--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is nothing but water in the holy…" description: "\"There is nothing but water in the holy pools. I know, I have been swimming there. All the gods sculpted of wood or ivory cant say a word. I know, I hav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34f/kabir-3476_book_there-is-nothing-but-water-in-the-holy-p_1107211.jpg" --- # There is nothing but water in the holy pools. I know, I… ![“There is nothing but water in the holy pools. I know, I have been swimming there. All the gods sculpted of wood or ivory cant say a word. I know, I have been crying out to them. The Sacred Books of the East are nothing but words. I looked through their covers one day sideways. What Kabir talks of…” quote by Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34f/kabir-3476_book_there-is-nothing-but-water-in-the-holy-p_1107211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34f/kabir-3476_book_there-is-nothing-but-water-in-the-holy-p_1107211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34f/kabir-3476_book_there-is-nothing-but-water-in-the-holy-p_1107211.jpg) > “There is nothing but water in the holy pools. I know, I have been swimming there. All the gods sculpted of wood or ivory cant say a word. I know, I have been crying out to them. The Sacred Books of the East are nothing but words. I looked through their covers one day sideways. What Kabir talks of is only what he has lived through. If you have not lived through something, it is not true.” [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True understanding comes from lived experience, not merely reading or doctrine. **In simple terms:** Experience is the only true teacher. Key Takeaway Seek direct experience over theory. Themes truth experience skepticism Mood reflective contemplative Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - learning new skills - travel - personal hardship - spiritual practice Key Concepts epistemology spiritual authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What have you learned only experience that books couldn’t teach? - How do you balance study with practice? A Different Perspective Words can inspire but may not replace lived insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ivory/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woods/) ## Related quotes > [Every bit of land is a Holy land, and every drop of water is Holy water, and every single child is a son or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/every-bit-of-land-is-a-holy-land-and-every-drop-of-water-is-holy/) [Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/) > [“For so many years she had wondered what her first kiss would be like - if he would be handsome, if he would love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/for-so-many-years-she-had-wondered-what-her-first-kiss-would-be-like/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Every day is a Sabbath to me. All pure water is holy water, and this earth is a celestial abode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/every-day-is-a-sabbath-to-me-all-pure-water-is-holy-water-and-this/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [“All water is holy water.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-joseph/all-water-is-holy-water/) Rajiv Joseph > [She had never imagined that the kiss would be so brief and desperate and wild. Or that it would taste of holy water. Holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/she-had-never-imagined-that-the-kiss-would-be-so-brief-and-desperate/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“One UniVerse for the Living While palaces attest to the power of men, And monuments mark their wars, Little remains of the women who've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-boutilier/one-universe-for-the-living-while-palaces-attest-to-the-power-of-men/) [Nancy Boutilier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-boutilier/) > [The tantras are ancient sacred books of India and Tibet. The tantras detail specific means for attaining liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-tantras-are-ancient-sacred-books-of-india-and-tibet-the-tantras/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [ “The sacred books acknowledge with regard to Christ, that as He is the Son of man, so is the same Being not a \[mere\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/the-sacred-books-acknowledge-with-regard-to-christ-that-as-he-is-the/) The Church Fathers > [To talk of comparing the Bible with other "sacred books" so called, such as the Koran...or the book of Mormon, is positively absurd. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/to-talk-of-comparing-the-bible-with-other-sacred-books-so-called-such/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [They recite their sacred books, although the fact informs me that these are a fiction from first to last. O Reason, thou (alone) speakest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ma-arri/they-recite-their-sacred-books-although-the-fact-informs-me-that/) [Al-Maʿarri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ma-arri/) > [Proverbs, like the sacred books of each nation, are the sanctuary of the intuitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/proverbs-like-the-sacred-books-of-each-nation-are-the-sanctuary-of-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Make each day truly new, dressing it with the blessings of heaven, bathing it in wisdom and love and putting yourself under the protection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/make-each-day-truly-new-dressing-it-with-the-blessings-of-heaven/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The sacred books should be burned rather than made available to women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-talmud/the-sacred-books-should-be-burned-rather-than-made-available-to-women/) [The Talmud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-talmud/) > [“I get a glimpse of the mind of many souls from their sacred books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/i-get-a-glimpse-of-the-mind-of-many-souls-from-their-sacred-books/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Scriptures - The sacred books of our holy religion, as distinguished from the false and profane writings on which all other faiths are based.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/scriptures-the-sacred-books-of-our-holy-religion-as-distinguished/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More by Kabir > [But if a mirror ever makes you sad you should know that it does not know you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/but-if-a-mirror-ever-makes-you-sad-you-should-know-that-it-does-not/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [If you make love with the divine now, in the next lifeyou will have the face of satisfied desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/if-you-make-love-with-the-divine-now-in-the-next-lifeyou-will-have/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [As the bee collecteth honey with great zest, so the fool collecteth wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/as-the-bee-collecteth-honey-with-great-zest-so-the-fool-collecteth/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [The stone neither speaks nor gives anything. Therefore its service is fruitless and its worship is of no avail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/the-stone-neither-speaks-nor-gives-anything-therefore-its-service-is/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [For millions of years you have slept. This morning, will you not wake?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/for-millions-of-years-you-have-slept-this-morning-will-you-not-wake/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [Lift the veil that obscures the heart, and there you will find what you are looking for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/lift-the-veil-that-obscures-the-heart-and-there-you-will-find-what/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [I felt in need of a great pilgrimage, so I sat still for three days and God came to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/i-felt-in-need-of-a-great-pilgrimage-so-i-sat-still-for-three-days/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [I went in search of a bad person; I found none as I, seeing myself, found me the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/i-went-in-search-of-a-bad-person-i-found-none-as-i-seeing-myself/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [Look at you, you madman! Screaming you are thirsty and dying in a desert, when all around you there is nothing but water!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/look-at-you-you-madman-screaming-you-are-thirsty-and-dying-in-a/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [Faith,Waiting in the heart of a seed, Promises a miracle of life which cannot prove at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/faith-waiting-in-the-heart-of-a-seed-promises-a-miracle-of-life-which/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [All know that the drop merges into the ocean but few know that the ocean merges into the drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/all-know-that-the-drop-merges-into-the-ocean-but-few-know-that-the/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [When the flower opens, the bees will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/when-the-flower-opens-the-bees-will-come/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [“What is seen is not the Truth What is cannot be said Trust comes not without seeing Nor understanding without words The wise comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/what-is-seen-is-not-the-truth-what-is-cannot-be-said-trust-comes-not/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [“as jolaha ka maram na jana, jinh jag ani pasarinhh tana; dharti akas dou gad khandaya, chand surya dou nari banaya; sahastra tar le…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/as-jolaha-ka-maram-na-jana-jinh-jag-ani-pasarinhh-tana-dharti-akas/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [Just throw away all thoughts of imaginary things, and stand firm in that which you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/just-throw-away-all-thoughts-of-imaginary-things-and-stand-firm-in/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) [Explore all 126 Kabir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. 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I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is nothing but water in the holy pools. 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