Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The One gave this wealth to the miser only to look after, but the foolish one says, "It's mine!"
When the end comes, in a single moment, it is all settled.
Kabir says the things we have are not really ours to keep. We are only holding them for a while.
Soomeh dhan raakhan ka-o dee-aa — God gave the wealth to the miser to look after. Mugadh kahai dhan mayraa — but the foolish one says, "It's mine!"
Think of a library book. You can read it, enjoy it and share it. But it was never yours to keep. One day it goes back.
The miser's mistake is not having money. It is clutching it, calling it "mine" as if it would stay forever. In the end, in a single moment, everything is settled and left behind.
So hold what you have the way you hold a library book. Use it, enjoy it, share it. Holding things lightly is far easier than gripping them tight.
Does it feel different to think of your things as 'mine forever' versus 'mine to use and share for now'?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI