Words from a wise guy

So last night baby Aish recited 'Twinkle Twinkle little star' to me over the phone from halfway across the world.

Listening to her sing (in tune!) was totally thrilling. But later I wondered to myself, "What nonsense is this - Twinkle Twinkle? What is there to learn in Twinkle Twinkle? If anything, the kid is learning unscientific things - "little" stars it seems."

I guess at this point it's okay for her to learn whatever children all over the world are learning. Also, it's a good performance song for a 2-year-old because the song is universally known. But when she grows a little older, her self-appointed godmother will teach her something more meaningful, something hindustani - my favourite poet Kabir's dohe which have some amazingly simple but deep wisdom in them. I am a huge fan of Kabir (the dude was way ahead of his time), but sadly have not been able to implement a lot of his teachings. Casting aside visions of a hapless Aish strapped to her baby chair while her annoying mausi recites Kabir's dohas, perhaps she would actually be interested. But of course, by the time she grows up to an age where she can understand them, she won't have the patience to sit and listen to me ramble on and on about a guy who existed some 500-600 years ago. Like Anupam Kher says in Rang De Basanti, "SMS generation hai. Char line se zyada bol do toh lecture lagta hai." (I know I quote this line a lot in my blog, but it's so totally true for our generation.)

Going back to Aish and Kabir, I guess I will probably have to do up the executive summary of each of the dohas for her. What better time to do it than now? After all, it was the very Kabir who said:

Kaal karey so aaj kar, aaj karey so ab
Pal mein pralaya hoyegi, bahuri karega kab?

Rough translation: Do today what's due tomorrow. Do now what's due today. If the moment is lost, when will you do it?

Executive summary: Just do it.


Dheere dheere re mana, dheere sab kuch hoye
Mali seenche sau ghada, ritu aaye phal hoye

Rough translation: Everything happens in its own time. The gardener may water the plant with a hundred pots, but it will bear fruit only when the season comes.

Executive summary: Give it time - everything will sort itself out.


Kabira khada bazaar mein, maange sabki khair
Na kahu se dosti, na kahu se bair

Rough translation: Kabir stands in the marketplace, and wishes for everyone's well-being. He doesn't seek anyone's friendship, nor anyone's enmity.

Executive summary: Wish everyone well, but be your own best friend.


Aisi vaani boliye, mann ka aapa khoye
Apna tan seetal karey, auran ko sukh hoye

Translation: Say your words sans your ego. You will stay composed and others will be happy too.

Executive summary: Say it in your head first.


Bada hua toh kya hua, jaise ped khajoor
Panthi ko chhaya nahin, phal laage ati door

Rough translation: Eminence is wasted if it's like a date tree that provides no shade to travellers and the fruit is beyond reach.

Executive summary: Attitude determines altitude.


Jaise til mein tel hai, jyon chakmak mein aag
Tera saain tujhmein hai, tu jaag sakey toh jaag

Rough translation: Like sesame seeds that contain oil, like flintstone contains fire, your master is within you, find Him if you can.

Executive summary: You have it in you. Discover it.
(Like in many of Kabir's dohas, you do not have to necessarily look at only the religious angle of this one. It can mean many things.)

Keson kahan bigadia, je moonde sau baar
Mann ko kaahe na moondiye, jaamein vish hai vikaar

Rough translation: What harm have the hair done, that you shave them a hundred times?
Why not shave your mind, which is filled with poisonous thoughts?

Executive summary: Think positive. Keep a clear mind.


Chinta aisi daakini, kaat kaleja khaaye
Vaid bichara kya karey, kahan tak dawa lagaye

Worry is like a bandit that eats into you. The doctor has no cure for it, and no medicines can heal it.

Executive summary: Don't worry, be happy.


Jab tu aaya jagat mein, log hanse tu roye
Aisi karni na kari, pachhe hanse sab koye

Rough translation: When you came to this world, everyone was happy while you cried. Don't do deeds that will make everyone happy that you're gone.

Executive summary: Think - how do you want to be remembered?


Kabir so dhan sanchiye, jo aage ko hoye
Sar chadhaaye potli, le jaat na dekhya koye

Rough translation: Kabir says – preserve the kind of wealth that will be with you in the road ahead. No one has ever taken a bundle of material wealth with them.

Executive summary: Cherish what will last forever.


Mala pherat jug bhaya, mita na mann ka pher
Kar ka manka chhod de, mann ka manka pher

Rough translation: Eons have passed rotating the beads of the rosary, but the mind remains restless. Give up the beads in the hand, and rotate the beads of your mind.

Executive summary: Your peace of mind is indeed, in your mind.

And finally... my favourite:

Bura jo dekhan main chala, bura na milya koi
Jo mann khoja apnaa, toh mujhse bura na koi

Rough translation: I went in search of vice, but I did not find anything. When I looked within myself, I found that there was no one as vile as me.

Executive summary: Don't judge others. You suck too.