God resides within the human body, but men try to find Him outside in hills and forests, temples and churches. They try to reach Him through pilgrimages, fasting, chanting and austerities; but despite their best efforts He is not to be found. Kabir, describing the soul as the wife and the Lord as her Husband, says that the two are in the same chamber of the human body, but the wife has never met the Husband, for instead of going within the chamber she is roaming around outside in search of Him. How can the soul enjoy the bliss of the Lord's love when her face is turned away from Him?

None comprehend the lofty state of the Lord.
Lord, the chintamani,
The bestower of all boons,
Is not far — He is close by;
Yet men overlook this
And in search of Him
They wander and wander
Till they lose their balance
And their vision.

Through pilgrimage and fasting,
Through chanting and austerity,
Through varied practices
They try to find the Lord;
But tell me, how can the bride
Win her Husband's love
If she keeps running away from Him?

The wife and her Husband live together,
Yet day after day they pass
In the gloom of silence.
She does not forsake her ego
And makes no effort
To meet the Beloved within;
Instead she wanders about
From forest to forest, vale to vale
In search of Him.

Says Kabir: Ineffable
Is the tale of my Lord's love;
Only a rare one knows it.
His love has pierced my heart,
It permeates my entire being;
How can I adequately describe
The inner state of my bliss —
And who will believe me
Even if I could?

K.G., p. 146:316
Rām gati pār na pāvai koi