Sant Kabir Das was a prominent Indian poet and saint, known for his devotional verses (Dohe) about deep spiritual truths. He lived between 1440-1518 and played a significant role in the Bhakti movement, emphasizing love, equality, and the unity of God. Although Sant Kabir Das Ji's early years are not well documented, he was raised by a weaver couple in Varanasi. Sant Kabir did not receive a formal education but had immense wisdom and knowledge of spirituality.
myNachiketa delightfully presents a few teachings of Sant Kabir Das for children to understand and apply values like love, honesty, and the unity of all beings through simple and meaningful lessons.
1. God resides in everyone; treat others like you want to be treated.
Kabir Das Ji emphasized that God exists within every being and urged that everyone should be treated with kindness and respect. His teaching was based on the philosophy of the oneness of God, equality, and universal love. He believed that one should not consider themselves better than others and always stay humble.
मन के हिय राम बसे, घट-घट के अंतर।
राम नाम हरि नाम का, लेव को सुमिरन॥
Man ke hiy Ram base, ghat-ghat ke antar
Ram naam Hari naam ka, lev ko sumiran
Dear Children, you should always stay humble and respectful towards everyone irrespective of their age, colour, and social status. You should speak politely and lovingly with everyone as God resides in every being.
2. Good company is like a fragrant flower; it spreads joy
Positive and good individuals inspire others to adopt good habits and learn valuable lessons. Being around such people brings a sense of joy, calm, and fulfilment. Sant Kabir Das said that one should spend time with kind and wise people who inspire you to do good because it helps to become a better version of yourself, keeping you away from negative influences and actions.
कबीरा संगत साधु की, निष्फल कभी न होय ।
होमी चन्दन बासना, नीम न कहसी कोय ।।
Kabira sangat saadhu ki, nishfal kabhi na hoy
Homi chandan baasna, neem na kahsi koy
Children, you should wisely choose your friends and the people surrounding you because their actions will influence yours. People who spread happiness and think positively will inspire you to do the same. Friends who work hard and do work with dedication indirectly influence and inspire you as well.
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3. What you have today may be gone tomorrow so focus on eternal things
Sant Kabir Das says that material wealth, fame, and physical beauty are not permanent, they change over time. They can be lost or taken away at any moment, so, instead of chasing temporary pleasures, one should invest in qualities that last forever, such as wisdom, compassion, and forming a connection with Bhagwan.
माया मरी न मन मरा, मर मर गया शरीर।
आशा तृष्णा न मरी, कह गए दास कबीर।।
Maya mari na man mara, mar mar gaya shareer
Asha trishna na mari, kah gaye Das Kabir
So, children, we should be happy and content with what we have and not demand more and more. You might have noticed that new clothes and toys get dirty or old after some time, and we start wanting new ones. When you get new things, you get happiness that is temporary because after some days you get bored with it. So dear Children, learn new things, gain knowledge, and build a connection with Bhagwan as these qualities are permanent.
4. Serving others is the true worship of God
Kabir Das Ji said that helping and caring for others is one of the highest forms of devotion to Bhagwan. This teaching reflects the belief that Bahgwan is present within every person. When we serve others, we are serving Bahgwan. Kabir Das ji believed that worship is not just about rituals, prayers, or visiting places of worship. True worship involves selfless actions that bring comfort and happiness to others.
जग में बैरी कोइ नहीं, जो मन सीतल होय।
या आपा को डारि दे, दया करै सब कोय।।
Jag mein bairaee koi nahi, jo man seetal hoye
Yaa aapa ko daari de, daya karai sab koy
Dear Children, each action should be an act of devotion to Bhagwan. When you help your friends and family, your teachers, and care for your parents, grandparents, and friends, consider it a service to Bhagwan. So, always do good deeds and serve others.
5. In silence, the heart speaks the loudest
Kabir Das ji said that when we are silent, we can connect with our true selves and hear the voice of our inner wisdom. In the absence of external noise and distractions, we can focus inward and discover what truly matters to us. Silence allows us to listen to our heart’s desires and emotions. Through silence, we connect with our inner self or even higher power, finding guidance and peace.
माला तो कर में फिरे, जीभ फिरे मुख माहि।
मनुआ तो चाहूं दिश फिरे, ये तो सुमिरन नाही।।
Mala To Kar Mein Phire, Jeebh Phire Mukh Mahi
Manua To Chahun Dish Phire, Yeh To Sumiran Nahi
Children, you should also practice being silent for a few minutes daily. Like before going to sleep, when the TV is off, lights are off and there is complete silence, you should try to sit quietly with closed eyes and seek answers from your heart. You can understand your emotions and thoughts and get peace and guidance.
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6. You cannot control everything but you can control your mind
Kabir Das Ji teaches that in life there are many things that you cannot control, but you can control how you respond to these situations. When your mind is calm and steady you can handle anything that comes your way. You’ll feel happier, less worried, and ready to solve problems by staying calm in every situation.
सहज सहज सब कोई कहे, सहज न चीन्हे कोई।
जिनी सहजै विषय तजी, सहज कहीजे सोई।
Sahaj sahaj sab koi kahe, sahaj na cheenhe koi
Jini sahaje vishiyaa taji, sahaj kaheeje soi
Children, you should think carefully about your actions because your future depends on the deeds that you perform today. for example, you cannot control the result of the competition but you can choose to stay happy instead of getting angry or sad. If a classmate says something hurtful, you can control your reaction. Instead of yelling back, you can ignore them, stay calm, and tell a teacher if needed.
7. Lost time never comes back, so spend it well
Sant Kabir Das Ji said that time is very precious and once it's gone, never comes back. So, one must use their time wisely and make the most of every moment. It's important to balance fun and work. Spend time learning new things, helping others, and doing things that make you happy and grow as a person.
रात गवाई सोय के, दिवस गावाया खाय I
हिरा जन्म अनमोल था, कोडी बदले जाय I I
Raat gavai soye ke, divas gavaya khaye
Heera janm anmol tha, kodi badle jaye
Just like your favourite toy or a special gift, time is something that can’t be replaced. Once wasted, it’s gone forever. If you spend hours and hours playing games, you can't use that time for studying or helping someone. When you finish your homework on time, you have more time to do fun activities later.
8. Patience is the identity of great people
This teaching of Kabir Das Ji means that good things take time, and if you stay calm and keep working towards your goal, you will eventually succeed. It teaches that rushing or getting frustrated won't help; instead, being patient and persistent will lead to the best results. Patience teaches you to stay calm when things are not going the way you want. By staying focused and trying your best, you’ll find a way to succeed.
धीरे-धीरे रे मना, धीरे सब कुछ होय।
माली सींचे सौ घड़ा, ॠतु आए फल होय।।
Dheere-dheere re mana, dheere sab kuch hoye
Maali seenche sau ghada, ritu aaye phal hoye
Children here are a few examples for your better understanding.
If you're learning to ride a bike, you might fall a few times, but with practice and patience, you’ll get better and ride without falling. If you're trying to finish a big puzzle, it might seem tricky at first, but if you keep working on it slowly, you'll eventually finish it. Practicing a sport, like football, every day will help you become a great player, even if you don't score goals right away.
So, children, the teachings of Kabir Das offer timeless wisdom that can guide us to live a life filled with love, kindness, and inner peace. Sant Kabir's messages remind us to value wisdom, faith in God, good actions and oneness over rituals and false beliefs. Let’s implement Sant Kabir’s teachings and grow to be caring, respectful, and mindful individuals, spreading joy and harmony wherever we go.
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