The Spiritual Treasure of Kabir, Mystic Verses of the Bijak
04/25/23 • 48 min
Kabir Says: "Just as a coded document shows the way to a hidden treasure, just so this Bijak shows the way to realize the soul. It teaches such instructive words to the soul, but there is seldom anyone to understand them." (Sakhi of Kabir)
Commentary by Dr. Jagessar Das: "Bijak means a coded document that leads to a hidden treasure. In this Bijak, Guru Kabir explains the path to that hidden treasure that is within, and not visible by the objective senses. He teaches everyone to give up cleverness and argumentation, and become humble and accept the Divine Lord dwelling within."
The term "Bijak" means treasure or treasure-map, in this case the treasure map of Guru Kabir. "Bij" means: the seed or essence. "Bijak" means treasure. The Bijak of Kabir is intended to be a treasure-map to the essence of reality: our soul and God.
In India the Bijak is the most popular sacred text containing the teachings of Guru Kabir, and as such is the main scripture for those who follow the Path of Kabir. Today we explore, "The Complete Bijak Of Kabir -- Guru Kabir's Mystical Teachings on God-Realization", by Dr. Jagessar Das, translating into English and commenting on the entire Bijak of Kabir. This is an impressive work, a true, grassroots "satsang template" of traditional Sant Mat, wonderful to have, featuring all eleven sections of the Bijak in one volume: the Ramainis, Shabdas, Sakhis, and other lesser-known sections.
"The Bijak tells of a treasure,
a treasure that doesn't show.
The word tells of a creature.
Only rare ones know." (Kabir)
From the Principals of Kabir Published in the Earlier Ahmad Shah Translation of, The Bijak:
"To believe in One Avagat, Satya Purush [One God]. His bhakti [devotion, love] should be practiced.
Have faith in the Master and in his teaching.
True Sadhus should be served.
Show mercy and love towards all Jivas [souls].
To abstain from all kinds of meats.
No visible object in this world should be worshiped.
Do not tell lies.
Do not steal.
Do not gamble.
Do not curse any one.
Repeat Satya Nam.
Practice bhakti of Satya Purush [God] and teach about him.
Hindu, Muslim and any other sect can join Kabir’s religion.
Without the knowledge of Sar Shabd [the True Sound], no one can attain jiva mukti (liberation, salvation).
Abuse, deceit and jealousy are enemies of jiva mukti.
Humility is a great virtue.
Give thanks for the gift of the Sat Guru.
Without true love of God the practice of bhakti is fruitless.
To read the Sat Guru’s words is a great virtue.
One should know the Supreme Spirit."
In Divine Love (Bhakti), Light, and Sound, At the Feet of the Masters, Radhaswami,
James Bean
Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts
Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts
A Satsang Without Walls
Sant Mat Radhasoami
Kabir Says: "Just as a coded document shows the way to a hidden treasure, just so this Bijak shows the way to realize the soul. It teaches such instructive words to the soul, but there is seldom anyone to understand them." (Sakhi of Kabir)
Commentary by Dr. Jagessar Das: "Bijak means a coded document that leads to a hidden treasure. In this Bijak, Guru Kabir explains the path to that hidden treasure that is within, and not visible by the objective senses. He teaches everyone to give up cleverness and argumentation, and become humble and accept the Divine Lord dwelling within."
The term "Bijak" means treasure or treasure-map, in this case the treasure map of Guru Kabir. "Bij" means: the seed or essence. "Bijak" means treasure. The Bijak of Kabir is intended to be a treasure-map to the essence of reality: our soul and God.
In India the Bijak is the most popular sacred text containing the teachings of Guru Kabir, and as such is the main scripture for those who follow the Path of Kabir. Today we explore, "The Complete Bijak Of Kabir -- Guru Kabir's Mystical Teachings on God-Realization", by Dr. Jagessar Das, translating into English and commenting on the entire Bijak of Kabir. This is an impressive work, a true, grassroots "satsang template" of traditional Sant Mat, wonderful to have, featuring all eleven sections of the Bijak in one volume: the Ramainis, Shabdas, Sakhis, and other lesser-known sections.
"The Bijak tells of a treasure,
a treasure that doesn't show.
The word tells of a creature.
Only rare ones know." (Kabir)
From the Principals of Kabir Published in the Earlier Ahmad Shah Translation of, The Bijak:
"To believe in One Avagat, Satya Purush [One God]. His bhakti [devotion, love] should be practiced.
Have faith in the Master and in his teaching.
True Sadhus should be served.
Show mercy and love towards all Jivas [souls].
To abstain from all kinds of meats.
No visible object in this world should be worshiped.
Do not tell lies.
Do not steal.
Do not gamble.
Do not curse any one.
Repeat Satya Nam.
Practice bhakti of Satya Purush [God] and teach about him.
Hindu, Muslim and any other sect can join Kabir’s religion.
Without the knowledge of Sar Shabd [the True Sound], no one can attain jiva mukti (liberation, salvation).
Abuse, deceit and jealousy are enemies of jiva mukti.
Humility is a great virtue.
Give thanks for the gift of the Sat Guru.
Without true love of God the practice of bhakti is fruitless.
To read the Sat Guru’s words is a great virtue.
One should know the Supreme Spirit."
In Divine Love (Bhakti), Light, and Sound, At the Feet of the Masters, Radhaswami,
James Bean
Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts
Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts
A Satsang Without Walls
Sant Mat Radhasoami
Previous Episode
A Love That Takes You Higher During Meditation
Hazur Baba Sawan Singh on the Afterlife, A Matter of Life and Death: "Coming back here again or going up within after death depends on the tendency of the attention."
Sant Dadu Dayal: "Where you keep your mind while living, to that abode shall you go after death. The soul finds lodging in a place wherein it has hitherto been immersed." (Mystic Poem of Dadu)
According to the Path of the Masters, though the body and brain of the individual will die, the subtle bodies as well as the soul live on. Those subtle bodies include the causal body and the mental body. The thoughts, impressions and attachments of a lifetime that have accumulated are indeed part of one's destiny and also live on. Thus the need to do as much simran and meditation as possible during this life to live in Divine Grace and "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven."
Baba Ram Singh: "Do your Bhajan Simran [meditation] every day. Do it for two, two and a half hours every day so that you are able to reduce the burden of your karmas. And also, the Grace of the Master is there with you, and He also reduces that burden for you. That way, at the time of death, we do not have to suffer a lot of these karmas on our body." (satsang discourse, Masters Tell Us, Again And Again, That Life Is Not Permanent)
Santji: "So why do the Saints always emphasize doing Simran [remembrance of God and the names of God]? Why do they make us do Simran? They make us do the practice of Simran so that at the time of our death either we should be doing Simran or we may have the Form of the Master within us. If we are doing Simran, or if we are remembering the Form of the Master, we will go direct to Him." (The Light of Ajaib)
Baba Somanath: "Constantly repeat Naam and Naam alone... Then you will find rest; you will not take birth again." (Bhajan of Baba Somanath)
Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji: "Therefore, a devotee of the Current should never fear death.... His efforts should be to finish his work here and now *." (Foreign Correspondence) * Note: Take this golden opportunity during life to make spiritual progress during meditation here and now.
"Fix your mind within by following the Path of the Sound Current. A yearning will arise; make then an intense and anguished call. Repeat the Name of your Beloved, day and night, again and again and again. With care in thought, word and deed, you will cross to the other shore." (Dadu Dayal, Sant of Rajasthan)
In Divine Love (Bhakti), Light, and Sound, At the Feet of the Masters, Radhaswami,
James Bean
Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts
Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts
A Satsang Without Walls
Sant Mat Radhasoami
Next Episode
Seeing the Divine For Oneself According to Sant Tulsi Sahib and Maharshi Mehi
Sant Tulsi Sahib's Mystic Poetry, Maharshi Mehi's Mystic Poetry and Hymns (Padavali), Plus Swami Vyasanand on the Five Levels of Love (Bhakti).
In Divine Love (Bhakti), Light, and Sound, At the Feet of the Masters, Radhaswami,
James Bean
Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts
Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts
A Satsang Without Walls
Sant Mat Radhasoami
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