In the following succinct couplet, Kabir ponders about how illogical world’s thinking is:
Rangi ko narangi kahe, bane doodh ko khoya
Chalti ko gaari kahe, yeh dekh Kabira roya.
They call an orange, non-colorful (na-rangi),
they call a delicious milk cake lost (khoya)
they call a moving object stuck (gaari)
Seeing this (hypocrisy of the world) Kabir cries
I am reminded of a shabad I sing:
The world calls me crazy,but love, I am yours.- Kabir
Kabir in the World of Fake News
The beauty of Kabir's poetry is that it is timeless. We live in a world of "fake news. The term "fake news" refers to misinformation or deliberately false information that is spread through traditional and digital media channels. In the current times, it is a major issue that has gained significant attention and concern. The ease of access to digital technology and the internet has resulted in an increase in the spread of fake news, making it easier for individuals and organizations to spread false information. This has created a challenge for individuals to differentiate between real and fake news, and has resulted in the erosion of trust in traditional media sources. The impact of fake news can be significant, affecting people's opinions, beliefs, and decisions. Additionally, fake news has the potential to incite violence, create panic, or spread conspiracy theories. Hence, it is important for individuals to be vigilant and critical of the information they consume and to verify the authenticity of the news before accepting it as truth.
The World Does Not Recognize Truth
The idea that the world does not recognize the truth refers to the concept that people are often blind to what is actually true, despite evidence being presented to them. This can be due to a variety of reasons such as, personal beliefs, biases, lack of information, or even a deliberate decision to ignore the truth. In some cases, the truth may be distorted or suppressed in order to serve the interests of a particular group or individual. This phenomenon can lead to widespread misunderstanding, division and conflict. In order to promote a more equitable and just society, it is important to encourage critical thinking and to seek out the truth, even if it challenges one's own beliefs and opinions.
Guru Nanak on the Hypocrisy of the World
Guru Nanak catches the hypocrisy of the world in this very similar poem in Raag Gauri.
ਗਉੜੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥
गउड़ी महला १ ॥
Gaoṛī mėhlā 1.
Gauree, First Mehl:
ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਬੂਝਿ ਲੇ ਤਉ ਹੋਇ ਨਿਬੇਰਾ ॥
गुर परसादी बूझि ले तउ होइ निबेरा ॥
Gur parsādī būjẖ le ṯao hoe niberā.
By Guru's Grace, one comes to understand, and then, the account is settled.
ਘਰਿ ਘਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨਾ ਸੋ ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਮੇਰਾ ॥੧॥
घरि घरि नामु निरंजना सो ठाकुरु मेरा ॥१॥
Gẖar gẖar nām niranjanā so ṯẖākur merā. ||1||
In each and every heart is the Name of the Immaculate Lord; He is my Lord and Master. ||1||
ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦ ਨ ਛੂਟੀਐ ਦੇਖਹੁ ਵੀਚਾਰਾ ॥
बिनु गुर सबद न छूटीऐ देखहु वीचारा ॥
Bin gur sabaḏ na cẖẖūtīai ḏekẖhu vīcẖārā.
Without the Word of the Guru's Shabad, no one is emancipated. See this, and reflect upon it.
ਜੇ ਲਖ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਵਹੀ ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਅੰਧਿਆਰਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
जे लख करम कमावही बिनु गुर अंधिआरा ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Je lakẖ karam kamāvahī bin gur anḏẖiārā. ||1|| rahāo.
Even though you may perform hundreds of thousands of rituals, without the Guru, there is only darkness. ||1||Pause||
ਅੰਧੇ ਅਕਲੀ ਬਾਹਰੇ ਕਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਸਿਉ ਕਹੀਐ ॥
अंधे अकली बाहरे किआ तिन सिउ कहीऐ ॥
Anḏẖe aklī bāhre kiā ṯin sio kahīai.
What can you say, to one who is blind and without wisdom?
ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਪੰਥੁ ਨ ਸੂਝਈ ਕਿਤੁ ਬਿਧਿ ਨਿਰਬਹੀਐ ॥੨॥
बिनु गुर पंथु न सूझई कितु बिधि निरबहीऐ ॥२॥
Bin gur panth na sūjẖī kiṯ biḏẖ nirabahīai. ||2||
Without the Guru, the Path cannot be seen. How can anyone proceed? ||2||
ਖੋਟੇ ਕਉ ਖਰਾ ਕਹੈ ਖਰੇ ਸਾਰ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ॥
खोटे कउ खरा कहै खरे सार न जाणै ॥
Kẖote kao kẖarā kahai kẖare sār na jāṇai.
He calls the counterfeit genuine, and does not know the value of the genuine.
ਅੰਧੇ ਕਾ ਨਾਉ ਪਾਰਖੂ ਕਲੀ ਕਾਲ ਵਿਡਾਣੈ ॥੩॥
अंधे का नाउ पारखू कली काल विडाणै ॥३॥
Anḏẖe kā nāo pārkẖū kalī kāl vidāṇai. ||3||
The blind man is known as an appraiser; this Dark Age of Kali Yuga is so strange! ||3||
ਸੂਤੇ ਕਉ ਜਾਗਤੁ ਕਹੈ ਜਾਗਤ ਕਉ ਸੂਤਾ ॥
सूते कउ जागतु कहै जागत कउ सूता ॥
Sūṯe kao jāgaṯ kahai jāgaṯ kao sūṯā.
The sleeper is said to be awake, and those who are awake are like sleepers.
ਜੀਵਤ ਕਉ ਮੂਆ ਕਹੈ ਮੂਏ ਨਹੀ ਰੋਤਾ ॥੪॥
जीवत कउ मूआ कहै मूए नही रोता ॥४॥
Jīvaṯ kao mūā kahai mūe nahī roṯā. ||4||
The living are said to be dead, and no one mourns for those who have died. ||4||
ਆਵਤ ਕਉ ਜਾਤਾ ਕਹੈ ਜਾਤੇ ਕਉ ਆਇਆ ॥
आवत कउ जाता कहै जाते कउ आइआ ॥
Āvaṯ kao jāṯā kahai jāṯe kao āiā.
One who is coming is said to be going, and one who is gone is said to have come.
ਪਰ ਕੀ ਕਉ ਅਪੁਨੀ ਕਹੈ ਅਪੁਨੋ ਨਹੀ ਭਾਇਆ ॥੫॥
पर की कउ अपुनी कहै अपुनो नही भाइआ ॥५॥
Par kī kao apunī kahai apuno nahī bẖāiā. ||5||
That which belongs to others, he calls his own, but he has no liking for that which is his. ||5||
ਮੀਠੇ ਕਉ ਕਉੜਾ ਕਹੈ ਕੜੂਏ ਕਉ ਮੀਠਾ ॥
मीठे कउ कउड़ा कहै कड़ूए कउ मीठा ॥
Mīṯẖe kao kauṛā kahai kaṛūe kao mīṯẖā.
That which is sweet is said to be bitter, and the bitter is said to be sweet.
ਰਾਤੇ ਕੀ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਕਰਹਿ ਐਸਾ ਕਲਿ ਮਹਿ ਡੀਠਾ ॥੬॥
राते की निंदा करहि ऐसा कलि महि डीठा ॥६॥
Rāṯe kī ninḏā karahi aisā kal mėh dīṯẖā. ||6||
One who is imbued with the Lord's Love is slandered - his is what I have seen in this Dark Age of Kali Yuga. ||6||
ਚੇਰੀ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਹਿ ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਨਹੀ ਦੀਸੈ ॥
चेरी की सेवा करहि ठाकुरु नही दीसै ॥
Cẖerī kī sevā karahi ṯẖākur nahī ḏīsai.
He serves the maid, and does not see his Lord and Master.
ਪੋਖਰੁ ਨੀਰੁ ਵਿਰੋਲੀਐ ਮਾਖਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਰੀਸੈ ॥੭॥
पोखरु नीरु विरोलीऐ माखनु नही रीसै ॥७॥
Pokẖar nīr virolīai mākẖan nahī rīsai. ||7||
Churning the water in the pond, no butter is produced. ||7||
ਇਸੁ ਪਦ ਜੋ ਅਰਥਾਇ ਲੇਇ ਸੋ ਗੁਰੂ ਹਮਾਰਾ ॥
इसु पद जो अरथाइ लेइ सो गुरू हमारा ॥
Is paḏ jo arthāe lee so gurū hamārā.
One who understands the meaning of this verse is my Guru.
ਨਾਨਕ ਚੀਨੈ ਆਪ ਕਉ ਸੋ ਅਪਰ ਅਪਾਰਾ ॥੮॥
नानक चीनै आप कउ सो अपर अपारा ॥८॥
Nānak cẖīnai āp kao so apar apārā. ||8||
O Nanak, one who knows his own self, is infinite and incomparable. ||8||
ਸਭੁ ਆਪੇ ਆਪਿ ਵਰਤਦਾ ਆਪੇ ਭਰਮਾਇਆ ॥
सभु आपे आपि वरतदा आपे भरमाइआ ॥
Sabẖ āpe āp varaṯḏā āpe bẖarmāiā.
He Himself is All-pervading; He Himself misleads the people.
ਗੁਰ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਤੇ ਬੂਝੀਐ ਸਭੁ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਸਮਾਇਆ ॥੯॥੨॥੧੮॥
गुर किरपा ते बूझीऐ सभु ब्रहमु समाइआ ॥९॥२॥१८॥
Gur kirpā ṯe būjẖīai sabẖ barahm samāiā. ||9||2||18||
By Guru's Grace, one comes to understand, that God is contained in all. ||9||2||18||
The Hypocrisy of Heaven
This poem reminds me of two other poems, one by Mirza Ghalib and another by Rumi who both questioned hypocrisies of their times:
Mirza Ghalib on the hypocrisy of "heaven":
Humko Maloom Hai Jannat Ki Haqiqat LekinDil Ke Bahlaane Ko, 'Ghalib' Yeh Khayaal Achcha HaiI know the truth about the existence of heavenIt is a good distraction for the happiness of the hear
Go Back to Sleep by Rumi
Go back, go back to sleep. Yes, you are allowed. You who have no Love in your heart, you can go back to sleep. The power of Love is exclusive to us, you can go back to sleep. I have been burnt by the fire of Love. You who have no such yearning in your heart, go back to sleep. The path of Love, has seventy-two folds and countless facets. Your love and religion is all about deceit, control and hypocrisy, go back to sleep. I have torn to pieces my robe of speech, and have let go of the desire to converse. You who are not naked yet, you can go back to sleep.
In the Bookstore Called Humanity
- Shivpreet Singh
In this strange world,
they call the sleeping awake,
and the woken asleep.
they call the sleeping awake,
and the woken asleep.
- Guru Nanak
This makes me weep.
This makes me weep.
- Kabir
Sometimes I imagine spirituality
like wandering into an unfamiliar bookstore,
rows upon rows of titles promising truth,
each with a bright cover,
shouting answers or secrets in bold fonts.
You pick one up, flip through pages
filled with empty promises,
the metaphors barely believable—
like churning butter from clear water,
wishing desperately for cream.
And yet, amid this cacophony
of counterfeit wisdom,
one quiet book sits patiently on a lower shelf—
no flashy dust jacket, no sales pitch, just waiting,
filled with words that quietly illuminate
the dark corners.
You hold it gently, as if handling something alive,
as the ink whispers clarity through the noise,
naming itself softly:
Shabad Guru.
Sometimes I imagine spirituality
like wandering into an unfamiliar bookstore,
rows upon rows of titles promising truth,
each with a bright cover,
shouting answers or secrets in bold fonts.
You pick one up, flip through pages
filled with empty promises,
the metaphors barely believable—
like churning butter from clear water,
wishing desperately for cream.
And yet, amid this cacophony
of counterfeit wisdom,
one quiet book sits patiently on a lower shelf—
no flashy dust jacket, no sales pitch, just waiting,
filled with words that quietly illuminate
the dark corners.
You hold it gently, as if handling something alive,
as the ink whispers clarity through the noise,
naming itself softly:
Shabad Guru.
Singing oneness!
