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Songs of Kabir — Song LXV

Songs of Kabir — Song LXV

Kabir

I. 22. _jab main bhûlâ, re bhâî_
O brother! when I was forgetful, my true Guru showed me the Way.
Then I left off all rites and ceremonies, I bathed no more in the
holy water:
Then I learned that it was I alone who was mad, and the whole
world beside me was sane; and I had disturbed these wise people.
From that time forth I knew no more how to roll in the dust in
obeisance:
I do not ring the temple bell:
I do not set the idol on its throne:
I do not worship the image with flowers.
It is not the austerities that mortify the flesh which are
pleasing to the Lord,
When you leave off your clothes and kill your senses, you do not
please the Lord:
The man who is kind and who practises righteousness, who remains
passive amidst the affairs of the world, who considers all
creatures on earth as his own self,
He attains the Immortal Being, the true God is ever with him.
Kabîr says: "He attains the true Name whose words are pure, and
who is free from pride and conceit."

Verse breaks and indentation are preserved. Wrapped lines have a hanging indent. Width adapts to your screen.

Complete 100-song 1915 English selection translated by Rabindranath Tagore. A selected edition, not the entire Kabir corpus. · Translated by Rabindranath Tagore
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