Of Remembering God
by Kabir
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This poem is a translation of a classic bhajan by the 15th-century mystic poet Kabir, known for his sharp criticisms of religious dogma, caste divisions and social hypocrisy. It explores the selfish nature of human devotion. Kabir begins with a famous observation: 'In sorrow all remember God, / But in happiness nobody', arguing that if people remembered God in times of joy, they would never face sorrow. He criticises those who live in spiritual 'sleep' (ignorance), wasting their lives in material pleasures while ignoring the reality of death, warning that 'Death doth stand just over thy head', ready to take its daily ration of lives at any moment. Kabir then stresses the supreme importance of the Guru (spiritual teacher), raising the famous question: if Guru and God stood side by side, whose feet should a disciple touch first? He declares he must bow to the Guru first, because it is the Guru who showed him the path to God, and concludes that if God is angry the Guru can still protect a person, but if the Guru is angry, even God cannot help them.
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This poem is a translation of a classic bhajan by Kabir, the 15th-century mystic poet and social reformer. Famous for attacking religious dogma, caste divisions and hypocrisy, Kabir here reflects on the selfishness of human devotion and the supreme importance of the Guru.
Remembering God in sorrow
Kabir begins with a famous observation: 'In sorrow all remember God, / But in happiness nobody.' He argues that if humans remembered God during their times of joy and prosperity, they would never have to face sorrow.
He criticises those who live in a state of spiritual 'sleep' (ignorance), completely wasting their lives in material pleasures while ignoring the reality of death. He warns that 'Death doth stand just over thy head', ready to take its daily ration of lives at any moment.
The importance of the Guru
Kabir emphasises the absolute importance of the Guru (spiritual teacher) in a person's life. He raises a famous philosophical question: if both Guru and God were to stand side by side, whose feet should a disciple touch first?
Kabir declares that he must bow to the Guru first, because it is the Guru who showed him the path to reach God. He concludes that if God is angry with a person, the Guru can still protect them; but if the Guru is angry, even God cannot help them.