Hindu

Kabir

Hinduc. 1440 – c. 1518Varanasi (Benares), India178 quotes· 12 sources

Kabir was a 15th-century Indian poet-saint whose two-line dohas (couplets) cut through religious hypocrisy, caste pride, and ritual observance to insist on the direct experience of God within the heart. Born a Muslim and raised in a weaver's family, he drew equally from Hindu and Islamic mysticism and is claimed by both traditions to this day.

Almost everything about Kabir's life is legendary, including the story that he was born of a virgin widow and raised by a Muslim weaver family in Varanasi. He is traditionally considered a disciple of the Hindu Vaishnava saint Ramananda, and his poetry reflects a deep knowledge of both Sufi and Bhakti vocabularies. His verses are blunt, funny, and uncompromising: he mocked the pundit who reads scriptures without self-knowledge, the mullah who prays five times while ignoring God within, and the ascetic who tortures the body while the mind roams free. His dohas and padas were transmitted orally for centuries in multiple regional variants and have been preserved in the Guru Granth Sahib, the Bijak (the primary Kabir Panthi scripture), and the Kabir Granthavali. The Kabir Panth — a spiritual movement in his name — still has millions of followers across India. His influence on Guru Nanak and the entire Sant tradition of North India was foundational.

Wisdom

Kabir would say, 'The God with form is my Mother, and the formless God is my Father. Who should I blame or worship? Both sides of the scale are equal.'

Saint Kabir says: Brother, why fear Maya? One who has realized the Truth can overcome it.

Kabir says that this earth belongs to the saints, but thieves have occupied it and are exploiting it. The earth cannot bear the burden of such sinners, but it endures because of the saints.

Kabir says, 'No one asks about caste or creed; whoever remembers God becomes God's.'

Kabir says, 'Your body is like a boat with thousands of holes. Those who are light will cross, while those carrying the load of ego will sink.'

Listen to me, brother, and bring the vision of the Beloved into your heart.

Even a brief interaction with a saint can be fruitful, as time spent with them is never wasted.

Don't judge a saint by his external appearance but by the knowledge he offers.

According to Kabir, a great Indian saint, to be a disciple, one should be like a stone on the road that anyone can trample, and shed their ego.

Kabir says, 'The body is made of dust, and it will ultimately return to dust. We must reflect on this reality and acknowledge the impermanence of life.'

Kabir says, a family is good if it has a servant of God.

Kabir says, 'This body will ultimately perish, even if you have accumulated wealth. Those who had millions and billions have left this world with bare feet. This body will perish, but the path shown by the saints, the company of the saints, and the virtues of the Lord will remain.'

Kabir says, 'We are worse than everyone, we surpass everyone in being bad, whoever understands this becomes our friend'

Kabir says, 'Do not be proud, do not laugh at anyone; we are still in the ocean, who knows what will happen'

Ascetics and wanderers are unhappy, even the hermits face double the suffering. Desire and craving affect everyone, no palace is empty of them.

Maya (illusion) is not conquered, the mind is not conquered. The body may die, but the desire and craving are not conquered, says Kabir.

Everyone worships the creation, but no one worships the Creator. Kabir says, 'If one worships the Creator, the creation becomes insignificant.'

Kabir says that just as a tree near sandalwood takes on its fragrance, a polluted stream becomes pure in the Ganges, and copper turns to gold with the philosopher's stone, a person becomes one with God by being in the company of saints.

Kabir Ji has more regard for the congregation of saints than even heaven. He says, 'The joy found in the company of saints is not found even in heaven.'

I did not do anything, nor can my body do anything. Whatever was done, it was done by God. This is the realization of Kabir.