Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 58 — the narrow door
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Kabir says: the door to freedom is very narrow, thinner than a tenth of a mustard seed.
But your mind has grown as big as an elephant. How will it ever get through?
The door to freedom is tiny, and a mind swollen with pride is far too big for it.
Mukat du-aaraa sankuraa, the door of freedom is narrow, raa-ee das-ayn bhaa-ay, about a tenth the size of a mustard seed. A mustard seed is already one of the smallest seeds there is.
Man ta-o maigal ho-ay rahi-o: the mind has become a maigal, an elephant, puffed up with ego. Nikso ki-o kai jaa-ay, how can it pass? Kabir leaves the question hanging. The door does not get wider; the elephant has to shrink.
Think of trying to fit through a cat flap while wearing a giant puffy costume.
What does it mean to make yourself "smaller," in a good way?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI