by Parmjit Singh, PhD

Saint Kabir is one of the famous Indian poet/mystic. He was very poor and wove clothes to support his family. Such was his state that the pundits of that time never took him seriously. Who would listen to a poor weaver? They even derided him because he did not have pedantic knowledge. He was a simple-hearted man who sang self-composed songs and did his daily work. He did not bother with what others said of him.

After all this time, Kabir is remembered not because he wrote mystical poetry or wove fabulous clothes but because he showed us the way to live properly without fretting about poverty or richness. Kabir never disregarded his family responsibilities, but kept focused on his ultimate aim. He did not run to the Himalayan for meditation. He lived in the material world, shouldered his worldly responsibilities but never let the world live in him. He realized that money, knowledge, poverty and prestige all existed outside us. It is the attachment to these that tether us down. They are neither a bondage nor freedom, but just means of living.

This is how we should live— without trying to run away from anything but remaining focused on our ultimate goal—self-actualization. Once we are focused on the transcendent goals, all the other distractions take a back seat.