Psychology for Everyone

Kabir Sakhi tradition; cite by first line

Lose the mind and the world is lost; steady the mind and the world is livable. Kabir says: think this through; do not take the unjust path.

मन के हारे हार है, मन के जीते जीत । कहत कबीर सोच समझ, मान करो न अनीति ॥

man ke hare har hai, man ke jite jit | kahat kabir soch samajh, man karo na aniti ||

Lose the mind and the world is lost; steady the mind and the world is livable. Kabir says: think this through; do not take the unjust path.

The first line is the heart of this couplet: if we lose heart, we lose; if we steady the mind, we can cope. Caring for mental health means not letting a troubled, unexamined mind take charge of our whole life.