It is not the austerities that mortify the flesh which are pleasing to the Lord; when you leave off your clothes and kill your senses, you do not please the Lord: The man who is KIND and who practices righteousness, who remains passive amidst the affairs of the world, who considers all creatures on earth as his own SELF, He attains the Immortal Being, the true GOD is ever with him.
Where to next: the
KINDNESS or
GOD... or perhaps the
SELF?
[
Source: RT 65 (partial); 1.22. jab main bhûlâ, re bhâî]
Here is the full poem:
LXV
I. 22. jab main bhûlâ, re bhâî
O brother! when I was forgetful, my true Guru showed me the Way.
Then I left off all rites and ceremonies, I bathed no more in the
holy water:
Then I learned that it was I alone who was mad, and the whole
world beside me was sane; and I had disturbed these wise people.
From that time forth I knew no more how to roll in the dust in
obeisance:
I do not ring the temple bell:
I do not set the idol on its throne:
I do not worship the image with flowers.
It is not the austerities that mortify the flesh which are
pleasing to the Lord,
When you leave off your clothes and kill your senses, you do not
please the Lord:
The man who is kind and who practises righteousness, who remains
passive amidst the affairs of the world, who considers all
creatures on earth as his own self,
He attains the Immortal Being, the true God is ever with him.
Kabîr says: "He attains the true Name whose words are pure, and
who is free from pride and conceit."
