e netrahu meriho hari tum mahi joti dharī hari binu avaru na dekhahu koī.
hari binu avaru na dekhahu koī nadarī hari nihāliā.
ehu visu sansāru tum dekhade ehu hari kā rūpu hai hari rūpu nadarī āiā.
gur parsādī bujhiā jā vekhā hari iku hai hari binu avaru na koī.
kahai nānaku ehi netra andh se satiguri miliai dib drisṭi hoī.36.
-Guru Granth Sahib 922
In this pauri, the human eyes are addressed, and it is stated that IkOankar (the Divine) has placed Own light in them. Therefore, they ought to see the all-pervading IkOankar everywhere. But due to ignorance, they are incapable of realizing this. When they realize this through the Wisdom (Guru), they overcome all differences and experience bliss.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the thirty-fifth pauri, the thirty-fifth step on the ladder, Guru Amardas revealed that even the body, which might not have earned any deeds, becomes acceptable when it aligns its consciousness with the eternal Wisdom. Moving to the thirty-sixth pauri, the thirty-sixth step, Guru Amardas directs his attention to the eyes, saying, O my eyes! Hari has placed the light within you. Look at none but Hari. Eyes inherently see, they observe, and they perceive the other. The guidance given to the eyes, these marvelous tools of perception, the ability to see, a gift bestowed by Hari, the All-Pervasive, the 1-Light, is clear: gaze upon nothing but the 1-Light. The eyes that perceive distinctions and the “other” are being instructed to cast aside such perception. This message is reiterated in the subsequent line, reinforcing the essence of seeing only the 1-Light through our eyes. We pause and wonder how can this be achieved. The answer becomes apparent: comprehension deepens, and vision transforms as the grace of the 1-Light is felt. It becomes evident that the entire existence, encompassing the universe and all that beyond, is an embodiment of the 1-Light. There exists nothing but the 1-Light. The cosmos and everything beyond it shimmers the image of the 1-Light. The eyes that perceive separateness are, in fact, blind and lack the understanding to perceive the 1-Light. However, when these once-blind eyes encounter the eternal Wisdom, they become enlightened, dispelling the darkness and ignorance, enabling them to witness the 1-Light illuminating all of existence. Guru Amardas concludes this ladder by stating: These eyes were once blind, but by meeting the true Guru, their sight has become divine.
We reflect on the previous stanzas, which initially seemed centered around the body and its actions but were truly about consciousness. Now, the focus shifts to the eyes, often described as the windows to our inner being. In global culture, we consistently refer to the eyes in this way, believing that they reveal the deepest aspects of a person, offering insights into thoughts, emotions, and intentions. However, in this context, the directive given to the eyes is profound: they’re tasked with perceiving the world and everything beyond it as a manifestation of the 1-Light. It is akin to the natural function of light, which dispels darkness, like peeling away the fog that obscures our usual perception. In this light, our eyes are seen as “blind,” as though we’ve been viewing the world through a foggy lens. We pause to reflect on the magnitude of this notion. It’s a significant challenge, underscoring the limitations of our efforts. On our own, we lack the capacity to undergo this transformation. Only through the grace of Wisdom can this enlightenment occur, like the emergence of a vibrant butterfly from its cocoon. With this transformation, the 1-Light becomes visible everywhere, like the sun rising and illuminating the world daily. The meeting with the eternal Wisdom is a catalyst that transforms our once-blind eyes into visionaries capable of perceiving that our entire existence reflects the 1-Light. It’s akin to cleaning a mirror to reveal a pristine reflection. This is anand, the bliss—feeling the bliss, seeing the bliss. Is there anything greater than this? The eyes, once clouded by ignorance, are transformed into divine eyes. The eyes attain divinity when they gaze upon the 1-Light permeating every facet of reality. It’s as if the knowledge of light enters the eyes while the blindness of ignorance departs, much like a dense fog dissipating under the sun’s warming rays. It’s the eternal Wisdom that enables us to recognize that everything is a manifestation of the 1-Light. Without the 1-Light, there is nothing and no one else, much like understanding that every drop in the ocean contributes to the vastness of the sea. This transformation is like witnessing a miraculous journey, a passage from darkness to divine sight, from ignorance to enlightenment. It prompts the crucial question: Do we yearn for this transformation for our own eyes?
We can ask ourselves: Have we ever contemplated the intricate connection between our physical bodies, our consciousness, and the deeds we perform in our lives? Are we open to perceiving the entirety of the universe as a profound manifestation of the 1-Light? What is it that we truly desire to witness through our eyes? Do we carry a deep yearning to behold the presence of the 1-Light wherever our gaze falls? What is the source of what we see?
We reflect on the previous stanzas, which initially seemed centered around the body and its actions but were truly about consciousness. Now, the focus shifts to the eyes, often described as the windows to our inner being. In global culture, we consistently refer to the eyes in this way, believing that they reveal the deepest aspects of a person, offering insights into thoughts, emotions, and intentions. However, in this context, the directive given to the eyes is profound: they’re tasked with perceiving the world and everything beyond it as a manifestation of the 1-Light. It is akin to the natural function of light, which dispels darkness, like peeling away the fog that obscures our usual perception. In this light, our eyes are seen as “blind,” as though we’ve been viewing the world through a foggy lens. We pause to reflect on the magnitude of this notion. It’s a significant challenge, underscoring the limitations of our efforts. On our own, we lack the capacity to undergo this transformation. Only through the grace of Wisdom can this enlightenment occur, like the emergence of a vibrant butterfly from its cocoon. With this transformation, the 1-Light becomes visible everywhere, like the sun rising and illuminating the world daily. The meeting with the eternal Wisdom is a catalyst that transforms our once-blind eyes into visionaries capable of perceiving that our entire existence reflects the 1-Light. It’s akin to cleaning a mirror to reveal a pristine reflection. This is anand, the bliss—feeling the bliss, seeing the bliss. Is there anything greater than this? The eyes, once clouded by ignorance, are transformed into divine eyes. The eyes attain divinity when they gaze upon the 1-Light permeating every facet of reality. It’s as if the knowledge of light enters the eyes while the blindness of ignorance departs, much like a dense fog dissipating under the sun’s warming rays. It’s the eternal Wisdom that enables us to recognize that everything is a manifestation of the 1-Light. Without the 1-Light, there is nothing and no one else, much like understanding that every drop in the ocean contributes to the vastness of the sea. This transformation is like witnessing a miraculous journey, a passage from darkness to divine sight, from ignorance to enlightenment. It prompts the crucial question: Do we yearn for this transformation for our own eyes?
We can ask ourselves: Have we ever contemplated the intricate connection between our physical bodies, our consciousness, and the deeds we perform in our lives? Are we open to perceiving the entirety of the universe as a profound manifestation of the 1-Light? What is it that we truly desire to witness through our eyes? Do we carry a deep yearning to behold the presence of the 1-Light wherever our gaze falls? What is the source of what we see?
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