The Land Where Days & Nights Don't Happen!

Journey to that land where days and nights do not happen!

[English rendering of Hindi translation, by Maharshi Santsewi ji Paramhans (1920-2007), of a verse composed by Sant Kabir Sahab, excerpted from the August 2005 edition of the Hindi Monthly "Shanti Sandesh" (Message of Peace) published from Maharshi Mehi Ashram, Kuppa Ghat, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India -812 003.
- English Translation by Pravesh K. Singh (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sant_santati http://profiles.yahoo.com/praveshksingh
http://praveshksingh.blogspot.com ) ]


Original Verse:


"kahaun us desh kI batiyAn, jahAn nahin hot din ratiyAn 1
nahIn ravi chandra au tArA, nahIn unjiAr andhiArA 2 nahIn tanh pavan au pAnI, gaye vahi des jin jAnI 3
nahIn tanh dharani AkAshA, karai koi sant tanh vAsA 4
uhAn gam kAl kI nAhIn, tahAn nahi dhUp aur chhAhIn 5
na jogI jog se dhyAvai, na tapasI deh jaravAvai 6
sahaj me dhyAn se pAvai, surati kA khel jehi Avai 7
sohangam nAd nahi bhAI, na bAjai sankh shahanAI 8
nihachchhar jAp tanh jApai, uThat dhun sunna se Apai 9
mandir me dIp bahu bAree, nayan binu bhaI andhiyArI 10
kabIrA des hai nyArA, lakhai koi Ram kA pyArA 11"


Translation:

I describe that realm where days and nights don't happen. 1

There are no Sun, Moon or stars there, neither is darkness or light. 2

No air or water exists there; only those who have reached there know of (that realm). 3

Neither is the Earth there nor is the sky, that land is inhabited by sants (who have accomplished Self-Realisation and have become one with Him). 4

Time has no access there, nor do the sunshine and shade exist there. 5

(That land) is not attainable through "hathayoga" by (hath)yogis, nor by "tapasis" (ascetics or performers of austere devotion) who burn (trouble or hurt) their bodies in the fire of "panchaagni" or "Panchadhuni" (ascetic practices or self-mortification). 6

Those who know the art (right way) of reverting their "surat" inwardly from the outer world, can get there (to that land) easily through dhyan-yoga (inner meditation). 7

O Dear Brother! Even "sohangam naad" does not play there, nor are heard the sounds of conch or great pipe (because that realm is "nihshabd" or soundless). 8

There "nihakshara" is spontaneously chanted (without any conscious chanting), and the primeval sound naturally emanates out of the void. 9

This temple (body), which God has filled with divine light, has become full of darkness for lack of the eye (the inner vision or sight). 10

Strange is that country, says Kabir, and is perceived by only a dear devotee of God (who practices inner meditation having learnt the right technique from a true Guru). 11


Commentary:
Sant Kabir Sahab was not a linguist or scholar, but his experiential verses are very much in agreement with the Vedas, Upanishads, Shrimad Bhagvad Gita and the sayings/ discourses of other sants. Certain such references are produced below for reflection by the learned:-

"na mrityurAsIdamritam na tarhi na rAtrA ahna AsItpraketah AnIdavAtam swadhayA tadekam tasmAddhAnyanna param kim chanAs " (Rig Veda Samhita, Mantra 25)
[Then (that time) death did not occur nor was the "amrit" (elixir or the nectar) there, that is, there was neither life nor the absence of it; neither the awareness of night nor day. The true nature of that entity was the vital life force, but it was not the `sthool vayu' (gross air). He was equipped only with his own power to hold or sustain the world or creation. There did not exist then any other matter subtler than Him.]

"na tatra sUryyo bhAti na chandratArakam nemA vidyuto bhAnti kutoayamagnih
tamev bhAntamanubhAti sarvam tasya bhAsaa sarvamidam vibhAti " (Kathopanishad Chapter 2, Valli 2, Shloka 15)
[In that world neither does the Sun shine, nor do the moon and stars. Even the lightning does not show up there, what to talk of the fire! Everything glows out of His light, everything is seen through His light.]

"na tadbhAsate sUryo na shashAnko na pAvakah yadgatvA na nivartante taddhAm paramam mam (Shrimad Bhagvad Gita, Chapter 15)
[Neither the sun, moon nor fire can illuminate that Self-illumined One. Mine is that realm, the Absolute Kingdom, going where one does not have to come back or return (to this world).]

"jhilmil jhilakai chandu na tArA sUraj kirani na bijulI gainArA
(Guru Nanak, Maaru Mahalaa 1)
[The Moon does not shine there nor do glitter the Sun, stars or lightning.]

"jahAn chand nahi sUr jahAn nahi jagamag tAre
jahAn nahi traidev trigun mAyA nahi lAre
jahAn veda nahi bhed jahAn nahi joga jagya tap
jahAn pavan nahi dharani agin nahi jahAn gagan ap
jahAn rAt nahi diwas hai pAp punya nahi vyApaI
Adi ant aru madhya hai, kahai Charandas brahma Ap hI
(Sant Charandas ji)
[Where there are no Moon, Sun and glistening stars; where there are no trinity of gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) and play of the three gunas (three gunas namely `sat', `raj' and `tam'). Where there are no Vedas, no dichotomy, no Yog, no `yajna' (religious sacrifice and oblation) and `tap' (asceticism). No air, land, fire, sky (space) and water subsist there. No cycles of days and nights there. No sins or virtuosity. There is no beginning, middle and end of that. There Brahma and Brahma alone exists.]

As per a story in "Bahiyasutta" in the book titled "Udaan" a monk named Bahiya is said to have attained nirvana. Throwing light on the concept of nirvana, Lord Buddha says,

"yattha Apo cha pathavI, tejo vAyo na gAdhati na tattha sukkA jotanti, Adichcho na pakAsati na tatha chandimA bhAsati, tamo tattha na vijjatI yadA cha attanA vedi, muni monen brAhmano atha rUpA arUpa cha, sukh dukkhA pamuchchati
[That is Nirvana where there is no room for water, earth, fire and air. Stars do not twinkle there, nor does shine the Sun. Though there is no moon-light there, there is not any darkness over there. When a muni (hermit) or a Brahmin becomes silent (still), he automatically knows Him (God) and becomes free of the dichotomy of form & formlessness, pleasure & pain.]

Sant Paltoo Sahab also opines,
"jahavAn dharatI nAhin akAsA
chAnd suruj nAhi paragAsA
jahavAn BrahmA Vishnu na jAhee
das avatAr na tahAn samAhI
jahavAn pavan jAy nahi pAnI
ved Kiteb maram naa jAnI
Adi joti nA basai niranjan
jahavAn shUnya shabd nahi ganjan
nirankAr nA uhAn akArA
satya shabd nAhi vistArA "
[Where there is no earth and skyT
he moon and the sun do not emit light.
There are no Brahmaa, Vishnu
Or the ten incarnations are there.
Air or water does not have a reach there.
Vedas or other scriptures can't know Him.
No light glitters or there is sound.
No sound buzzes in that land.
That place is beyond all form or formlessness
Or even the quintessential sound. ]

Listen what does Sant Keshavdas ji have to say on nirvana, "That is the position of Nirvana, the highest or the absolute realm, where there is no scintillating light, no Sun, no Moon, no states of day & night."

Sant Tulsi Sahab of Hathras proved the rank of nirvana to be beyond all sorts of fetters. Narrating his own experience he states,
"fand fAdi bAher gaI, laI jo sataguru bAnh
JahAn dhUp ravi sasi nahi, Tulsi pahunche tAnh "
[Holding on gratefully to the gracious hands of blessings of my Sataguru I came out tearing all the trappings and reached unto where there is no sunshine, no Moon or Sun.]

O Great Guru! Help Me to Attain to the Nameless Abode of God!

O Sadguru! Help Me Attain to the Nameless Land! - Maharshi Mehi
Special on Guru Purnima


[English translation of an emotive prayer composed by Maharshi Mehi Paramhans ji Maharaj (28.04.1885-08.06.1986), based on its Hindi Translation by Maharshi Santsewi Ji Paramhans excerpted from Maharshi Mehi’s wonderful book “Mehi Padavali” (Poems of Mehi).


-Translated into English by Pravesh K. Singh (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sant_santati , http://blog.360.yahoo.com/praveshksingh

http://profiles.yahoo.com/praveshksingh ) ]

The Hindi Text:

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The English Translation:


O Sadguru(True Guru)! You are the embodiment of compassion and love;

Kindly accept my prayers.
I am sinner, amorous and mean-minded; know me to be one with impure intellect 1


It is in the nature of a true devotee to grieve in others’ grief, and

to rejoice in other’s progress & prosperity.

I am not so even in my dreams; I am merely the source of anguish, bringing sorrow to all & sundry in this world2


A true devotee never casts a greedy eye at other women (other than his own wife) and at others’ wealth.

But my mind always keeps running among these very (proscribed) things even when I am surrounded by millions of people. 3


True devotees are forgiving, full of mercy, and always remain calm & composed amidst anything & everything.

I am, to the contrary, devoid of compassion, hard-hearted and, as a consequence (of the six defilements of my mind), burning all the time, burning like fire 4


How far, O Lord, shall I describe my crookedness?
I don’t find any way to focus my mind at thy lotus-feet! 5


Teach me through your Satsang (noble company) the right way so that,

I may set my feet on the same path as that treaded by the devotees.

Otherwise, I shall continue to be singed in this world in the same way as those without (or turned away from) Sadguru do. 6


O Guru! I am genuinely afraid to think of smouldering like this, but my mind does not mend its way.

At times I do counsel my mind, but in vain, as it does not have any lasting impact. 7


O Gurudev! I have lost out to my mind and poignantly cry out to you, O Sadguru.

You are supportive and merciful. Kindly do something so that I may hold firmly your lotus-feet in my heart. 8


At your holy feet lies the sphere of Divine light even as I have fallen into the dark well (of ignorance).

Save me, O Guru, save me! Ascend me into the domain of your radiant form.9



You instructed me to rise through the Sushumna or the Til DwAr, but I am unable to find that path within.
O Gurudev! Have pity on me, dispel the darkness (of my inner sky) and lift me up so that I may move on to the other side of the Til or the Dark Point. 10


Make me fly high into the star-studded sky and even higher into the Region of the Thousand-petalled Lotus (sahasra-dal kamal).

Where Divine light keeps shining bright, where is seen the full moon’s light. O Gurudev! Let these secret splendours be manifest unto me! 11


Trikuti is the source or origin of the three qualities/ attributes (namely sat, raj and tam) which is the abode of the Para Brahma.

O Gurudev! I beseech at your sacred feet; Help me so that I may attain to this house (Trikuti). 12


Here in the Trikuti the Divine Sun shines in all its brilliance.

Where Shuddha Brahma resides and which is renowned as the “ShUnya Desh” (Void Region). 13


Guide me into the Manasarovar, and make me grasp your own name (the Quintessential Primordial Sound/ Word).

The Word (your name) is capable of fulfilling all our wishes and is the essence of the whole creation. 14


Lend me greater power so that I may soar into Maha Shunya (Greater Void),

And even beyond.
I may enter into the Bhanwar Gufa (Whirling Cave) – but even here the pain of transmigration is not relieved entirely. 15


Therefore, O Sadguru, empower me to climb into the Sataloka (The realm of Pure Consciousness or Quintessential Unstruck Word).

O Gurudev! Thus catapulting me into the Sataloka, make me absolutely pure (free of all coverings, shrouds, veils). 16


Bless me that I may cross even the attribute-less Sataloka and attain to the Nameless Land/Soundless State.
O Lord! This way shower your blessings by elevating me unto my own true Home (the Domain of the Absolute Lord that is, God). 17