Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
An old companion used to live in my heart: foolishness — clumsy, unkind, and troublesome wherever it went.
But now a new companion has moved in: understanding — lovely, wise, and gentle. I've taken it right into my heart.
You can change who lives in your heart. Send foolish habits packing, and welcome wisdom in.
Kabir tells a little story. He pictures ignorance, not knowing, as an old companion who used to live in his heart. It caused trouble everywhere it went.
Kabir uses the picture of an unpleasant first wife. Teachers have always read her as an inner state, ignorance, and not as any real person or group of people.
Now a new companion has come: understanding of the One. She is wise, lovely, and gentle. Sehjay udar dharee — he has calmly taken her into his heart.
It is a picture of real change. It is like cleaning out your backpack of old crumpled papers and putting in fresh, useful notes. The foolish, snappy habits that used to run your life move out, and wisdom moves in.
What's an old habit you'd like to move out, and a better one you'd like to welcome in?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI