Kabir Sahib, otherwise known as “The Weaver Saint of Benares”, lived in Northern India between the years 1380 and 1460. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest mystics of all times. His verses, hymns and compositions are almost universally known in India, where they are sung with great love and devotion to this day.
He was extremely outspoken in his opposition to the folly and futility of the external religious practices adopted by both Hindus and Muslims. Despite that, he was revered and respected by the followers of both faiths.
He was held in high esteem by his contemporaries. Two of his disciples were Raja Vir Singh and Shah Ibrahim Adham, king of Bokhara. The latter, keen on his spiritual search, learned about Kabir at Kashi. Being accepted as one of Kabir’s disciples was not, however, an easy task for the King, who repeatedly begged Kabir for the invaluable gift of Initiation.
In the beginning, Kabir was reluctant to grant that boon, because he was very conscious of the fact that, as a monarch, Ibrahim would have a great sense of self-importance, and this trait is not desirable in a person who intends to tread the Spiritual Path. So, Kabir turned down his repeated requests. Finally, Kabir agreed to initiate the King on the condition that he would consent to work for him as a servant. Can you imagine the pride the King must have had to swallow in order to agree to be the servant of a poor weaver? But the King’s thirst for knowledge was such that he agreed to such a condition.
After the King spent six years performing menial tasks, Kabir put him to a test, intended to establish if he had lost his self-importance. The King failed the test miserably. Kabir then decided that the King was still not humble enough to deserve the boon of initiation. So, he prolonged the probation period by another six years. After that, the King was finally initiated into the Royal Path of God realization.
It is important for our spiritual growth to develop a balance between our left side of emotion and our right side of action. Often, if we’re dragged into the left side, or pulled into the right side, we lose touch with those around us. We become individualistic. Either we’re withdrawn and unwilling to communicate, or we’re too full of ourselves to care what others have to say. In both cases our connection with other people becomes undermined.
When in the centre, we automatically become collective. There is a desire to connect, to communicate. It is a joy to be in the company of others. All apprehension and suspicion vanish completely. All disregard and arrogance melt away.
The famous psychologist, Carl Jung, spoke at length about this. He called it Individuation. He said we have both a collective side and an individual side. The problem is that people identify with one or the other. If we become too individualistic, we neglect our social responsibilities; and if we are too socially oriented, we neglect our inner selves. Individuation is a sort of harmonising of these two sides. By working out who we in fact are, through a realisation of the self – self-realisation – our uniqueness unravels. We are then able to fit into the collective pattern in a more creative and natural way.
In order to attain this sense of the collective, however, we must become balanced. Our thinking function and our feeling function, need to be kept in their rightful places. Over-development of either function takes us away from the Self.
Our seeking, our search for some meaning in this world, is a very personal journey. We make discoveries and draw conclusions, not in a social setting, but within ourselves. If we are on the right path, then this journey is nothing short of profound. There are times when the world seems to stop at the moment of some significant realisation; a realisation that encourages us further along our path. God, or the All-pervading Power, seems to touch us on such occasions.
However, the nature of our spiritual development changes with time. At some point there is a subtle shift or transition from a very personal, individual journey, to one that has a collective dimension. It seems that the “seedling” not only has to learn to adjust to the earth, but also to exist amongst others of its own kind.
Brian Bell
As part of the Realise Australia tour, Sahaja Yoga Meditation programs will be held in the following centres in North Queensland:
Ingham: 8 December 2006, 7.30 pm in the Community Room, Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre, 71 Townsville Rd, Ingham
Bowen: 9 December 2006, 2.00 pm at the Bowen Neighbourhood Centre, 20 William St, Bowen
Townsville: 10 December 2006, 11.00 am in the Meeting Room, Aitkenvale Library, Cnr Ross River Rd and Petunia St, Aitkenvale (Child Care side)
Experienced Sahaja Yoga practitioners will be present to provide an explanation of Sahaja Yoga Meditation. The program will include the opportunity to experience true meditation.
For further information, please phone Mark on 0414 763 403.