Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 55 — the mind made clear

ਕਬੀਰ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਭਇਆ ਜੈਸਾ ਗੰਗਾ ਨੀਰੁ ॥

kabeer man nirmal bha-i-aa jaisaa gangaa neer.

Kabir, my mind has become immaculate, like the waters of the Ganges.

ਪਾਛੈ ਲਾਗੋ ਹਰਿ ਫਿਰੈ ਕਹਤ ਕਬੀਰ ਕਬੀਰ ॥੫੫॥

paachhai laago har firai kahat kabeer kabeer. ||55||

The Lord follows after me, calling, "Kabir! Kabir!"||55||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Kabir says: my mind has become clean and clear, like the water of the Ganges.

Now the Lord follows after me, calling, "Kabir! Kabir!"

Once the mind is clear, the One comes calling your name.

The deeper layer

When the mind becomes clear, the One comes looking for you.

Man nirmal bha-i-aa, the mind has become spotless, jaisaa gangaa neer, like the water of the Ganges, a river held sacred by Hindus and a picture of purity.

Then comes a tender turnaround: paachhai laago har firai, the One walks behind, kahat kabeer kabeer, calling Kabir by name. Before, Kabir went searching. Once his mind was clear, the One came searching for him.

Think of muddy water in a glass. Let it settle, and you can see all the way through. In a clear mind, the One's call is easy to hear.

A Question to Sit With

What helps your mind settle and clear when it feels muddy and stirred up?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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