The guest within
The kingdom of God is within you, saith the Lord. Turn thee with all thine heart to the Lord and forsake this miserable world, and thou shalt find rest unto thy soul. Learn to despise outward things and to give thyself to things inward, and thou shalt see the kingdom of God come within thee. For the kingdom of God is peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, and it is not given to the wicked. Christ will come to thee, and show thee His consolation, if thou prepare a worthy mansion for Him within thee. All His glory and beauty is from within, and there it pleaseth Him to dwell. He often visiteth the inward man and holdeth with him sweet discourse, giving him soothing consolation, much peace, friendship exceeding wonderful.
O sadhu! purify your body in the simple way.As the seed is within the banyan tree, and within the seed are the flowers, the fruits, and the shade:So the germ is within the body, and within that germ is the body again.The fire, the air, the water, the earth, and the aether; you cannot have these outside of Him.O, Kazi, O Pundit, consider it well: what is there that is not in the soul?The water-filled pitcher is placed upon water, it has water within and without.It should not be given a name, lest it call forth the error of dualism.Kabir says: "Listen to the Word, the Truth, which is your essence. He speaks the Word to Himself; and He Himself is the Creator."
The Editors’ note
Both direct the seeker within. The Imitation opens its book of the inner life with “The kingdom of God is within you”, and promises that Christ will come and console the soul that turns from outward things and will “prepare a worthy mansion for Him within thee”. Kabīr asks the Kazi and the Pundit to consider well: “what is there that is not in the soul?”
Thomas speaks of a guest who comes and visits: Christ and the soul remain two, and the soul prepares a dwelling for him. Kabīr will not keep that distinction. The pitcher placed on water has water within and without, and it should not be given a name, “lest it call forth the error of dualism.”