Kabir

Day by day, Kabir grew in stature, and his parents arranged for his marriage. They taught him the skills of their trade, but he did not take it to heart. He paid no attention to a life of business, unable to discern what belonged to him and what belonged to others. The concepts of joy and sorrow eluded him. He treated a Brahman, a prince, and a pauper with equal respect. Even if a heap of money fell before him, he had no desire to pick it up. Should a thief attempt to rob him, he made no effort to protect himself. As Kabir worshipped in this manner, his business declined. The wrongdoers and the malicious mocked his conduct. Just as a banana tree and a banyan tree cannot thrive in the same location, how can fire and water coexist as friends? How can a prostitute and a faithful wife, a miser and a generous giver, a slanderer and an intelligent person, live together in harmony? Enmity shall arise between them. How can a fly and exquisite food find agreement? A cowherd and a scholar cannot live amicably together. How can the demon Rahu and the moon, a moth and a flame, the sea and the sage Agasti, dwell in love? When the story of Lord Krishna was being narrated, Shishupal refused to listen. When Ravan heard of the might of Lord Rama, he did not experience joy. Just as there is everlasting enmity between poison and nectar, there will always be a mental conflict between worldly wealth and supreme spiritual wealth. But enough of this lengthy digression. Kabir persisted in his worship of God, while his business prosperity diminished. The malicious ones ridiculed him, saying, "You have embraced God, and thus, your self-neglect has ensued. It is unclear how you will continue to manage your domestic affairs."

On that day, after applying paste to the threads, Kabir was made to sit at the loom. However, he could not focus on himself. He became entirely absorbed in the worship of Lord Ram. Visualizing the image of Ram, he closed his eyes and devoted his complete attention to God's form and name. He no longer remembered his own physical state. His mother approached him, attempting to rouse him, and said, "Kabir, I don't know what has happened to you now." Believing that his mother would scold him, he regained awareness and wove a handbreadth of cloth. But at that moment, he once again lost consciousness, and the image of Lord Ram appeared in his heart. Observing this, the Lord of Ayodhya, Ram Himself, took a seat at the loom. Ram thought to himself, "He has lost himself in contemplating Me. His mother will chastise him." With this in mind, the wielder of the bow, Lord Ram, sat down to weave the gold scarf. He, who finds pleasure in the ocean of milk, the Lord of the universe, the resident of the heavenly abode Vaikuntha, sat at Kabir's loom to weave. Even yogis who sit on thorny beds do not conjure His image quickly, yet upon witnessing Kabir's devotion, He sat down to weave the scarf. He cannot be attained through the study of Vedas and Shastras or by wandering from one sacred place to another, but He, the Dweller of Dwaraka, the adornment of His devotees, sat down to weave the scarf. Even sages like Sanak continually hold Him in their contemplation, and now, Hari Himself sat at Kabir's loom to weave the scarf. The one whom the daughter of the ocean serves, embracing His feet to her heart, the beloved ornament of Lord Shiva, even He sat down to weave the scarf.

However, as Kabir regained consciousness, he pondered for a moment and hastened to resume weaving. But before he could fully awaken, the husband of Janaki, Lord Ram, entered his imagination. Kabir's mind found tranquility, and he beheld that it was Lord Krishna who sat weaving. Every time Kabir lost self-awareness, Krishna began to weave, and when self-consciousness returned, Krishna would stand at a distance, amused. Thus, Kabir and Krishna together wove the garment, just as when the waters of the Saraswati join the Ganges, they are no longer separate. God and His devotee wove the garment together.

Kabir folded the cloth, returned home, and presented it to his mother. She then said to Kabir, "Now go to the market, sell the scarf quickly, and bring me the money." Kabir replied, "I will do so," and set off from his home, holding the scarf in his hand. He sat down in the marketplace, closed his eyes, and brought to mind the form of Lord Ram. Losing self-awareness, he continued singing praises of Ram with his lips.