18 Nov 2022  |   05:42am IST

Understanding Saint Kabir’s universal teachings

Govind Poteker

 

I

n fast-receding green areas of Aldona, riding through narrow bylanes, it was a perfectly salubrious setting to settle in a typical Goan heritage home with a Balcao, well-maintained kitchen garden and ornamental plants. It’s a far cry from the usual bustle of the city, and with ever-welcoming hosts, Hemali Bhuta and Shreyas Karle of Cona Foundation, both artists by profession and programme coordinator Mahalaxmi Bhobe, they made it more enterprising.

A small group remained focused humming the lyrics of 15th century poet Saint Kabir whose teachings were revealed through his inspirational discourse by Vipul Rikhi, renowned author, poet, singer, and a great follower of the saint. It was a mystical experience for participants of ‘Dhaai Akshar Prem Ka’ ‘The Letters of Love’ coming from diverse places and professions, settled in Goa, and a few of them coming from Gurgaon and Pune too. For them, the three-day workshop turned out to be a unique add-on to their holidays and the power of mysticism.

New Delhi born, but now residing at Mandrem, Vipul, himself can be called a modern-day mystic in the making, playing his prized possession, a hundred-year-old tambora he enlightened them about the tender side of the poet. He confessed that initially he hardly understood Kabir’s couplets or the yogic terminology, and it was a revelation after listening to Kumar Gandharva, Pralhad Singh Tipanya, and meeting filmmaker Shabnam Virmani, who started Kabir Project.

We have all grown up reading and listening to devotional songs by mystic poets and saints such as Amir Khusro, Bulleh Shah, Gorakhnath, Tukaram, Namdeo, Mirabai and many other historical figures who have spiritually enriched our thought process. Kabir professed his teachings that had folk and Sufi element in a free-flowing way and one could sing them without feeling any pressure, Vipul acknowledged during the sessions to devoted participants who were in focus to imbibe and understand the great Indian saint who was born in Varanasi.

During the sessions, participants went through the grind of deep understanding of couplets which give a simple message of being a good human that is what he taught all his life. It is simply amazing that we in India despite having such great minds who gave a universal message at a time when mass communication never existed but still succeeded phenomenally, the question that arises in mind today is in which direction we are heading.

Vipul said, “Questions always arise in our mind as from where we have come and where we are going? Interestingly, Kabir had the answer to it. He never wanted anyone to follow him nor did he follow others. He thought that the answer lies in our body, which is a treasure and gateway. There is an emphasis on our mind, which is greedy, unstable, and changing all the time. Today one may love, but the next day we may hate as our perception changes after listening to others as the mind controls us and not our body.”

While Kabir’s verses were very simple, had esoteric words having deep meaning, confirms Vipul. In one of his poems, he senses that to find a diamond within us, we need a jeweler’s perception, and consciousness is within us, though we are wandering outside. The truth is about right and wrong and very often it is the teacher who shows us the way.

In this fast-paced world, we still peep into our past to find a ray of hope and meaning to life, and modern-day followers like Vipul keep the beacon lit for the wellbeing of humanity with the message of the mystic. Vipul said, “Though urban areas are fast moving away from rich traditions, the rural regions are still rooted in old traditions and culture. However, it is good to see youngsters taking part in such workshops, and the music of yore in movies still draws to the teachings of our great saints.”