Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
So much of what we do is shaped by habits we picked up long ago, carrying us along almost without noticing — take a moment to see this and understand it kindly.
It would be unfair to scold a heart for that. The gentler question is: how can it find a new way?
Kirat kee baandhee — bound by past actions and habits (karma) — the soul is carried along by patterns it did not fully choose. Crucially, Kabir does not scold: "What can we say to her? What can the poor soul do?" We keep exactly this compassion. The response to being shaped by old habits is understanding, not blame — which sets up the tender close.
Is there a habit that carries you along without your choosing it? How might you meet it kindly?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI