I Said To The Wanting-Creature Inside Me

I said to the wanting-creature inside me:
What is this river you want to cross?
There are no travelers on the river-road, and no road.
Do you see anyone moving about on that bank, or resting?

There is no river at all, and no boat, and no boatman.
There is no tow rope either, and no one to pull it.
There is no ground, no sky, no time, no bank, no ford!

And there is no body, and no mind!
Do you believe there is some place that will make the
soul less thirsty?
In that great absence you will find nothing.

Be strong then, and enter into your own body;
there you have a solid place for your feet.
Think about it carefully!
Don't go off somewhere else!

Kabir says this: just throw away all thoughts of
imaginary things,
and stand firm in that which you are.

Analysis (ai): This poem is an introspective exploration of the futility of external pursuits for inner fulfillment. The speaker confronts an internal voice seeking fulfillment through material or external means. The speaker argues that these pursuits are ultimately futile and only lead to disappointment as there is no true destination or permanent satisfaction in the physical world.

The emptiness of the external world is emphasized through the absence of travelers, roads, rivers, and other physical objects. The speaker questions the existence of an external entity that can quench the soul's thirst. Instead, they urge the reader to find fulfillment within themselves, to accept their own being.

The poem aligns with the philosophy of non-dualism found in many spiritual traditions. It emphasizes the unity of the self and the futility of seeking external objects for inner peace and happiness. (hide)

Like (29) 13 Clever job Well written Enjoyed it Like (29)

Likes: laura0757, HimalayanPilgrim, grmg, Jawahar Gupta, , Resolution, TranscendTheWord, Aive Alliksaar, Aakriti Kuntal, , Kristin Turbot, archioet, Damion Hamilton, , , Oneirogeny, BigDaddyLuv, Annasunlove, Svetli, Silver lining8, Jerry119, Stella9, Soni Mirchandani, Karuna K., Taly-muse, Random Scribbler, Jagroop singh1, justB., Jess-Lambert, Kaya Abbott, Herron

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Older comments

JustB. - And we try and try so hard and so many times to inhabit where we already are 🤔. Perfect

on Oct 12 2024 02:38 AM PST

Laura0757 - Another wonderful write. …🌹

Clever job

on Oct 12 2022 08:33 PM PST

Random Scribbler - Profound & deep...

Inspired

on Feb 11 2022 02:03 PM PST

Silver lining8 - Beautifully written. Kabir says this: just throw away all thoughts of imaginary things,
and stand firm in that which you are.👌

on Jul 16 2021 10:40 AM PST

BigDaddyLuv - The wanting creature inside us would cross all space and time to find contentment. To be made whole. We long to be reunited with our creator to cleave to that from wince we were sheared away from. Time will tell every heart the poems it will hear!

on Apr 10 2021 12:23 AM PST

Svetli - Beautiful

Lovely post!

on Jan 23 2021 09:38 AM PST

- The Ultimate Truth

on Jul 21 2020 12:02 AM PST

- I like stand firm.

Nicely penned

on Sep 13 2019 07:26 PM PST

- Even in front of others? I can't.

on Feb 23 2018 11:48 PM PST

Jawahar Gupta - LOVING--

There is no tow rope either, and no one to pull it.
There is no ground, no sky, no time, no bank, no ford!

on Dec 02 2017 08:20 AM PST

Aive Alliksaar - *

on Apr 27 2016 10:07 AM PST

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Comments from the archive

Frownsnfreckles - To be able to stand still and remember yourself in a world that seems to move faster by the day is no easy task, but necessary.

on Aug 15 2009 07:18 AM PST

Peteskid - wonderful to be able to see ourselves as if from other eyes, to weigh the value of our assumptions on another scale... I like this, a sense of a wise teacher dispensing pearls to hold...PK

on Sep 07 2008 07:34 PM PST

- This is one of my favorite poems: searching outside for what is not, coming home to what is. Comfort in unhooking from the outside world - I am not alone in my discouragement.

on Oct 22 2007 04:55 AM PST

Dark search - this is the first time i've read any work of Kabir....and i think your on the mark peacelink....as well when u look within...u must let go of everything including yourself..you have to stand inside nothing to see it all...it was quite a profound write
dark search

on May 19 2004 09:31 AM PST

- What I understood from this amazing poem was, many times we go searching so far for answers while they are inside of us.

on Mar 17 2004 09:50 PM PST

Pari Ali - Kabir says this: just throw away all thoughts of
imaginary things,
and stand firm in that which you are.
Kabir in this it seems to me tells the reader to know himself that the truth he is searching for will be found within him and not things outside of himself. One might wander the world searching for the truth only to find it within oneself. A difficult poem to understand fully.

on Feb 27 2004 08:39 AM PST

Ava Noire - To want but not be able to step foot across the rapids is a feeling we all know as humans. Especially as poets.

"Do you believe there is some place that will make the
soul less thirsty?" I would certainly like to think so. It is discouraging to know we shall wander this lifetime with no solace for the hunger that rages within.

on Feb 27 2004 06:38 AM PST

Ahkam - And there is no body, and no mind!
Do you believe there is some place that will make the
soul less thirsty?
In that great absence you will find nothing.

He has an extra ordanery potential of making disciples

on Dec 20 2003 09:25 AM PST