The human body, being subject to disease, decay and death, is described by Kabir as a house of clay. Although this hut is tottering, although its walls are full of holes and it shakes during the storms of passions and cravings, there is no way for the soul to obtain release because the tenth door or eye center, which is the gate to the inner spiritual regions, is firmly locked. Intellect, reasoning, discernment and intuition, each stands as a sentinel on the four sides of the house. With the aid of these sentinels — the qualities of the mind — man should protect himself from the 'thieves' — the passions and cravings.

But even when the sentinels are awake, the thieves easily rob the house; in other words, the mind, in spite of all its higher qualities, is unable to resist the onslaught of passions and desires. Kabir says that only through devotion can one overcome these thieves, reach the eye center and leave the miserable mud hut of the physical body to attain a permanent dwelling in the Lord's mansion.

I will no longer live
In this thatched house of clay;
I'll go and dwell with the Lord,
I will become one with Him.

I'll not stay in this house of clay.

Its thatch is tattered,
Its walls are full of holes;
At each roar of thunder
It shakes ominously
And my heart shudders with fear.

No more will I stay in this mud house,
I'll dwell with the Lord and be one with Him.

My destination is far
And it is hard to proceed,
For the tenth door is firmly locked.
On the four sides of my hut
A sentinel stands on guard;
Even when the sentinels are awake
Thieves enter and steal my wealth.

I will not stay any more
In this house of clay.

Says Kabir: Listen, my friends,
He gave me my life;
He alone can deprive me of it,
He alone is my protector.

I'll dwell with that Lord and be one with Him,
No more will I stay in this house of clay.

K.G., p. 135:273
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