any form of action or commotion even though a typhoon maybe raising havoc in the form of colossal surface waves. But those waves are possible only because the depth of the ocean actually exists.
After giving these attributes of his state of identity with the ultimate, Kabir says that only an extremely rare person realizes this truth. Most people are enamored by the physical reality. Then others who try to go beyond get caught in the internal states of mental realities, including visions, which soon become desires to be fulfilled at the physical level. Being bound to their visions they are as vulnerable to desires - much like a person seeking physical comfort. Only a very exceptional person is able to realize the fallibility of such transient realities; and a person who is able to fully grasp this truth then attains a state of peaceful bliss.
Having understood all this, Kabir reminds himself not to get caught in the web of illusory creation and dissolution, that has so successfully entangled almost everything and everybody.
–
Maalok
Illustration by Vaish
June 2, 2001
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