Kabir

If Eknath established a close link between Sufism and Hinduism, Kabir blended both Islam and Hinduism. His rich poetry is an outpouring of his heart. One is amazed on how a simple man with no scholarly knowledge can write so wonderfully. Maybe that can be explained by his verse

'I have stilled my restless mind, and my heart is radiant, for in Thatness I have seen beyond Thatness.

Born in Kashi in 1440 to Muslim parents, he approached Ramananda numerous times for initiation. Each time, he met with refusal. One day, he hid near the steps leading to the Ganges river anticipating to confort Ramananda again. Ramananda, however, by mistake stepped on Kabir and and uttered 'Ram, Ram.' Kabir took this as a sign of initiation and Ram as his mahamantra. Ramananda is said to have accepted this.

Kabir never retired from the world to become a recluse. He was married, had children and was a weaver by profession. He saw life filled with God in the form of love and joy. However, Kashi, being an orthodox city, considered him a heretic and ordered him to leave in 1495. Unfazed, Kabir spread his joy of divine love through various songs throughout his travels in North India. In 1518, his health broke down and he left his body, but never did he forget the love of Ram.

Several of Kabir's verses are sung to this day in India. One can find many of his poems and songs translated into English by the famous poet, Tagore.

More about Kabir

"I Laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is thirsty: You do not see that the Real is in your home, and you wander...listlessly! Here is the truth! Go where you will...if you do not find your soul, the world is unreal to you."
and

"Kabir says, God is the breath of all breath".

Many of the songs of Kabir contain criticism, not of "worldly" people who lived materialistically, but of renunciates who sought God outside of life and relationships;

"The infinite dwelling of the Infinite Being is everywhere: in earth, water, sky, and air...He who is within is without; I see Him and none else".