Kabir's doha

Kabir was a saint in India, who is dear to many people's heart. Unlike many other saints who walked in India from time to time, Kabir refused to have himself categorized as either a Hindu, Muslim, or a Sufi or a bhakta. Kabir's dohas are usually in simple, easy-to-understand Hindi, with a very nice meaning and moral.

I wish to present one of his dohas here.

Moko Kahan Dhundhere Bande
Mein To Tere Paas Mein
Na Teerath Mein, Na Moorat Mein
Na Ekant Niwas Mein
Na Mandir Mein, Na Masjid Mein
Na Kabe Kailas Mein
Mein To Tere Paas Mein Bande
Mein To Tere Paas Mein
Na Mein Jap Mein, Na Mein Tap Mein
Na Mein Barat Upaas Mein
Na Mein Kiriya Karm Mein Rehta
Nahin Jog Sanyas Mein
Nahin Pran Mein Nahin Pind Mein
Na Brahmand Akas Mein
Na Mein Prakuti Prawar Gufa Mein
Nahin Swasan Ki Swans Mein
Khoji Hoye Turat Mil Jaoon
Ik Pal Ki Talas Mein
Kahet Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho
Mein To Hun Viswas Mein

This is a crude translation:
Where do you search me, my friend
I am near you
Not in a teerath(holy place), nor in a moorat (idol)
Nor am in solitude
I am neither in a mandir or a masjid
Nor am in the Kaaba or in Kailas
I am near you, my friend,
I am near you.
I am not in jap (recitation) or in tap (penance)
Nor am in proceedings or in fastings,
I dont stay in kriya-karma (action)
nor in yoga or in sanyaas (renunciation)
Not in the pran (the vital elements) or the body
Not in the universe or the sky
I am not in the womb of nature
Or in the breath of the breath
If you look for me, you can find me immediately
With searching just for a moment,
Says Kabir, listen all you good folks,
I am present in the trust (vishwas).

As is evident, the 'I', in the whole poem is the 'Self' or the 'truth' or simply the 'peace', that a common man searches in his life. Kabir starts off by declaring it is not to be found in any of the common places, such as places of worship, holy places, or in actions or renunciation. It is not even present in the body or the breath or the sky or the Universe. The last verse, then says, that "it is always within us, and hence can be found within a moment, if you know where to look for."

The moral of the doha is to turn oneself inward, to seek what one is finding within and not outside. All our life, we move around to try and find some things. Although there is an excitement of search, there are also wounds we incur as a result of ceaseless movement. The key to stopping this is to look for the truth first within oneself, which according to Kabir, is where it always rests!

In the last line, Kabir says, 'main to hun vishwas mein'. 'Vishwas' can be translated as faith or belief or trust. Here, Kabir asks the seeker to simply have trust in God! Most people try to find Him, without trusting Him. The key is complete submission, like Krishna asks one to do in Gita. Do your duty, let Him take care of the results. If you depict your life as a chariot, the key is to hand over the reins in His hands and do what part He asks one to do. That is the complete 'trust', which Kabir asks a person to have within himself. Only a man with such complete submission comes close to finding the truth!

May we all have that trust within ourselves, may we all follow the path of complete submission, may we all get a taste of that Infinite Bliss the saints covet! May we all follow on our path towards Truth!