A Settled Mind's Calm Turns to Kindness and Strength
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
**Kh** — think of the mind finding a quiet cave to settle into, a still inner place.
Once it's home there, it doesn't go racing off in every direction chasing this and that. And here's what grows in that stillness: knowing the One, you become gentle and forgiving with everyone. That kindness is not weakness — it's the doorway to a lasting dignity, a strength that time can never take away.
The letter Khakha and the word khorh (cave, hollow) give the image: the restless mind, instead of “running in the ten directions” (dah dis dhaavaa — the compass points, i.e., endless outward chasing), comes to rest in an inner stillness. From that rooted place flows khimaa — forgiveness, compassion. Kabir ties the inner and the outer together: knowing the One (khasmahi jaan) doesn't make you withdrawn and cold; it makes you forgiving. And that gentleness leads to nikhi-a-o akhai pad — an undying, unshakeable dignity. The stillest people are often the kindest, and the kindest are the least easily diminished.
When your mind is calm instead of racing, are you kinder to the people around you? Have you noticed?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI