THE TEN-DOOR TEMPLE
IISATYANAAMII
THE TEN-DOOR TEMPLE
Due to the restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, churches, temples, and other places of worship have not been visited for more than 3 months. This has created a big void in many people’s lives who miss going to temple. However, the best temple is always with them. The regulations may restrict people’s social habits and praying schedules, but access to their privileged temple has never been compromised.
“Gossaiyaan binaa bhatkat kown phire”
O Devotee! How come you are wandering everywhere without God? Satguru Kabir Saheb teaches us that God is within us. But if we do not acknowledge Him, if we do not incarnate the divine qualities which are intrinsically our true nature, then we will be straying here and there aimlessly. Some people search for God outside, others are just lost, still others deny His presence.
“Ghatahi mein devaa ghatahi mein deval, ghatahi mein dhyaan dhaare”
God’s temple is in our body, we can only meditate on Him in our hearts. The human body is loaded with everything to access the divine. However, we have to find and use the right ‘tools’ to find Him. Obviously in our wake state, we feel connected to God in various ways : holy places, chants and devotional songs, idols, and so on. Satguru Kabir Saheb invites us to embark on the inner journey to experience the divine presence.
“Ghatahi mein gangaa ghatahi mein jamunaa, ghatahi mein neer bahe”
The holy rivers (Ganga & Jamuna) as well as the holy waters are already within us. We need not physically go to the Ganges to feel the holy water. To rid ourselves of our sins, we must perform in thoughts, words and deeds those actions which are noble. Taking a holy dip in the Ganges will not do that. This is why Satguru Kabir Saheb is asking us to go within.
“Ghatahi mein chandaa ghatahi mein sooraj, ghatahi mein jyot jare”
The moon and the sun are in the body, as well as the light of God. Our right and left nostrils represent the sun and the moon. By merging the solar and the lunar energies together, we reach the point where we see the divine light. The light that we are searching for will not be found in sunlight or moonlight.
“Ghatahi mein loharaa ghatahi mein ayran, ghatahi mein ghaat ghare”
The blacksmith and the iron, as well as the anvil are all in the body. Satguru Kabir Saheb is referring to the blacksmith as God, iron as the soul and the anvil as meditation. Just like the blacksmith forges the iron on the anvil, similarly the divine energy molds the soul into pure consciousness. All this happens within the body.
“Kahein Kabir soono bhai Saadho, khojat khabar pare”