Mystic Songs

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

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. 

 

June 2, 2001

Maalok 
Views: 16611      Comments: 3
Comments on this Mystic Song

Comment Mystic vision of Sant Kabir about reality is profound and almost similar to Advaita of Shankarcharya. The only difference is in its presentation. Ultimately reality is one and beyond the physical reality which is completely dependent on the ultimate reality.
Overwhelming insight of reality is presented in these lines.

Upendra
14-Jan-2022 21:09 PM

Comment Boredom is the feeling that everything is a waste of time; and Serenity, that nothing is.
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‘Dhyan’ or Meditation is the session of self teaching. It gives you a chance to experiment with yourself. It is necessary of life to continue experimenting. It is good to stop expecting others to change but the same if practiced for self will be invalid. We cannot stop running the race before the stop line and expect to have our name in the result. Thus, we need to make up a mind on starting the edification to the next phase of life. Just as the first phase is ample with gaining, learning and knowledge; the second is to unlearn and to give up one by one – material, emotional, physical and even worldly knowledge. Allowing only the instinct of life and wisdom to take care of everything!!!

 Learning was easy, but it is indeed difficult to unlearn what we have learned!!!

Conversely:
Learning SEEMS easy, because we are judging it in hind sight. Unlearning too will seem easy, but in hind sight. Thus we must begin...

To start with, take the example of a child who is reluctant to go to school because he does not know anything; we would tell him ‘Just attend school, be easy and slowly you will not even know that you are learning’. The same goes for unlearning.

 Begin with serenity, rest will unfold.

If you can give yourself one chance of trial, then try to acknowledge what you find most difficult to acknowledge; then see the peace and serenity you will experience.

 Give it a deep thought and you will realize the difference between ‘boredom’ and ‘serenity’.

 Boredom is the feeling that everything is a waste of time; and Serenity, that nothing is.

Journey with me to a true commitment of a beautiful life; a true serenity of leaving to our children a world in equilibrium; a cheerful willingness to let life take the form it will !!! 

Life is a beautiful gift, love it, live it, enjoy it!



Chitra Singh
30-Jun-2013 14:23 PM

Comment The spirit of the song or essence of this song is borrowed from the DASA SLOKI and SIVAH KEVALIHAM etc of ADI SHANKARACHARYA who propogated ADVAITA pHILOSOPHY.

Excellent copoaition. Stirs the bottom of our heart.

satyanarayana murthy
15-Oct-2011 07:19 AM




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