KABIR

Il vécu au 15ième siècle, né d'une famille musulmane. Son époque vibrait au rythme de la poésie et de la philosophie profonde de grands mystiques tel Rumi. Il rêva de réconcilier le mysticisme Musulman et le Brahmanisme. Sa poèsie réalise une synthèse de la foi Hindoue et de la foi Musulmane. Il se disait fils d'Allah et de Ram. Il fut un homme marié, père de famille et c'est du coeur de la vie quotidienne qu'il chanta son amour divin. Révélé et traduit par Rabindranath Tagore ce poète de l'amour, trésor de l'humanité, décéda en 1518 à Maghar.

He lived in the fifteenth century, born near Banaras, of Muslim parents. He grew in the impassioned poetry and deep philosophy of the great Persian mystics as Jalalu'ddin Rumi. He is, as he says, "at once the child of Allah and of Ram". He achieved a synthesis of Hindu and Muslim belief and freely used symbols from both religions. He was a weaver, a simple and unlettered man, who earned his leaving at the loom. Translated by Rabindranath Tagore, it is out of the heart of the common life that he sings his rapturous lyrics of divine love.

jo khuda masjid vasad hai

If God be within the mosque, then to whom does this world belong?
If Ram be within the image which you find upon your pilgrimage,
then who is there to know what happens whithout?
Hari is in the East: Allah is in the West. Look within your heart,
for there you will find both Karim and Ram;
All the men and women of the world are His living forms.
Kabir is the child of Allah and of Ram: He is my Guru, He is my Pir.

How could the love between Thee and me sever?
As the leaf of the water abides on the water:
           so Thou art my Lord, and I am Thy servant.
As the night-bird Chakor gazes all night at the moon:
           so Thou art my lord and I am Thy servant.
From the beginning until the ending of time,
           there is love between Thee and me;
           and how shall such love be extinguished?
Kabir says: " As the river enters into the ocean,
           so my heart touches Thee".

bago na ja re na ja

Do not go to the garden of flowers!
O Friend! go not there;
In your body is the garden of flowers.
Take your seat on the thousand petals of the lotus,
And there gaze on the Infinite Beauty.

koi prem ki peng jhulao re

Hang up the swing of love today!
Hang the body and the mind between the arms of the Beloved,
          in the ecstasy of love's joy:
Bring the tearful streams of the rainy clouds to your eyes,
         and cover your heart with the shadow of darkness:
Bring your face nearer to His ear,
         and speak of the deepest longings of your heart.
Kabir says:
'Listen to me, brother! bring the vision of the Beloved in your heart.'

Says Kabir: the clouds of love have gathered
raining over me
my soul soaked within
green woods around.

Says Kabir: do not be proud
seeing your mansion
tomorrow you will lie beneath the earth
tufts of grass over you.

Says Kabir: those who do not love God
know no joy
like a guest in an empty house
they come and depart.

Your God dwells within you
like fragrance in the flower
must lies within the deer
yet seeks it afar.

Worlds pass away reading scriptures
none the wiser
he who understand the word 'Love'
is the wise one.

The Hindu says Ram is supreme
the Muslim, Rahim
both die fighting each other
neither knowing the Truth.

Remembering You ever
egoless, I have merged with You
no more the cycle of births and deaths
wherever the eye goes I see You.

Brimming with devotion to God I am
this world ties me no more
a pitcher once backed, says Kabir
needs no potter's wheel again.

"One Hundred Poems of KABIR" Translated by RABINDRANATH TAGORE
assisted by EVELYN UNDERHILL. first edition 1915. MACMILLAN INDIA.