Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
There's no use forcing deep teachings on someone who only wants to mock them.
Some hearts just aren't ready to hear it yet — and that's alright.
Kabir makes a practical point about when to share deep things: there's little use pouring out the most precious teachings to someone who only wants to scoff and mock. (His images are blunt — reading scripture to a creature that can't receive it — but the point underneath is gentle wisdom.) It's not that such a person is worthless; it's that a heart closed and scornful simply can't take the teaching in right now, and forcing it just wastes it and stirs up conflict. For a child, this is quietly freeing: you don't have to convince everyone, or argue down every person who mocks what you love. Some hearts aren't ready yet — and you can let that be, without bitterness, and turn your energy elsewhere.
Is it always worth arguing with someone who just wants to mock? What could you do instead?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI