Kabir's Weekly Planner

Introduction

The Daily Planners comprising daily, weekly, monthly, including the Yearly planners have a very recent developmental history from around 1700. But imagine Kabir Ji (1440 – 1518) understood their needs and functionality much earlier, so he wrote a planner with defined objectives. In this bani in Gauri Raag, Kabir Ji has defined crystal clear objectives for each day of the week. So, in his weekly planner we don't see an empty space for each day of the week to add items to the To Do List as needed. But what we see is a concrete actionable item for each day, which is exquisitely spelled out. These lines are from Page No. 344 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS). Let us explore it for our own inspiration.

Objective

Kabir Ji starts his planner with its objective which he defines as:

“Baar bar har kae gunn gaavau.
Gur gam bhedh su har kaa paavau ||1|| Rahaau ||”

Translation:
Again, and again (every moment, everyday) sing the glorious praises of God (through meditation etc.). Meeting the Guru (Master) try to understand the mystery of the Creator from the Guru’s understanding. Pause.

By adding the Pause at the end of the paragraph it is emphasized that it is the objective or central idea of life. Now let us see what his advice is for each weekday.

Sunday

“Aadhit karai bhagat aara(n)bh.
Kaiaa ma(n)dhar manasaa tha(n)bh.
Ahinis akha(n)dd surahee jai.
Tau anahadh ben sahaj meh bai. ||1||”

Translation:
Defining the prerequisite (of singing praises) he says on Sunday begin the devotional worship of God. From the temple (of the human body) block the flow-stream of desires and hopes. (Benefit will be) the desires/hopes (for wealth, children, and fame) will subside. Then keep the attention day and night in that fragrant ambience of devotional worship. Then hear the celestial flute (A wind instrument Bansuri or Been also known as Pungi. Note: the purpose of its creation was not to just play it or to charm snakes, but to make humans go into a meditative state) in tranquil peace and poise called “Sahaj.” ||1||

Note:
The word sahaj is derived from the twin root words: saha, together, and ja, born. Thus, it means born together (with oneself), hence innate. Thus, Sahaj is a term which means "natural," "easy," “peace” or "spontaneous." It is often referred to a state of effortless being, inner balance, or simplicity. It is widely used in spiritual, cultural, and commercial contexts, representing absence of thoughts as well as a meditative practice. Sahaj is state which is above the three modes of Maya, hence it is also called Fourth Mode (Chautha Paad).

Monday

“Somavaar sas a(n)mrit jharai.
Chaakhat beg sagal bikh harai.
Baanee rokiaa rahai dhuaar.
Tau mun matavaaro peevanahaar. ||2||”

Translation:
On Monday, because of the remembrance through devotional worship the ambrosial nectar will trickle down from the left side called Moon or cooler side. Tasting the nectar, all the negative traits (as anger, lust, greed, attachment, pride etc.) depart instantly. Through the Bani (of the Guru) the restrained mind remains within, and drinking the nectar mind is in ecstasy. ||2||

Tuesday

“Ma(n)galavaare le maaheet.
Pa(n)ch chor kee jaanai reet.
Ghar chhodde(n) baahar jin jai.
Naatar kharaa risai hai rai ||3||”

Translation:
On Tuesday, construct a fortress with moat around to protect the mind from the onslaught of the five thieves (described above as negative traits). Those who venture out (lured by the five thieves) wandering will feel the terrible wrath of the King (Divine sitting within the self). ||3||

Note:
The process of protecting the mind is through constant introspection. Introspect when a thought germinates, grows, gains momentum and gets into the execution stage. The idea is to stop the unsolicited thought in the mind at the earliest.

Wednesday

“Budhavaar budh karai pragaas.
Hiradhai kamal meh har kaa baas.
Gur mil dhouoo ek sam dharai.
Oradh pa(n)k lai soodhaa karai. ||4||”

Translation:
On Wednesday (as a result of devotional worship), one’s understanding becomes enlightened. Then God will be experienced in the lotus of the heart. Through the Guru’s teachings the lotus heart (pure, untainted by desires, thoughts) becomes One with God (thus the Oneness is experienced within). (As a result) The inverted lotus blossoms and is turned upright. (This not a physical blossoming but a subtle blossoming as one feels the divine connection within.) ||4||

Thursday

“Birahasapat bikhiaa dhei bahai.
Teen dev ek sa(n)g lai.
Teen nadhee teh tirakuTee maeh.
Ahinis kasamal dhoveh naaeh. ||5||”

Translation:
On Thursday (as a result of devotional worship) wash off all your materialistic (Maya’s) attachments. Forsaking the trinity (characteristics of material world i.e., Rajo, Sato and Tamo) attach yourself to the One God alone (through Naam). Arriving at the confluence of the trinity (Ida, Pingla and Sukhmana) there is “Trikutiee”, become free from the material attachment. (In this manner) the wash off all the sins of material attachment. ||5||

Note:
Thus, get in state of Sahaj, also called forth above the three - Rajo, Sato and Tamo.

Friday

“Sukirat sahaarai su ieh brat chaRai.
Anadhin aap aap siau laRai.
Surakhee paa(n)chau raakhai sabai.
Tau dhoojee dhirasaT na paisai kabai ||6||”

Translation:
On Friday (many fast, but if wish to fast then) keep a watch on your devotional worship. (Reason) As your devotional worship progresses, Maya will try to derail it through enticements, ego or fame and recognition. Therefore, day and night, you must fight against your own self resisting all types of temptations. Thus restrain your five sense organs. Only then shall you not be casting an evil design/motive over others. ||6||

Saturday

“Thaavar thir kar raakhai soi.
Jot dhee vaTee ghaT meh joai.
Baahar bheetar bhiaa pragaas.
Tabb hooaa sagal karam kaa naas. ||7||”

Translation:
On Saturday, keep your mind steady and calm through remembrance, from the temptation induced by five thieves. Then experience the wick of God’s Light within your heart. So focused you should be that any sudden event (good or bad) should not divert the attention, then you will be enlightened inwardly and outwardly. Only then all your karmas (from the past and present lives) be erased. ||7||

Conclusion

“Jabb lag ghaT meh dhoojee aan.
Tau lau mahal na laabhai jaan.
Ramat raam siau laago ra(n)g.
Kaaeh kabir tab nirmal ang. ||8||1||”

Translation:
Understand this clearly that as long as you place your hopes in others, you shall not find the Mansion of the God’s Presence. When you embrace love for the God alone, says Kabir, then, you shall become pure in your every fiber (of the body). ||8||1||

Summary

• Objective – Experience of Oneness through Devotional Worship.
• Hinderance – Five sense organs (connected to mind) which constantly take attention outwards.
• Results of hinderance – Mind gets in the Sato (goodness/clarity), Rajo (passion/activity), and Tamo (inertia/ignorance) mode. These inseparable qualities interact to create the world's experiences and bind the mind to material life, requiring its liberation.
• Practice – Constant introspection to monitor if mind ventures out chasing after hopes and desires.
• Sucess – Experience of Oneness and liberation.

References:

1. Singh, Prof. Sahib. Darpan – Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Volume 2. Raj Publishers.
2. Singh, Dr. Vir. Santhiya – Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Volume 5. Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan, New Delhi.
3. Singh, Simranjeet. Exposition on the Kabir’s Bani: Raag Gauri Vaar Kabir Jeo Kae 7.
4. Sikhitothemax
5. Srigranth

Image (c) Arpana Kaur