A Book of Sant Mat Ethics: “Kabir 1008 Vani” — One of the Most Important Books of Kabir

A Book of Sant Mat Ethics: “Kabir 1008 Vani” — One of the Most Important Books of Kabir

Serving, Helping Others During This Life: "The advantage of being in the human mode of existence lies in giving and serving only, i.e. helping others as much as possible. Because, possibly you will not get this body [human form] again. This time you have been given this body, and so do not hesitate; serve others and that is all." (Guru Kabir, Saakhi Granth of Kabir, 1008 Kabir Vani)

“Love is like a deep sea. Only that lover (of God) who will dive into it fearlessly shall be able to get the pearl of ultimate happiness in it. And one who will not be able to muster up enough courage to dive into it, shall remain sitting at the beach. He will remain without love in this world. How will he get the pearls of ultimate happiness then?” (Kabir 1008 Vani)

"This mind is like an intoxicated elephant. It needs goading with the goad of pure thoughts, so that it gets rid of worldly desires and drinks nectar of spiritual self control... The imaginations of the mind are just as innumerable as the innumerable waves of an ocean. If somehow this mind can become quit by itself, attainment of true knowledge like diamond will become easily accessible (everyman in this world is sad and restless because of lack of knowledge. This true knowledge can be attained only when the mind becomes quit.)" (Kabir 1008 Vani)

A Wonderful Book to Consult: 1008 Kabir Vaani, Selections from the Sakhis, a Book of Ethical Precepts of Kabir: Read Online (scroll down the page to download PDF): https://archive.org/details/1008KabirVaani/page/n5/mode/2up

Book Review: Kabir 1008 Vani

by James Bean

Kabir 1008 Vani — Nectar of Truth and Knowledge

Essence of the Collection of Saakhis (the Saakhi Granth of Guru Kabir) in Simple Language and Style

Compiled by Lalchand Doohan Jigyasu

Translated into English by Kunwar Anil Kumar

Genres: Ethics, Genuine Ethical Foundation of Spirituality, Morality, Principles, Wisdom, Sant Mat, Kabir Panth, Meditation, Bhakti (Love and Devotion),

This is one of the most important books of Kabir to have. Kabir 1008 Vani is a very beautiful and impressive book of ethics and wisdom featuring 1008 sayings of Kabir, one of India’s greatest Masters and poet-mystics, who lived in northern India around six hundred years ago. As with Rumi, the Persian Sufi poet, in recent years Kabir has also become increasingly popular in the West. A few decades ago, the only translations of Kabir were, “Songs of Kabir” by Rabindranath Tagore published in 1915, and Robert Bly’s 1971 paraphrase or “versions” of Kabir, which were also based upon Tagore’s translation. These days however, there are literally hundreds of books available in the English language exploring the poetry and teachings of Sri Guru Kabir Sahib. The Saakhis (a term for a certain kind of poetic composition, a couplet giving testimony of eternal truths) are often used in the satsangs (spiritual gatherings in the name of Eternal Truth) of many spiritual paths based in India. It makes a great deal of sense that spiritual teachers would give satsang talks based upon the Saakhis of Kabir, as they are brimming with wisdom about how to integrate spiritual principles into one’s daily life. Kabir was critical of religious hypocrisy, going through the motions of outward rites and rituals without sincerity of heart. His path was that of Bhakti, meaning, love and devotion for the Beloved Supreme Spirit. For Kabir, the true church, mosque, or temple is within the body, within the human heart. The theme of the Saakhis is bringing all levels of our existence, more and more with each passing day, in body, speech, emotions, and thought, into harmony with the soul or spirit inside.

ISBN: 81–8133–515–5

Publisher: Manoj Publications, Delhi

#Kabir #GuruKabir #Ethics #Wisdom #Sakhis #SpiritualQuotes #MeditationQuotes #Spirituality #Peace #Ahimsa #GoldenRule #lifequotes #SantMat #Sant_Mat #kabirpanth #books #scriptures #ebooks #thoughts #words #deeds #wordsofwisdom

Jainism: Treat all living beings as your own self

Jainism: Treat all living beings as your own self

Jainism: Treat all living beings as your own self

Some Sayings of Mahavira (from a Jainist publication)


SantMat_Mystic_(James)
http://profiles.yahoo.com/santmat_mystic

1. Dharma* is the essence of existence.

2. The differentia of Dharma is Ahimsa [non-violence in thought, word, and deed], and compassion ennobles it.

3. Respect for others -- absence of pride and ego -- is the root of Dharma.

4. The ten-fold Dharma (piety) is made of forgiveness, humility, honesty, greedlessness, truthfulness, self-control, curb on one's desires, renunciation, detachment and possessionlessness.

5. Right conduct consists in one's abstaining from hurting others, from speaking untruth, appropriating others' property, from wanton indulgence in sex and from unduly holding to possessions -- this, in short, is the five-fold 'good conduct'.
 
6. Mere reading holy books is of no avail unless knowledge derived from them is translated into practice and used in shaping one's conduct in life.
 
7. If pain is distasteful to you, know well that it is similarly distasteful to other living beings.
 
8. Treat all living beings as your own self.
_____
*Note:

"Dharma": "Dharma (Sanskrit) or Dhamma (Pali) is the underlying order in nature and human life and behaviour considered to be in accord with that order. Ethically, it means 'right way of living' or 'proper conduct,' especially in a religious sense. With respect to spirituality, dharma might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. Dharma is a central concept in religions and philosophies originating in India. These religions and philosophies are called Dharmic religions. The principal ones are Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, all of which emphasize Dharma (the correct understanding of Nature) in their teachings. In these traditions, beings that live in accordance with Dharma proceed more quickly toward Dharma Yukam, Moksha or Nirvana (personal liberation). Dharma also refers to the teachings and doctrines of the founders of these traditions, such as those of Gautama Buddha and Mahavira. In traditional Hindu society with its caste structure, Dharma constituted the religious and moral doctrine of the rights and duties of each individual."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma

jainism, Mahavira, dharma, ahimsa, comparative religion, ethics, spiritual principals,

Spiritual Principles of Sant Mat Mysticism

 

Spiritual Principles of Sant Mat Mysticism
 
1. Ultimate Reality is beyond any beginning or end, infinite, beyond birth, beyond the senses, all-pervading yet beyond pervasiveness. It must therefore be understood as the Supreme Being. This Essential Element is known as the Lord of All and is the foundation of all things. This Being is beyond both the inanimate and animate aspects of nature. It is without qualities and beyond qualities. Its nature is infinite, imperishable, all-powerful. It is beyond time and space, beyond sound and beyond form. It is the One without a second. The Supreme Being is beyond the scope of mind, the intellect and the senses. This entire universe is powered by the energy of this Being. This Being is not human. It is not manifested in physical form. It has existence beyond the illusion of maya, and there is nothing that exists outside of it. It is the Being which is eternal, existing from the beginning. Santmat considers this Being as the Divine Reality and this [knowing or merging with] Being is the goal of all spirituality.  

 

2. The individual soul is an inseparable part of the Supreme Being.  

 

3. The physical world of nature was created. It has an origin and an end.  

 

4. The soul bound by illusion (maya) remains in the cycle of death and birth. This is the cause of all suffering. In order to escape from this cycle of death and birth we must experience realization of this Supreme Being.  

 

5. By practicing devotion through these four techniques: Manas Japa (recitation of the divine name [Simran]), Manas Dhyana (focus on the divine form [Dhyan]), Dristi Sadhana (focus on the infinitesimal point [Third Eye Center -- contemplating the inner Light]), and Nada-nu-sandhana Yoga (concentration on the inner divine sounds [Surat Shabda Yoga] -- the practitioner consecutively transcends the realms of darkness, light, and sound which cloak the Truth -- the Divine. Only through a human body is a person able to achieve unity with the Divine. 

 

  6. Lying, stealing, intake of intoxicating substances, adultery, and violence (including harming other beings) are the five sins to be avoided. Eating meat or fish is also considered to be a form of violence and should be avoided. The aspirants of Santmat must abstain from these vices.  

 

7. Consider the following as the requirements to attain liberation: Trust and belief in the Divine; commitment to seek the Divine within; devotion to a spiritual master; listening to the teaching of the spiritual discourse [satsang] including study of the teaching of the saints and the scriptures; and diligent meditation practice. 

 

  -- Maharshi Mehi from the Padavali quoted by Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj in, The Harmony of All Religions

 

The individual soul has descended from the higher worlds [the Realm of the Divine] to this city of illusion, bodily existence. It has descended from the Soundless state to the essence of Sound, from that Sound to Light, and finally from the realm of Light to the realm of Darkness. The qualities (dharmas, natural tendencies) of the sense organs draw us downward and away from our true nature. 

 

The nature of the soul (atman) draws us upwards and inwards and establishes us in our own true nature. To go back to our origins means returning: withdrawal from the sense organs in order to go upward (by withdrawing consciousness) from the darkness to the realms of Light and Sound, in other words, to go inward from the external sense organs to the depth of the inner self. (Both of these expressions are exact special metaphors that describe the same movement.) The natural tendencies of the soul (atman) are to move from outward to inward. The current of consciousness which is dispersed in the nine gates of the body and the nine senses, must be collected at the tenth gate. 

 

The tenth gate is the gathering point of consciousness; therein lies the path for our return. It is also known as the sixth chakra, the third eye, bindu, the center located between the two eyebrows. This is the act by which we leave the gates of the sense organs and become established in the soul. We travel back from the Realm of Darkness to the Realm of Light, from the Light to the Divine Sound, and from the Realm of Sound to the Soundless state. 

 

This is returning back -- the return. This is what dharma or religion really intends to teach us. This is the essence of dharma. 

 

  -- Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj