Eight worldly concerns – poles of duality

_चलती चक्की देख के दिया कबीरा रोए।_
_दुई पाटन के बीच में साबुत बचा न कोई।।_

Kabir ji drops tears of compassion, when he looks at the wheel of a mill running, the two pieces of heavy stones (of duality), in the middle of which whoever comes, gets crushed.

We as human beings, are getting crushed all the time in the middle of these two stones of duality-
Which are also called as –

Eight worldly concerns –
1) Running towards happiness & 2) running away from suffering
3) Running towards Fame & 4) running away from insignificance
5) Running towards Praise, & 6) running away from Blame
7) Running towards Gain & 8) running away from Loss
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If at any moment of time, you see yourself in unease, these can be pointers, very helpful pointers. Am I wanting this and not wanting that? If that is the case, I will bring misery to myself and others. And when we become cognizant of this, then we can bring our attention in the here and now, bring the mind back to the body using the thread of breath. For it is a fact that if I am caught in between these two poles of duality, I can’t help but get crushed.
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And then, Kabir ji says, –

_चाकी चाकी सब कहे, कीली कहे ना कोय_
_जो कीली से लाग रहे वाको बाल ना बांका होय_

The one who remains anchored in the centre of the wheels of the mill running, never gets crushed.
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when our focus is on our repetitive thoughts, feelings, sense-perceptions, we get crushed, but the moment my attention is back to the here and now, with the breath as the anchor, I am okay, I am not crushed.
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The sadhana is to stabilise ourselves in the here and now, forever, moment by moment, since the road is very slippery and full of empty glitter and attractions.
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