WHERE TO LOACATE SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY WITHIN ?

                                                                     
                                                                       

SUNSET TIME DAL LAKE  SRINAGAR  KASHMIR
( Photo Auta Mota )

WHERE TO LOACATE SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY WITHIN  ?

MO KO KAHAAN DOONDE RE BANDHE ? ME TO TERAY PAAS MEIN …..( Where do you  look for me o Ignorant  ?There  within you , I reside  .)…… KABIR

I have heard this NIRGUNA Kabir Bhajan Many times .   This Bhajan is  close to my  mind and being .   Through this Bhajan , one is led to believe that  KABIR is profoundly  conscious of  the all pervading presence of the supreme power. He only     questions the  search methodology adopted by us to find something that is already   within  .

This Nirguna  Bhajan  was a faourite of Gurudev Tagore also .

   Where  to locate something that is already within  ?

 For Kabir  the Bhakti Marga  ( Path of meditation ) is a  journey from   Saguna ( with form )  to  Nirguna ( formless ).  And   Not search  but  Faith alone  simplifies this Journey.  This  faith finally conquers  over doubt  to trace something that was  already within.

Kabir has been at the forefront in disagreeing with Dogmatic Religious beliefs and practices . He opposes Rituals . He opposes men donning  particular set of  clothes and changing looks . He does not recommend  the practice of growing long Hair or   exhibiting religion symbolically through  fasting , Austerity , Pilgrimages or   living in aloofness for a seeker of the  truth . For Him Faith alone  may help the seeker .

 The “SEARCH WITHIN  “ concept of kabir is in conformity with the message of  kashmiri  Poetess and Shaiva Darshana  Philosopher Lal Ded  . I quote  ..

(1)

Praae’th teerthan gatshaan sanyaasi,

Gwaaraan Swadarshan myul;

Tseyta parith mo nishpath aas,

Denshakh duure dramun Nyuul.

( Lal Ded )

“The pilgrim sannyasi  goes from shrine to shrine,

Seeking to meet Him who abides within himself.

Knowing the truth, O soul, be not misled;

It is distance that makes the turf look green”

It may be pertinent to mention that lal Ded was born and lived much before kabir . Like Kabir , she also makes symbolic use of Swan ( Raazhans ), Grinding Mill ( Gratta ), washer man ( Dhoobb) , Weaver ( Wovur ) , Lotus Flower ( Pamposh ) to put forth her spiritual thought . Her frequent use of Prakaash Dhaam or Prakash Sthaan is synonymous with kabir’s Anahad Naad or “ Baaje Anhad dol “ or the musical chimes that are created when one arrives at the real self transcending all worldly experiences .

Here is the Nirguna Bhajan with my simple English rendering ..

 (Moko Kahaan Doonde Re Bandhe  )

Moko Kahaan Doonde re Bande Mein To Tere Paas Mein…….

Na Teerath Mein, 

Na Moorat Mein ,

Na Ekant Niwas Mein

Na Mandir Mein, 

Na Masjid Mein ,

Na Kaabe Kailas Mein,

Moko Kahaan Doonde re Bande  Mein To Tere Paas Mein…………….

Na Mein Jap Mein,

 Na Mein Tap Mein,

 Na Mein Barat Upaas Mein,

Na Mein Kiriya Karm Mein Rehtaa,

 Nahin Yog Sanyaas Mein,

Moko Kahaan Doonde re Bande Mein To Tere Paas Mein…………….

Nahin Pran Mein,

 Nahin Pind Mein,

 Na Brahmaand Akaas Mein,

Na Mein Prakuti Prawar Gufa Mein,

 Nahin Swasan Ki Swans Mein,

Khoji Hoye Turant Mil Jaoon Ek Pal Ki Talaas Mein

Kahey  Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho –

Mein To Huun Vishwas Mein………………..

( Kabir )

Where do you  look for me o Ignorant  ?

There  within you , I reside  .

Not in Pilgrimages ,

Not in Idols ,

Not in your worldly  detachment,

Not in the  Temple ,

Not in the Mosque ,

Neither inside  Kaaba nor at Mount Kailasa ,  

Where do you  look for me o Ignorant  ?

There within you  , I reside .

Not in  Japa ( Recitations  ),

Not in  Tapa ( Religious  austerities ),

Not in your Upaasa ( Religious fasts ),

Never do I reside in the  rituals 

And not in Yoga  or  renunciation of the world .

Where do you  look for me o ignorant  

There within you  , I reside .

 Not in the  (1) vital Life Force 

Not in (2)  Physical world   or   Cosmos  ,

Not in (3)Nature’s womb  ,

Not in the  Breath of  so many  Breaths .

Should there be an accomplished seeker ,

I can be  readily  located .

 So says Kabira 

 " Listen , You seeker !

My abode is just your Faith ”

( Autar Mota  )

PS

(1)
Prana is the manifestation of energy or the vital life force . From Prana comes the word Pranayam .

(2) And (3) 

Brahmaand ( Cosmos or universe ) Pind ( Physical world ) . Our body is also known as "PIND" and the meaning of "PIND" is `circle’. In respect of  Prakuti Pravar Gufaa  , I am informed by a scholar  that   Pravaras were a group of Rishis of highest order . Some Rishis of this group are Kashyapa , Agastya , Bhrigu , Atri , Angirasa ,Vashishta etc. These Great Rishis are said to have been born from Nature’s womb or What Kabira Calls  Pravar Gufaa   . The Gotra system emerged from a linkage of Pravaras with subsequent Rishis . Say for example Rishis Gautam and Bharadvaja were the descendants of Rishi Angirasa. .

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