Kabir

Kabir completely forgot that he had come to sell the scarf. With God in his heart, he continued repeating the names of Ram out of his love for Him. Merchants entered the marketplace, and Kabir sat down beside them, but no customers showed up to buy the shela. The scarf, touched by the hand of the Supreme God, the Lord of Heaven Vaikunth, appeared too expensive for potential buyers as they looked at it from a distance.

If buyers wanted to purchase a garment for five rupees, it seemed to them to be worth twice that value. If they thought of buying it for ten rupees, it appeared as if it were worth twenty rupees. Those who were willing to purchase it for twenty-five rupees saw it worth more than fifty. People searching for a scarf worth fifty rupees perceived it as worth twice that amount. Buyers willing to spend five hundred or a thousand rupees saw it as worth more than a thousand. Because it seemed to have such a high value, people merely glanced at it from a distance, telling themselves, "Even if we ask him the price, we have no money to purchase it."

Some wealthy merchants passed by, and it seemed to them to be worth more than a hundred thousand rupees. Looking at each other, customers went into the marketplace, saying, "This devotee Kabir weaves very expensive garments. Since we have no money, coming to the marketplace is useless." With these thoughts, men and women hurried back to their homes. The value of the scarf appeared to exceed the financial ability of the customers, and so no one approached Kabir to inquire about its price.

The garment, which seemed to customers to have the value they were willing to pay, appeared to be worth twice as much. Just as the soul exists in every living being, it was the same in this case. Just as when mustard, onion, sugarcane, or any seed is planted and given water, its sap takes on the characteristics of the plant. When many musical instruments are played loudly, the space seems to take on their form. Similarly, Kabir's cloth seemed to have a different nature to everyone who looked at it. One might think of gold as homogeneous, but the ornaments made from it seem various. Just as a flame appears larger as more wood is piled onto it, or as a person sees their own reflection in a mirror held by a barber, so did Kabir's scarf appear to the customer. Looking at it from a distance, they said to themselves, "We don't have the ability to pay for it, and since we don't have enough money to purchase it, there's no need to go and ask him the price." Thus, customers aimlessly went forward into the marketplace.

Meanwhile, the devotee Kabir, full of love, continued his worship of Shri Ram. As the sun began to set, the people in the marketplace started to dwindle. Kabir opened his eyes and looked around. He said to himself, "All the people have gone to their homes, and the scarf has no customers. If I go back home, my mother will scold me." With these thoughts, the Vishnu devotee calmly remained seated. Then he suddenly noticed an empty house. Kabir quickly arose, went, and sat inside, continuing his worship of Ram with love and affection.

Just as a daughter-in-law hides herself, fearing mistreatment from her mother-in-law, Kabir, out of fear of his mother, sat alone in this deserted house. Or just as Dhruva, after being mistreated by his mother, sulked and went into the forest, so did Kabir, indifferent to worldly things, go and sit down in this vacant house. Just as sannyasis achieve their highest order by abandoning all forms of action, Kabir became indifferent to his domestic affairs and sat down in this vacant house.

The servant of Vishnu, having entered this deserted house, the Pervader of the universe, seeing Kabir's devotion, came to test its truth. He took the form of a very aged Brahman, wearing old and torn clothes. The cold was intense, as it is in the months of Paush (January) and Magha (February). In order to test Kabir's generosity, the Life of the world entered, shivering. As Kabir sat there worshipping, the Brahman arrived.

Just as the son of Gadhi came to trouble King Harischandra, or as the Lord of Kailas, disguised as a guest, came to trouble Shriyal, or as the sage Durvas, hearing of the goodness of Ambarish, came to trouble him, or as God, assuming the form of Vaman, came to test Bali with His own eyes. In that way, the Brahman spoke to Kabir in a distressed voice, "I am old, helpless, and poor. I have no clothes to wear. You are a devotee of Vishnu and exceedingly generous. It is intensely cold. If you have any garments, please give me some."

Upon hearing this harsh voice, Kabir replied softly, "To be without form and at the same time possess qualities, both can coexist without any difference between them. If butter hardens or melts, it does not lose its character of being butter. Or when an ornament is made of gold, it does not lose its luster. Similarly, the Unmanifested, Eternal Being has taken form. The Pervader of the universe has assumed visible form for the sake of His devotees."

In response to the noble Vaishnava's words, the fakir said, "If you have any garment, please give it to me quickly." Kabir hurriedly removed the remaining half of the scarf and gave it to the fakir. He then continued to sit there without any concern, and the fakir hurried away.

Just as when the rainy season has passed, the sky appears clear, or when soldering is tested and turns out to be brilliant gold, or when a valuable diamond is hammered on an anvil by an expert, God became a Muhammadan fakir to test Kabir's mind. With a violent laughter, He stood at the door and called Kabir. He said, "Give me a garment at once. God is without form and without qualities. You have forgotten this. Why do you leave Him and worship Ram?"

Upon hearing this, Kabir replied in soft tones, "To be without form and possess qualities, both can coexist without any difference between them. If butter hardens or melts, it does not lose its character of being butter. Or when an ornament is made of gold, it does not lose its luster. So, the Unmanifested, Eternal Being has taken form. The Pervader of the universe has assumed visible form for the sake of His devotees."

After these words, the fakir said, "If you have any garment, give it to me quickly." Kabir hastened to remove the half of the scarf that remained with him and gave it to the fakir. He then continued to sit there without any concern, while the fakir hurried away.

Just as when the rainy season ends, the sky becomes clear, or when mount Mandara is pulled out of the ocean, its roar ceases, the concern that Kabir felt when no customer appeared to purchase the scarf vanished from his mind. Kabir was now in a state of joy. Satisfied in his mind, he continued to worship Shri Ram.