People do not find time for meditation until old age. They say— “My arthritis and rheumatism are somewhat better these days, I am not experiencing shortness of breath, I am getting Chyawanprash, and I am receiving an old-age pension. “Kabir says— “This is not well-being; it is a trap set by time.” Engrossed in worldly affairs, suddenly one hears “Ram Naam Satya Hai” (the chant recited during Hindu funerals) and is carried to Manikarnika Ghat! When the time is up, a person can neither take one more breath nor eat one more bite. So, where is the well-being in that?
You will be bound and dragged to Yama’s abode. If this is the state of old age, then youth is like a dark night—one cannot see where one’s steps may fall, and a person can stumble anywhere. So, how can one avoid this? Kabir gives a solution: “Light a lamp in the empty palace, and do not waver from your seat.” “There, you will meet your beloved.
“What is the empty palace? When, through devotion, the mind becomes free from all thoughts and distractions, when the heart is filled with peace and the mind falls silent—that is the empty palace. At that moment, neither good nor bad thoughts arise in the heart. When the veil of thoughts is lifted, the lamp of devotion begins to burn undisturbed, and true light is attained.
Separation means disconnection; devotion means union. When the soul connects with God, the jewel of devotion is attained. The rise and fall of this devotion depend on the name (of the Lord).
“Ram Naam is a Gem-Lamp.” In ancient times, our ancestors had gem lamps. They simply placed the gem, and it emitted light—no need to adjust a wick or refill oil. The practice of using oil lamps came much later for the poor. Goswami Tulsidas compares Ram Naam (the name of Lord Ram) to this gem-lamp. He says that if you place this gem-like name on the threshold of your tongue, it will illuminate both inside and outside. The external illusionary darkness will not touch you because the gem constantly radiates light. If you truly connect with Ram Naam, how can illusion (Maya) ever approach you?
Everyone chants the name of God—me, you, and many others. But the problem is, this gem does not stay on the tongue. We chant “Ram Ram” for five minutes, and by the sixth minute, our mind starts wandering, drifting off like the wind. We place the gem on our tongue, but it doesn’t remain there. Why? Because our minds are overcrowded with endless thoughts and distractions.
When deep contemplation calms the mind—when thoughts and doubts subside—then this gem gains stability. However, simply placing the gem does not mean we have attained everything. It is true that illusionary darkness will no longer enter, but the journey to the divine still remains. That is why the saints say: “Do not waver from your seat.” In this context, Sant Kabir’s verse also reminds us of the importance of unwavering focus.
