Teachings Of Kabirdas
Kabir:
Kabir Saheb appeared on lotus in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi, also known as Kashi, he was born in the year 1440 AD and died in 1518 AD. According to some people he was initiated by Ramananda, a famous Hindu guru and community leader at that time. Using poignant language, Kabir criticized caste ideology and declared the equality of all human beings. He employed a Socratic method of teaching, pleading with all human beings regardless of their gender, status, caste, color, race, religion or occupation to think critically about their lives and pursuits and the salvation of their soul. He "spoke truth to power", confronting the most hostile of the Muslim rulers as well as the Hindu kings and sages, Buddhist scholars and Jain monks of the time, and was fearless and relentless in his pursuit of the salvation of humanity at large.
Kabir Saheb was a poet whose works were written down by others. His lyrics have flourished for more than 600 years, producing music, and classical, in countless local dialects and regional styles. Thousands of poems are attributed to him.Kabir strove to create a spirit of harmony between the Hindus and Muslims. His early life is shrouded in mystery. He lived either towards the close of the 14th century or in the beginning of the 15th. It is said that he was born of a Hindu widow, who left him on the embankment of a tank in Benaras and that he was then found and adopted by a Muslim weaver named Niru. When he grew up he became disciple of Ramananda. He did not leave his home. He was a pious householder and used to earn his livelihood by weaving clothes.
His teachings:
The central teachings of Kabir are very simple.
(1) He laid stress 'Bhakti '.
(2) He said that through Bhakti or devotion one would come nearer to God; one could be released from the cycle of birth and death only by sincere love and devotion to God, which he called Bhakti.
(3) He sincerely tried to
References: http://www.crystallotus.com/Kabir/06.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabir_panth http://www.varanasi.org.in/kabir-das