KABIR

Kabir was an Indian mystic of the weaver caste, known for his hymns, sayings, and poems which influenced both Hindus and Muslims alike.  He lived in the latter part of the 15th and early part of the 16th centuries.

Kabir drew upon the Vaisnavite form of Hinduism, rejecting its polytheistic doctrines and simplifying its teachings.  He also drew upon Sufism.  He spoke of God indwelling in the heart of man and attempted to show a middle way between the excesses of Hinduism and the fierce dogmatism of Islam.

His central teaching may be expressed in a passage from one of his works:

"The difference among faiths is due only to the difference in names.  Everywhere there is yearning for the same God.  Why do the Hindus and Muslims quarrel for naught?  Keep at a distance all pride and vanity, insincerity and falsehood; consider others the same as yourself; let your heart be filled with love and devotion.  Then alone will your struggle be fruitful.  Life is but transitory, waste not your time, but take refuge in God.  He is within your own heart, so why do you fruitlessly search for him out in holy places, in scriptures, in rites and ceremonies."

He did not follow the path of austerity and celibacy, for he was twice married, had children, and worked at a common trade.  During his lifetime he founded an order of monks and nuns, who propagated his bhakti doctrines.  His teachings are known as Kabirpanth, and his followers as panthis.

Collected in a compilation entitled Bijak, his writings have been translated into English by the 19th century Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore.