Mast Qalandar

When a seeker finds his true home, meets his beloved one and tastes the divine nectar of love, this great ecstasy is beyond words!! No worldly drugs or drinks can compare to it, no words can describe it!! This is full time intoxiction which never comes down!!
Yet Kabir has tried to describe this bliss and ecstasy in so many ways. Here are some dohas and pads.

Ham vasi us des ke, jahan jaati-kul naahi.
Shabd-milawa hoi raha, deh-milawa naahi.
Kabir says – we are the citizen of that state where neither caste nor creed matters. There we meet in the form of Shabd(sound current, the true form of the soul) and not with this physical body.

Hadd gayi, anahad gaya, rahaa kabeera hoy.
Behaddi maidaan me, raha kabeera soy
The limited world is left behind and so is true about the anahad(region of the unstuck melody). Now Kabir is in his true self. He rests in the infinite and unlimited field.

Kabir pyala prem ka, antar diyo lagay.
Rom-rom me rami raha, aur amal kya khay.
Kabir tastes the cup of love in his heart. This love is so divine and powerful drug; it is spread in his whole being. No other drug or drink is comparable to it.

Payo satnaam gare ke harabaa.
Saankar khaTolana rahani hamaaree, dubare paanch kaharawaa.
Talee kunjee hame Guru deenhee, jaba chaho tab kholo kibarabaa.
Prem-preeti kee chunaree hamaaaree, jab chaho taba nacho saharabaa.
Kahe Kabir suno bhai sadho, bahuri na aibe ehi nagarabaa.
I got this priceless necklace of Sat Naam. My DOLI(the carriage in which a bride is taken to her husband’s place- here refers to the body) was shorter and narrow and the five Kahars( persons carrying the DOLI-here five elements) were too slim(weak), (still I made the journey to the palace of my beloved). My Guru gave me the key to open the door of the palace. I open the door when even I want and go to meet him. I am wearing the clothes made of love and affection and I dance with great bliss and happiness. Kabir says that now he will not come back to this city (Naihar, parents’ place); he has found the palace of his beloved one.

Ko beene, prem lagee ree maai, ko beene.
Raam rasaayan maate ree maai, ko beene.
Paai paai tu patihaai, paai kee turiaa bech khaai,
Ree maai ko beene,
Aise paai par bithuraai, tyon ras paani banaayo ree,
Naache taanaa naache baana, naache kooch puraanaa,
Karagahi baithi kabeera naache, choohe katya taana ree,
Maai ko beene.

Kabir says - who cares to weave? I am absorbed in love. No, I am not weaving now. Ram (Love, God, Lover) is the great wine, I am totally drunk of it and want to live like it. No, I will never weave again. Mother believes that I learnt weaving (paai-art of weaving, paai-got) and will do good earning. She doesn't know that I sold the paai (weaver's tool). I made the great wine and spread it all over the paai (weaver's tool). Now all are dancing- taana, baana( thread's linings for weaving) and the old brush. I am also dancing here at weaver's workplace. Who cares to weave? I am drunk in the great wine of Him!!
Kabir is referring weaving as the karmas people do here in hope of good returns. The tools are like things and work organs we use here. Kabir has made good use of them; he made the divine drink of love. He tasted it himself and now has spread it all over the things around him (to people around him) and all are dancing with great joy and ecstasy. Now he will not do any more karmas to bind him here, he has cut all threads, has sold all tools and has made all of them mad in divine love.
Sabai rasaayan main kiyaa, prem samaan na koy. ratee ek tan me sancharai, sab tan kanchan hoy. I tasted all drinks, all drugs... nothing is as great as Love. You consume a drop of it and it transforms you....your whole being gets changed. Like metal gets converted to gold...... you are something else now..... most graceful and beautiful.............

Kabir baadal prem kaa, ham par barsyaa aai.
Antari bheegee aatmaa, haree bhai banraai.
Kabir says when this cloud of love rained over me, my heart and soul became cool and calm. Now the desert within me is blossomed like a forest.

Lalee mere laal kee, jit dekho tit laal.
Lalee dekahan main gayee, main bhee ho gayee laal.
The color of my beloved is spread all over the world. Wherever I see I see his color only. I went to see his colors but I am myself colored by his color.
The ultimate realization happens when a devotee sees that everything is made of the same essence and there is nothing spared by GODLINESS. At that moment when the oneness occurs and the essence of Godliness which is nothing but pure love shows its true color to the devotee, he realizes that he himself is the same and nothing less than that.

Haman hai ishq mastaana, haman ko hoshiyari kya.
Rahe aajaad ya jag me, haman duniyaa se yaaree kya.
Jo bichude hain piyaare se, bhaTakate dar badar phirate,
Hamara yaar hai hamame haman ko intejaari kya.
Na pal bichude piyaa hamse, na ham bichude piyare se.
Unhee se neh laaga hai haman ko bekaraaree kya.
Kabira ishq ka maataa, dui ko door kar dil se.
Jo chalana raah naajuk hai, haman sar bojh bharee kya.
I am drunk of his love, what is the need of being smart or wise? I am free in this world; I need not any friendship here. Whoever is separated from the beloved, wanders here and there. My beloved is within my heart, I need not to search or wait for him. We are in love with each other. He doesn’t leave me for a moment; neither I am separated from him (for a fraction of second). My love is only him, why will I be restless when I have found him (within me)? Kabir says - get drunk of this divine love and drop all thoughts of duality. If I have to walk over so narrow (like walking on a rope) path, why will I keep any baggage on my head?

Hari ras peeyaa jaaniye, je kabahu na jaai khumaar.
Maimantaa ghoomat phire, naahee tan kee saar.
How will you know who is a GOD-realized soul, who has tasted the great wine, the nectar of GOD?? Kabir says you can see the symptoms – the person who has attained the community with GOD, looks like intoxicated all the time. This intoxication never comes down, he looks like insane, wanders like the same, doesn’t even bother about his body or appearance

Kabir hari-ras yo piyaa, bakee rahee na thaaki.
Paaka kalash kumhaar ka, bahuri chadhe na chaaki.
When I drank the nectar of love (Kabir has said it as Hari-ras or Hari-jal at so many places- GOD-realization), no desires were left in my mind. Kabir says - (Now my realization is complete), I shall not come here again (I am baked up in the holy fire of knowledge/ self- realization). When the potter bakes the pot, and somehow it breaks, he shall not mix it again to make new pots. So is true for the GOD, when a person has realized the ultimate truth, he will not come again in this world.
***Ramkrishna has given this example of baked pot so many times.

Prem-Preeti ka cholana, pahiri Kabeera naach.
Tan man wapar varihau,Jo koi bolo saanch.
Kabir wears the cloths of love and affection and dances madly. He will sacrifice his body and mind on those who are bound to the truth only.

Tu tu karata tu bhaya, mujhame rahi na hu.
Wari tere naam par, jit dekhun tit tu.
I called you, I thought about you, only you were on my mind. Now there is no me within me. I am sacrificed upon you, I see only you everywhere. When true love happens, only beloved remains, even when a person falls in love with someone, he or she thinks about the beloved only. Kabir says that it is you only everywhere. When I thought about you all the time, my own self was dropped completely, and now I can see it is you only and nothing else.

Kahana tha so kah diyaa, ab kachhu kaha na jay.
Ek raha dooja gaya, dariyaa lahar samaay.
I have already said what ever was there to say. Now it is not possible to say anything more. Now it is only ONE and the duality is gone. The river has met to the ocean, now there is no separate existence.

Had me rahe so maanwa, behad rahe so saadh.
Had - behad dono taje, taakee mata agaadh.

The person, who is within limits, is a human. The person who travels to unlimited regions is a Sadhu. But the person who has gone beyond the limited and the unlimited, his consciousness is like infinite. He is the truly realized soul!!

Hari sangat sheetal bhayaa, miTee moh ki taap.
Nisi waasar such nidhi raha aan ke prakaTa aap.
When Kabir met to his Lord, all pain and sufferings of this world disappeared. Now he enjoys the bliss day and night, as the Lord showed himself by his own will and love.

Deepak deeyaa tel bhari, baatee dayi aghaTT.
Pooraa kiya bisaahuNa, bahuri na aavo haTT.
My Lord gave me the lamp full of oil and the wick everlasting. Now my shopping has completed here, now I won’t be coming again in this market (world).

Kabir man nirmal bhaya, jaise ganga neer.
Paachhe Paachhe Hari phire, kahat kabir kabir.
Kabir is pure in his heart and mind like the water of the Ganga. He is the beloved of the Lord, now the Lord follows him calling “Kabir, Kabir”. The thinnest yet the strongest rope is the rope of love. Kabir has mastered the art of love, he got his mind and heart cleansed and put the love in it. He found the master key of the beloved’s heart. Now the Lord is attached with this love, he is eagerly following Kabir!!!

Satguru: Living God in Human Form

Satguru: God in Human Form………..

Guru kumhar sish kumbh hai, gadhi-gadhi kaadhe khoT.
Bheetar haath sahaar de, baahar maare choT.
Guru is like the potter, who keeps working on the pot to make it in the shape. While he strikes gently on its surface to shape it, he gives support of the other hand from within. The Guru also works on his disciples in the same way. He scolds them to remove all bad habits and negative thoughts but at the same time he keeps providing his love to them so they feel supported and get the courage to remove all impurities without getting any harm. Here Kabir is saying a psychological truth of utter importance – telling someone about his or her faults and giving advices for betterment is not enough to improve them. There should be so intense love which could make them feel that they are not alone, they are being cared and who so ever is giving them advices, is always with them. It gives them encouragement and power to fight and get themselves in good shape removing all impurities. A true Guru only can do this miracle on spiritual path (but it is of the same importance in any other teaching field also). That is why Guru is so important.

Prem piyaala jo pilaaya, sees dakshiNa dey.
Lobhee sees na de sake naam prem ka ley.
I will offer my head to him for this teaching; who has provided me the cup of divine love. A greedy person saves his head, doesn’t offer it to him, still he wants to find love, talks about love (that is impossible).

Guru dhobi sish kaapaDa, saabun sirjanhaar.
Surati shila par dhoiye, nikase joti apaar.
The Guru is like washer man, the disciple is like cloth and the Creator (Name or NAAM) is like soap. Wash away all your filth on the stone of Surati (consciousness) and see what a great light emerges from yourself!!

Jaake man vishwas hai, sada guru hai sang.
Koti kaal jhakjhorahee, tau na ho chit bhang.
Who so ever has full faith in his Guru; his Guru shall always remain with him. No matter how many times (Koti - Crore) Kaal plays trick to divert his mind, his concentration will not break. Faith upon own Guru has this power to save his disciple in worse conditions.

Guru Gobind dono khaDe, kako laagu pay.
Baliharee Guru aapne, Gobind diyo lakhaay.
My Guru and my Lord both are now in front of me (by the grace of Guru)!! Tell me whom should I bow down!! Even there was Lord always present, I was not able to meet him, but by the grace of my Guru, I found my Lord also!! Sure my Guru is greater than my Lord, without him I couldn’t find my Lord!!

Sab dharatee kagaj karau, lekhani sab banraay.
Saat samudra ki masi karu, Guru gun likha na jay.
Even I use this whole earth as paper, make pen of all woods and use the water of seven seas as ink, still I can’t write all virtues of my Guru!!

Bhalee bhai jo Guru milya, nahi to hoti haani.
Deepak diShTi patang jyo, padata puree jaani.
It was for my good that I met to my Guru or I could be at great loss!! As moth falls in the light of a lamp, so I could fall in this illusionary world!! I am saved by my Guru’s grace!!

Yah tan vis kee belaree, guru amrit kee khaan.
Sees diyo jo guru mile, to bhee sastaa jaan.
This body is the mistletoe of poison, and my Guru is the mine of Amrit. If you can’t find Guru, you are bound to fall in this poisonous well and destroy yourself. If you can find your Guru by sacrificing your head, still this trade is a profitable one. You will find something priceless in exchange of this worthless head (ego, identity, bundle of desires and karmas).

Teerath gaye se ek phal, sant mile phal chaar.
Sant guru mile adhik phal, kahe kabir vichaar.
If you go to holy place, you may get one spiritual benefit, but if you meet a Saint, you will get four benefits. Go ahead and find a Saint Guru and you will get unlimited benefits.

Sant purus ki aarasee, santon kee hee deh.
Lakha jo chahe alakh ko, unhi me lakh je leh.
Saints are like mirrors, you can see the invisible through their body. They have cleansed their mind body and soul and the invisible reflects in them (That is why sometimes they call Saints the incarnation of GOD or GODLY power).

Raam naam ke paTantare, debe ko kuchh naahi.
Kya le Guru santoShiye, hauns rahee man mahi.
I don’t have anything equivalent to Name of Ram. I have had this desire unfulfilled that I could give something to my Guru (in exchange of Name) to make him pleased, there is nothing compatible to that.

Kabir bhaThee kalaal kee, bahutak baiThe aai.
Sir saumpe soi piwe, nahi to piyaa na jaai.
Kabir says this is the brewery of the famous brewer. So many people came here to drink, but the brewer has put the strange price for the drink. You have to give your head in exchange of this drink, only then you can taste this drink!!
This drink is the divine drink of love, the brewer is the true Guru and the head is our false self, ego.

Kabir Guru ke bhaawate, doorahi se deesant.
Tan chheenaa man anamanaa, jag se rooThi phirant.
Kabir says who ever loves his Guru and is beloved of Guru is seemingly different from others. His body grows thinner and he seems to be absent minded, He is indifferent from this world (is absorbed in his inner world!!).

Brichh kabahu nahi phal bhake, nadee na sanchay neer.
Parmaarath ke kaarane, saadhun dhara shareer.
Trees never eat their own fruit, other creatures use them. The river never uses its water for itself. This water is utilized by others. So is true for the saints. They are here to help worldly souls, to get us out of this illusionary world. They don’t have their life for their own sake or desires.

Sarwar tarawar santjan, chautha barase meh.
Parmaarath ke kaarane charo dhaaree deh.
One is river, second is tree, third are Saints and fourth kind is clouds. These have come here to help and serve others and not for any own purpose.

Guru samaan daataa nahee, yaachak shees samaan.
Teen lok kee smapadaa, so guru deenhee daan.
There is no donor or giver like Guru and no beggar like the disciple. The disciple asks the wealth of GOD-realization and liberation which is priceless (much more than the wealth of three lokas), so he is the greatest beggar. And Guru gives this wealth so without taking anything in exchange of that so he is the greatest donor.

Nirbairee nihkaamataa, Saai setee neh.
Vishiyaa su nyaaraa rahe, santani aa ang eh.
The person who has no enemy and no desires and not even lust or greed for any sensual pleasures, who has only love for the Lord; is the real Saint.

Nahi sheetal hai chandrama, him nahi sheetal hoy.
Kabir sheetal sant jan, naam sanehee hoy.
Kabir says – the Moon is not so cool and not even the ice is so cool. But the saints are really cool who are attached to the Name of Ram, who have fallen in the love of Ram. (This coolness comes from the beyond, from the beloved one, the origin of everything cool and blissful!)

Ram bulawa bhejiya, diyaa Kabira Roy.
Jo sukh saadhu sang me, so baikunTh na hoy.
Kabir says when his time of departure came and Ram (Lord) called him back to his true home, he started weeping. He says there is a joy being with true devotees of Lord, he will not be able to get it there.
* The same interesting fact I found in Ramkrishna. He says he brought himself back after merging in the ocean of love-to be with true devotees of Lord, make their way smooth and pray Lord with them, this way to enjoy their company.

Beware of fake Gurus……….

Jaka guru hai andhla, chela hai ja chandh.
Andhe andha Theliya, dunyu koop parent.
If the Guru is blind (unrealized) and the disciple is also blind, how can they progress further? If a blind shows the path to the other blind, they both are bound to fall in some dead well at some time. The same is also true for spiritual path. If a person is not fully GOD-realized and he becomes Guru, he can’t show true path to his disciples. His disciples are bound to go astray.

PhooTee aankh vivek kee, lakhe na sant asant.
Jake sang das bees hain, tako naam mahant.
People have their inner eyes of conscience blind; they don’t see who real saint is and who is a fake one. They consider that person as a great saint who ever has a great number of disciples with him. But a true saint doesn’t have many disciples; they have few but true and determined disciples.

Bandhe ko bandhaa mile, chhute kaun upaay.
Kar sangati nirbandh kee, pal me let chhuDaay.
If a bound person meets to another bound one, how can he be liberated? A chained person doesn’t have strength to unlock the other. Kabir says keep the company of liberated Saint who will get you unbound also.

Long Journey Ahead: Pad of Different Stages

“Bolee hamaree poorabee, hame lakhe nahi koy.
Hamako to soi lakhe, dhur poorab ka hoy.”

Kabir says that his language is which belongs to Far East region, and no one can understand it. Only those who belong to that region would be able to understand it. At first place he says about his origin which was Banars ( which is in East part of India), but as his sayings often have more than one meaning and sometimes the second one is more real and important so is true here. Its actual meaning is that Kabir’s language is of the previous (poorab) region (which was the state of the soul when it was in its homeland) and only those will be able to understand it who belong to that land. This way he says about his cryptic, symbolic language which is not for common people, but for spiritually advanced people. Kabir’s sayings have a mystical mask as he states in above Doha.
There are three kind of sayings –

1. First kind is where he talks about this world’s problems, illusions (MAYA), a soul’s ignorance and suffering, common behavior of humankind including fake Gurus and right ways to live a good life.These pads are written in Doha and Chaupaai style and are called “Ramaini”( means going into lust, the way to indulge in this world ).

2. Second kind of pads are where he speaks about truth stating all aspects of life, mortal and immortal, the best way to behave in this world, the best way to persue higher realities. These are based on his own experiences so these are called “SAKHI” or witness.

3. Third kind of pads is where he talks about different techniques and stages of sadhana that is meditation, Yoga, Kundalini sadhana etc. These are where he talks about his spiritual experiences. These are called Shabd. These are also of three kinds –


I. First is where he talks about his enlightenment, fulfillment and joy of meeting his beloved “the ONE”.

II. Second kind of pads is of love where he sings like a woman, a bride of the GOD full with love and devotion which sounds really interesting and mysterious. There are pads of separation, pain of separation and of joy of meeting. I will try to explain as per my understanding why he sounds like that because I have found this tendency in Ramkrishna and other mystic writers like Rabindranath Tagore also. So I think there must be some sound reason behind it.

III. Third kind of mystic pads are in which he talks absolutely in symbols -a chain of symbols and these symbols are mostly taken from his early path Nathpanth. FYI Nathpanth was impressed and originated by Bauddh Tanrta Mat. These pads are called ULATBANSI or opposite statement. These are pads told in symbols which sound opposite to reality but they decipher some deep and mystic meaning which doesn’t match with words in pads even if we try to see it as metaphor and find a meaning in them. All main words represent meanings individually and they can make a whole statement if we can understand the meaning each word represents for. That was the way for those mystics to keep sayings in safe way and only those who were able to achieve a higher stage could decipher it.
In this post I am giving some pads of different stages of Kabir’s journey. As well known, Kabir was a illiterate person but was a great poet in heart. And as poets do, he often sang his songs in great depth. Whatever came to him, became a part of his pads. Even there are examples of rude statements towards ignorant people. He was kinda Mauji Jeev, so always spoke what the truth seemed to be to him. He faced great opposition from all Gurus of all religion and Panths active in India, especially from Hindu and Muslim community. In below lines he discards all opposition saying that he speaks based upon experience and others talk about scriptures and holy books….

“Mera tera manua ek kaise hoi re.
Main kahata aankhin kee dekhee,
Tu kahata kaagad kee lekhee,
Main kahata surjhavanhaaree, tu rakhyo arujhaai re.”

How can my mind and your mind act in the same way? What ever I say is my own experience, I have seen them by my own eyes and you say what ever is written in books. I try to say things in simple way to make it understandable, but you make it complex, you know it only by books and so get it mixed.

“Avadhu mera man matawaara.
Unmuni chaDha gagan-ras peewe, tribhuvan bhaya ujiyaara.
Gud kari gyan dhyaan kari mahua, bhav-bhaThee kari bharaa.
Sushaman naree sahaj samaanee, peewe peewanhara.
Doi puri joDi chugaai bhaaThee, chua maharas bhaaree. K
Kam-krodh dui kiya paleeta, ChhooTi gayi sansaaree.
Sunni mahal me mandala baaje, tahan mera man naache.
Guru Prasad amrit fal payaa, sahaj sushumana kaachhe*.
Poora milya tabai sukh upajyo, tan ki tapani bujhaanee.
Kahe Kabir bhav bandhan chhooTe, jotahi jot samanee.”
Kachhe - (to pull water out from a pond or well to make it empty-here refers to burn away all worldly desires..)

Kabir says to Avadhoot (commonly used for Nathpanthi yogi) or Sadhu – “My mind is drunk with the great wine. It is turned upward now (unmuni, a stage of Kundalini sadhana, also used in context of meditaiton which is done by pulling consciousness upwardly), and is drunk with that great nectar (gagan-ras) and three Loks are enlightened. And how did he be able to make this great wine?? He took true knowledge as Gud ( sweetmeat) ,meditation as Mahua(a small fruit which is used in Indian villages to make local wine), and this world as bhaThee( the oven used to make the wine). This way Sushumna (Main nadee in three nadis) went up in natural way and Kabir, the drinker is drinking this great wine. He put two nadis (Ida and Pingala) as two woods in that oven to make the fire, put the lust and anger as fuses and this way he made the holy fire in which all worldly desires were burnt away. Now that great wine is ready and Kabir is fully drunk of it. Now Kabir listens the great music which is coming from sunnmahal (A place where GOD is supposed to be, commonly used as sunnmahal, shabdmahal by kabir, some explain it as a region which comes in the way of spiritual journey and is far below the actual place of GOD) and he is madly dancing in joy. Kabir says that it was Guru’s grace and blessings that he was able to get that fruit of immortality naturally. Kabir says that only when he got the whole (the GOD), he was happy and joyous. His body and soul are now feeling coolness. Kabir says that now his tie-ups with this world and its illusion are broken and he is free, so free that his soul (consciousness) or light within him became one with light of GOD.

"Avadhu gaganamandal ghar keeje.
Amrit jhare sada sukh upaje, bank naali ras peeje.
Mool bandhi sar gagan samaanaa, sushaman yo tan laagee.
Kam-krodh dui kiya paleeta, tahaan jogani jaagee.
Manwa jaai dareewe baitha, magan bhaya ras laaga.
Kahe kabir jiy sansaa naahi, shabad anahad baagaa."

Kabir says – “O Sadhu, make your home in the gaganmandal( a place in spiritual journey, not sure whether he is refering gagan-gufa or a place higher). Sit there in dhyan, there nectar is flowing and there is unbroken joy and happiness. When you will be there you will be able to drink it through banknaal ( which in mystic world is assumed to start after sahasrar and leads the way ahead). When he closed his Mooladhar (An aasan in Yoga which is called moolbandh), the flow (sar- river) started rising above and reached to sky (gagan), Sushmana became alive and active in body. He put lust and anger as fuses, thus the Kundalini(Jogani) got awaken. Thus his mind sat at the third eye (dareebe – a small window in palaces) and became intoxicated with the great wine. Kabir says no doubt remains in the Garden of unstuck melody.

Avadhu achchharhu te nyaaraa.
Jo tum pawana gagan chadhao, karo gufa me wasaa.
Gagana pawanaa dono binase, kanh gaya jog tumhaara.
Gagana madhdhhe jotee jhalakai, paanee madhdhhe taaraa.
Ghatige neer, binasige taara, nikari gayo kehi dwaara.
MerudanD par daari dulaichee, jogee taaree laayaa.
So sumer par khak uDegee, kachcha jog kamaayaa.
Ingala binase, pingalaa binase, binase sushaman naaDee.
Jab unmani kee taaree TuTe, tab kanh rahee tumharee.
Adwait-viraag kaThin haia bhaai, anTake munivr-jogi.
Akshar-lok ki gamm batawe, so haia mukti-virogi.
Kah aaru akah duhu te nyaaraa, satt-asatt ke paraa.
Kahe kabir taahi lakh jogi, utari jaye bhav-paaraa.

We saw in above pad how Kabir narrates about Kundalini Sadhana. Here he is trying to say its limitations. Kabir here reveals the true path and the real goal to us. Once he realized the limitations of other ways, he started telling people about it. There are two basic concepts of GOD in Hindu culture- one is SAKAR (GOD as form or avatar) and NIRAKAR (FoRMLESS one). Again they say there are two things working in this creation which eventually made all things happen in this form- they are JAD(non-living, matter) and CHAITANYA(living or soul) or Kshar(which is destroyable) and Akshar(Which can’t be destroyed).Respectively first is nature or matter (five elements) and and second is GOD, part of it working within creatures which makes them alive. There are many Panths or ways to pray GOD. People who have spiritual knowledge and depth say that the FORM or SAKAR are only to help ignorant people understand the concept of something super natural power within their limited knowledge and concentrate upon that so they could sharpen their vision. This will help them understand later the FORMLESS ONE and follow the way leading to it. But the Saints who have achieved self-realization say that Nirakar or Akshar is not the last stage of Realization. There is something beyond that – that is the real thing. In this pad Kabir is explaining this to a Spiritual being – Sadhu or Avadhu. He says HE is beyond the place of even Akshar – immortality. You try to meditate and pull your wind (here referring the five winds used to pull consciousness upward to raise Kundalini) and you do raise it to Gagan-Gufa (inverted cave, A place in spiritual journey which comes between Sahasrar and TrikuTi ), but when your meditation breaks and you come down to your natural consciousness then where is your yoga with GOD?? In meditation you see the light in sky, but it is nothing but like a person seeing image of stars in water. The moment water dries away; you are unable to see them. They put colorful blanket on back ( merudandh, said for spinal cord-the place of three nadees ) and start doing meditation. But this achievement is not permanent. The moment death ceases the breathes, this way the Sumer (Sumer, called for spinal cord, it is also a mountain so said here in mischievous way) will turn into ashes. You have learnt unripe yoga. This ida, pingla and sushumna will be perished away one day, the moment the flow of meditation stops, where does go your yoga at that time? Do you remain in constant communion with HIM all the time while doing meditation or doing work?? There is one path called adwait marg. But it is highly difficult way to go on; this way is for ONENESS, NON-DUALITY. But due to extreme difficulties on this path, whoever tried to go on this way, got wandered. The person who shows the way till Akshar-lok (immortal world) is not true in giving salvation. To achieve the true salvation, go beyond the spoken and the unspoken, the truth and the untruth, see the thing which is beyond everything and you will go beyond the cycles of life and death, you will be liberated.

Sadho shabd-saadhana keeje.
Jaasu shabd te pragaT bhaye sab, soi shabd gah leeje.
Shabdahi guru, shabd muni shish bhaye, shabd so biralaa boojhe.
Saai shishya aur guru mahaatam, jehi antargat soojhe.
Shabde ved-puraan kahat hai, shabde sab Thaharaawe.
Shabde sur-nar-muni sant kahat hain, Shabd bhed nahi paawe.
Shabde suni-suni bhesh dharat hain, shabd kahe anuraagi.
ShaT-darshan sab shabd kahat hain, shabd kahe bairaagee.
Shabde maaya jag utapaanee, shabde ker pasaaraa.
Kah Kabir janh shabd hot hai, gagan-bhed hai nyaaraa.

Kabir says – O dear Sadhu, do the meditation of Shabd (sound, un-struck melody). Keep your attention to the sound from which all things sprang out. Sound is the Guru, Sound is the Disciple and Monks but very few understand its mystery. GOD, disciple and the great Guru all are nothing but Sound, but few know it when they seek and find the truth within themselves. All holy books like Ved and Purana talk about the Shabd (here it refers about book of words or worldly language), every body talks about these words. All deities, humans, monks and saints talk about this Shabd (here it refers in both meaning, words of worldly language and Sound) but they are unable to know the secret mystery of this sound. Monks and Sanyasis(Renunciate) wear their special dress after knowing the words about HIM (refers words in books), the lover of HIM (sounds like it is about the believer of SAAKAR) speaks Shabds (words and bhajans), all six schools of philosophy (six branches of Indian ancient philosophy) speak Shabd (words of books) and the Sanyasi (one who has left worldly things -vairagee) also speaks about the shabd. This Sound made this world with Maya (illusion) and all this creation is nothing but sound’s work. Here it says about creation of Sound plus the illusion created by written books and words also; all faiths, rituals and all things that are being carried out with spoken, written or unspoken laws and words. Kabir says it is visible world of the Sound, the creation, the outer surface. The place which is the origin of this sound, is the secret of everything, it is beyond expression. Try to locate the place and be there, it is the real thing.

Satguru ho maharaj, mope saai rang daara.
Shabd ki choT lagi mere man me, bedh gaya tan saara.
AushaDh mool kachhu nahai laage, kya kare baid bichaara.
Sur-nar-munijan-peer-auliyaa, koi n paawe paara.
Sahib Kabir sarv rang rangiya, sarv rang se nyaaraa.

So far we have reached here, where Kabir found his Guru and followed his way of meditation upon Sound. He heard that amazing sound and now is unable to focus on anything else. So sweet is the melody!! He says – O dear Satguru, HE is playing with me with colors of Sound. He throws colors upon me, when he plays the music!! The wound of the Shabd hurt my mind, and it is slowly spreading all over my body. Now no medicine seems to cure me, no Doctor has the remedy of this wound. All holy people are trying to know the secret of it, but even they couldn’t get the resolution. Kabir says his Sahib is the greatest, he has colored me with all colors yet he is beyond of all colors.
**(Here for reference I would like to give an example from Ramakrishna – he often used to tell stories, symbolic to convey the mysterious experiences. This is one of his favorites – There was a cloth dyer who had a bucket full of some liquid. Who ever came to him and wanted the cloth to be colored in any particular color, he just dipped the cloth in the bucket and lo! The same desired color was of the cloth! A person was watching this entire process. When he saw that each and every color is coming from the same liquid, he asked that I don’t want any cloth colored. Please give me the same thing you have in your bucket!!)
This way kabir got the wound of Love with the grace of the Guru and kept searching for the medicine, which couldn’t be anything less then absolute Love of GOD – the original liquid of all colors!!

AaTHahu pahar matwaala laagee rahe, AaaThahu pahar kee chhak peewe.
AaaThahu pahar mastaanaa maataa rahe, Brahm kee chhaul me saadh jeewe.
Saanch hi kahatu aur saanch hi gahatu hai, Kaanch ko tyaag kari saanch laagaa.
Kahe kabir yon saadh nirbhay hua, Janam aur maran ka bharam bhaaga.
Gagan ki gufa tahaa gaib ka chandanaa, Udaya aur ast ka naam naahee.
Diwas aur rain tahaan neku nahi paaiye, Prem - parkas ke sindh maahee.
Sadaa aanand dukh dand vyape nahi, Pooranaanand bharpoor dekhaa.
Bharam ur bbhranti tanh nek aawe nahi, Kahe Kabir ras ek pekha.

What is the surprise here for Kabir! He kept searching until he reaches at the place where only happiness and joy remains and nothing else. This is the place of Gagan-Gufa, from where anahat sound is originating (Saints say there are different sounds or melodies at dfferent stages but this is the place where a seeker starts hearing this sound and gets unexplainable bliss !!). People who know something about sant-mat can see that whatever he is saying here is not the ultimate truth and experience. I will like to say to those people that it is quite possible that Kabir kept saying his pads while he was on the journey. We can make a diversion and see this Doha for the proof –

**"Pahunchenge tab kahenge, uterenge us Thay.
Ajahu beDa samud me, boli biguche kaay.

In these lines he says that it is not good to say anything right now (about spiritual experiences), because my boat is still in the mid sea (bhavsaagar or the sea of world). It will be good if I speak about it after I reach the destination safely. Saying something right now can make me proud, can hinder the journey. Worthless to say that as he was a poet in heart, he kept singing and talking about his experiences throughout the journey to share his joy and bliss.

So here in above pad he speaks about the experience of the place where according to him, he is intoxicated 24 hours a day (Pahar is three hours, eight pahar mean 24 hours, whole day and night) with the nectar of GOD, he is drinking this holy nectar whole day and night and moves in the swing of Brahm.He speaks and catches the truth and truth only, he left all illusions (raw nature) behind and got attached to the truth. Kabir says that in this way Sadhu (Kabir) became fearless. The fear of death and birth vanished. It is the cave in the sky (gagan-gufa).There is no sunrise or sunset yet a strange light is spread all over. There is no day or night and all time light is spread from the ocean of light and love. Here is all joy and happiness and no sorrow at all. It is the whole of joy and happiness, nothing less than the WHOLE. Here no illusion can stand in mind and I saw the only one thing - joy -all around there.

Santo sahaj smaaadhi bhalee.
Guru prataap jaa din te upajee, din din adhik chalee.
Aankh na mundu, kaan na rundhu, kaayaa kashT na dharu.
Khule nain main hanshans dekhu, sunder roop niharu.
Kahon so naam suno so sumiran, khaw-piyo so poojaa.
Girah ujaad ek sam lekhon, bhaw na rakho doojaa.
Janh-janh Dolun, soi parikarma, Jo kachhu karau so sewa.
Jab sowon tab karaun danDwat, poojaun aur na dewa.
Shabad nirantar se man laaga, malin waasanaa tyagee.
UThat baiThat kabahoo na chute, aisee taaree laagee.
Kahe Kabir yah unmuni rahanee, yahi paragaT kari gaai.
Sukh-dukh ke ek pare param-sukh, tehi me raha samaai.

In above pad Kabir says that that way of natural samaadhi is the best. With the grace of my Guru it triggered in me and grows day by day. Now I don’t need to close my eyes, to block my ears and to trouble my body. Now I see HIM happily with my open eyes! Now whatever I speak is his NAAM, whatever I listen is his SUMIRAN. What ever I eat and drink is his worship only. Now home and the desert are alike for me, I don’t see any difference between them. Where ever I walk, is nothing but parikrama( the ritual to move around idols, temples, holy places) and whatever I do is only his service. When I sleep, it is danDwat (to lay down in prayer) to him, I don’t pray another GOD. My attention attached to the unstruck, unbroken Sound and all bad habits have left me now. This communion never breaks, whether I sit or stand up. Kabir says it is a way to be always upward (unmuni – the state of being upward in meditation, to be towards GOD) and it is what I want to say you all. There is a place which is beyond sorrow and happiness, which is ultimate bliss, I got attached and absorbed in the same. Now I see him with my open eyes !! When Kabir got his final realization which was love and only love for GOD, he didn’t need to do any yoga, meditation or something like that. He was able to commune with him with open eyes! Such is the power of love; it makes the beloved run towards the lover!! Does it matter whether the beloved is a human or non-human creature or even GOD? HE is thirsty for love that is why he made this creation out of his desire.
Ramakrishna said once that among all devotees, love happens to very few. But when it happens, it has the magic power to call his beloved at the wish as if HE is chained with this love, such it the great power of love.
This way Kabir says again about experiences after realization –

Jaap mare, ajapaa mare, anahad hu mari jay.
Ram sanehi na mare, kahe Kabir samujhaay.

Those who do sumiran and jaap will die, those who do ajapaa jaap or maanas sumiran will also die. The person who has gone till the region of anahad or Sound may die. But the person who loves HIM can’t die. This is the nectar of love, which makes us immortal!! Here are few references Kabir gives to recognize a GOD-Realized soul.

Had me rahe so maanwa, behad rahe so saadh.
Had - behad dono taje, taakee mata agaadh.

The person who is within limits, is a human. The person who travels to unlimited regions is a Sadhu. But the person who has gone beyond the limited and the unlimited, his consciousness is like infinite. He is the truly realized soul!!

GhaT kaa pardaa kholkar, sanmukh de deedaar.
Baal sanehi saaiyaa, awe ant kaa yaar.

HE opens the veil within your being and shows HIMSELF in front of you!! HE only is our true friend. At the time of our birth (here it refers spiritual birth or the moment when this creation came in existence and we as separate being came into picture) HE was the only friend and when the journey of the soul has come to an end, I see HIM only as true friend. HE has been our friend throughout our all lives, only it took whole journey from the origin to coming down this material world and going back to our source to make us realize this truth!!

Hari ras peeya jaaniye, kabahu na jaaye khumaar.
Maimanta ghoomat phire, naahee tan kee saar.

How will you know who is a GOD-realized soul, who has tasted the great wine, the nectar of GOD?? Kabir says you can see the symptoms – the person who has attained the community with GOD, looks like intoxicated all the time. This intoxication never comes down, he looks like insane, wanders like the same, doesn’t even bother about his body or appearance.

Jihi hirde Hari aaiyaa, so kyu chhanaa hoi.
Jatan-Jatan kari daabiye, tau ujaalaa hoi.

Kabir says when HE comes in someone’s heart, you can know it instantly. It can’t be kept under thickest veils. Even if the person wants to hide it, to keep it as secret and tries to do so, he can’t. The more he tries, the more its light comes out. It can’t be hidden in anyway. So graceful is his presence in devotee’s heart.

उलटबाँसी (The mystical meaning Pads)

Most of the time Kabir talks in symbols and metaphors. When we experience something extra ordinary, the known language is often incapable to express it. If we want to make our feelings public, we have to use the same language which public uses and to give the best possible hint of what we experienced. So we begin using symbols which reflects the nearly meaning to people by making their relevant experiences matching with that extra-ordinary. When Kabir wants to say the unconditional and extreme joy of being with Lord, soaked in his love, he generally uses the love and marriage symbols, because it is the strongest feeling and highest joy known to people.

Below is one of his mystic pads, interesting yet not easy to understand.

जौ चरखा जरि जाय, बढ़ैया ना मरे,

मैं कातूं सूत हज़ार, चरखुला जिन जरे| 

बाबा मोर बियाह कराव, अच्छा बरहि तकाय,

जौ लौ अच्छा बर न मिले, तौ लौ तुमहि बिहाय| 

प्रथम नगर पहुँचते, परि गयो सोग संताप,

एक अचम्भा हम देखा, जो बिटिया ब्याहल बाप| 

समधी के घर समधी आए, आए बहू के भाई,

गोड़े चूल्हा दई-दई, चरखा दियो दृढ़ाय| 

देवलोक मरि जाएँगे, एक न मरे बढ़ाय,

यह मनरंजन कारने, चरखा दियो दृढ़ाय| 

कहहि कबीर सुनो हो संतो, चरखा लखे ना कोय,

जो यह चरखा लखि परे, ताको आवागमन न होय | 

(बीजक शबद -६८ )

शब्दशः अर्थ 

यदि यह चरखा जल भी जाय तो भी बढ़ई नहीं मरनेवाला है |  लेकिन अगर यह चरखा नहीं जले, तो मैं  इसपर हज़ारों सूत कात सकती हूँ | बाबा, अच्छा दूल्हा ढूँढ़कर मेरा ब्याह करा दो| जबतक अच्छा दूल्हा नहीं मिलता तबतक तुम्हीं मुझे ब्याह कर रखो| जब मैंने पहली बार नगर में कदम रखा तो बहुत शोक और संताप हुआ | यह एक बड़े अचरज की बात देखी कि बेटी ने पिता से ब्याह किया है| समधी (बहू के पिता) अपने समधी (पति के पिता) के घर आये और बहू का भाई अपनी बहन के घर आया| चरखे को कसकर और भी मजबूत बना दिया है| सभी देव और देवलोक विनष्ट हो जायेंगे, लेकिन बढ़ई नहीं मर सकता जिसने अपने मनोरंजन के लिए यह चरखा बनाया है | कबीर कहता है - ये चरखा किसी को नहीं दिखता | जिसने चरखे के रहस्य को समझ लिया वह आवागमन के चक्कर से मुक्त हो गया | 

जब हम ऊपर के सारे कथन देखते हैं तो उनमे कोई तारतम्य नहीं नजर आता, कोई सामान्य अर्थ नहीं दिखता| ऐसा लगता है कि हर एक वाक्य अपने आप में अलग और स्वतंत्र है और उनके अर्थ अलग-अलग भावनाओं को व्यक्त करते हैं, उनके बीच कोई सामंजस्य नहीं, कोई एक अर्थ नहीं है | ऐसा इसलिए है कि  जब एक रहस्यवादी तत्वदर्शी की चेतना ऊपर और ऊपर चढ़ती है तब उसके अनुभव इतने गहन और अभौतिक होने लगते हैं कि सांसारिक शब्द उसको व्यक्त नहीं कर सकते | इसलिए वे उपमाओं और प्रतीकों सहारा लेकर हमें समझाने का प्रयास करते हैं | 

इस पद में हमें हर कथन का अलग -अलग अर्थ समझकर फिर उनके पीछे का सूत्र समझना होगा | 

छिपा हुआ अर्थ 

यदि काल का यह चक्र (चरखा) नष्ट हो जाता है (जल जाता है) फिर भी इसका मूल, इसका बनानेवाला (परमात्मा, चेतना) नष्ट नहीं हो सकता| अगर यह चक नहीं नष्ट होता तो चेतना (मैं, आत्मा, परमात्मा) इससे हज़ारों कर्म कर सकती है| 

ओ मेरे प्रिय गुरु, मेरी आत्मा को परमात्मा से जोड़ दीजिए और जबतक मैं परमात्मा का प्रत्यक्ष करके उससे मिलाप न कर लूँ, तबतक आप मुझे अपनी चरण शरण में ही रखिए | 

जब पहली बार गुरु ने मुझे दीक्षित किया तब मैं बड़ी चिंता में पड़ गयी कि मैं कैसे आपकी आज्ञा के अनुसार चल पाऊँगी और उस मार्ग पर चलकर परमात्मा से मिलाप कर सकूँगी | लेकिन कैसा यह आश्चर्य हुआ कि गुरु से मिलकर मेरी आत्मा परमात्मा में दृढ हो गयी | पिता (गुरु का मूल), पिता (आत्मा का मूल) से मिल गए ( दोनों अलग प्रतीत होते थे लेकिन एक ही थे )|  अब मुझे सम्पूर्ण ज्ञान हो गया (भाई आया)|  अब इस समय ये कालचक्र इतना स्पष्ट और व्यवस्थित प्रतीत होता है | अब जब मैंने सारा कुछ इतना स्पष्ट देख लिया तो मैंने जान लिया है कि सबकुछ नष्ट हो सकता है लेकिन वो परमात्मा, जिसने इस चक्र को बनाया है वो नहीं नष्ट हो सकता | 

कबीर कहता है कि इस चरखे के बारे में जानना कठिन है, लेकिन जिसने इस चरखे के पीछे का सत्य जान लिया, वो अब इस आवागमन के बंधन में नहीं फँस सकता। उस परमात्मा (बढ़ई ) को जान लेने के बाद जन्म-मृत्यु के बंधन में नहीं आना होता | 

For English readers

Jau charkha jari jay, badhaiya na mare.
Main katun sut hajaar, charkhula jin jare.
Baba mor biyah karav, achcha barahi takaay.
Jau lon achchha bar na mile, tau lon tumahi bihay.
Pratham nagar pahunchte, parigo sog-santaap.
Ek achambha ham dekha, jo biTiya byahal baap.
Samadhee ke ghar samdhee aaye, aaye bahu ke bhay.
GoDe chulhaa, dai –dai, charkha diyo diDhay.
Devlok mar jaayenge, ek na mare baDhay.
Yah man ranjan kaarane, charkha diyo diDhaay.
Kahahi Kabir suno ho santo, charkha lakhe jo koy.
Jo yah charkha lakhi pare, tako aawagaman na hoy.
--- Beejak, Shabad – 68

Even if this spinning wheel gets burnt, the carpenter can never die. But if this spinning wheel doesn’t get burnt, I shall weave thousands of yarns. O dear father, please find a suitable groom for me and get me married with him. Please marry me while you are trying to find the groom. When I entered the city, I felt the great pain and sorrow. We saw this surprising event that daughter got married with father. Groom’s father came to bride’s father’s home and brother of the bride came to meet the sister. The spinning wheel got more strong by putting its parts tightly. All deities in heaven will die one day, but the carpenter can not die, who has made this spinning wheel to please his desire. Kabir says, whoever knows the secret of this wheel, becomes free form this world’ tie-ups.

When we see all statements at first glance, it doesn’t make any sense, because there is no continuity in narrations, meanings and emotions. One statement doesn’t end and second starts. This is due to the reason that once a mystic goes higher and higher, experiences become so much unearthly that worldly language is not enough to describe it. So symbols and metaphors are used to solve this problem. We have to understand each statement as a separate statement and then make continuity among them. If this Wheel of Kal gets destroyed, the origin and maker of it (GOD) can't be destroyed. If this wheel doesn't get burnt and destroyed, I can do thousands of karmas. O dear Guru, please connect my heart to HIM, and until I realize it and meet HIM, please keep me in your shelter. The first time I got initiated, I worried about how could I be able to obey you and go there. But what a surprise that after meeting you, my soul got connected to my creator ( father, supreme soul). The father of Guru met to father of soul ( they seemed to be different, but after realization, soul got the truth that it is one). Now I can say the truth because the real knowledge is mine. At that moment this wheel of kal or creation seemed to be much clear and organized. When I saw all things so clearly, I knew that though everything can be vanished, but the infinite, who has created this wheel can't be destroyed. Kabir says that who knows the truth behind this wheel, can't be trapped in this creation. After the GOD-Realization, you will not have to come in this mortality.