Brahman Is Spoken Everywhere while Greed Would Kill the Guru for a Cowrie
Uttara Kanda, Doha 100
Doha 100 · Movement 2 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Men and women speak incessantly of Brahman without possessing Brahma-jnana. The highest language passes from mouth to mouth while conduct remains ruled by the smallest gain.
For the value of a cowrie shell, greed would raise a hand against a brahmin or Guru. Those without qualification argue with the learned and declare themselves equal, insisting that whoever knows Brahman alone deserves the name of brahmin.
The proposition contains a truth that Kali's ego uses falsely. Spiritual realization does surpass empty status, but the speakers invoke it while displaying greed, violence, and pride, the very signs that realization has not occurred. Bhushundi exposes the misuse of Advaitic speech as camouflage. When unity is claimed to abolish discipline but not selfishness, Brahman has become another word through which the separate self defends its demands.
The tongue declares all to be Brahman while the hand closes around a cowrie and reaches against the Guru.
Read the passage from the Manas
ब्रह्म ग्यान बिनु नारि नर कहहिं न दूसरि बात। कौड़ी लागि लोभ बस करहिं बिप्र गुर घात।।99(क)।। बादहिं सूद्र द्विजन्ह सन हम तुम्ह ते कछु घाटि। जानइ ब्रह्म सो बिप्रबर आँखि देखावहिं डाटि।।99(ख)।।
Without true knowledge of Brahman, men and women speak of nothing else but this. For a cowrie shell's worth, overcome by greed, they would slay brahmins and gurus. Those of low birth argue with the learned, saying, 'We are no less than you in any way.' Whoever knows Brahman is the true brahmin; they declare this boldly to one's face.