SOURCE: Scott, David C. “Kabir's Religious Doctrines and Practices.” In Kabir's Mythology, pp. 205-220. Delhi, India: Bharatiya Vidya Prakashan, 1985.

In the following excerpt, Scott explores the pathway to salvation that is set forth in the poetry of Kabir.

“bhakti”

The bhakti of Rām is hard to obtain;           it is not for cowards. Sever your head with your own hands,           and then invoke rām-nām.(1) From the top of the pyre the satī(2) calls; Listen, friend Masan,(3) The people, mere wayfareres, have gone way, only you and I remain at the end.(4) The hero(5) taking spear in hand, donning the (ochre) robe of sahaja(6) Mounting the elephant of (supreme) knowledge, he is ready to die on the battlefield.(7) 

For Kabīr, the way that leads to salvation is not, as most Vaiṣnava(s) believe, an easy way. It is rather, an abrupt, rugged path which few...