Tell me, Brother, how can I renounce Maya?
When I gave up the tying of ribbons, still I tied my garment about me:
When I gave up tying my garment, still I covered my body in its folds.
So, when I give up passion, I see that anger remains;
And when I renounce anger, greed is with me still;
And when greed is vanquished, pride and vainglory remain;
When the mind is detached and casts Maya away, still it clings to the letter.
Kabîr says, “Listen to me, dear Sadhu! the true path is rarely found.”
Kabir, the great mystic of the 15th century, asks us this wonderful question about Maya – the dilemma that we face when we try to escape from it. The challenges that we face in the web of Maya. The connection between passion, anger, greed, pride, vanity and glory. And when we, somehow, are able to renounce all these, the mind still clings to the “letter” – the form. But can we describe the formless with the “letter”? And hence Kabir concludes – the true path is rarely found.
maayaa taji naa jaaye – माया तजि न जाये – it is very difficult to renounce Maya – a great spiritual challenge for all of us… what is your opinion on Maya? do share with us in the comments.
Excerpt From: 1440-1518 Kabir. “Songs of Kabir.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore.