jatan bahut sukh ke kīe dukh ko kīo na koi.
kahu nānak suni re manā hari bhāvai so hoi.39.
-Guru Granth Sahib 1428
Guru Teghbahadar Sahib reminds beings of the purpose of life, which is to remember and reflect on the virtues of IkOankar (the Divine). The saloks describe how life is wasted in the entanglements of familial and material attachments distracting from the purpose of life. They inspire seekers to search for deeper meaning beyond the attachment to family and temporary material things and develop a relationship with IkOankar. These saloks gently nudge seekers to live in awareness of IkOankar and see the entire world from that place of realization.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
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In the thirty-ninth stanza, Guru Teghbahadar says, many efforts were made for comfort, but none were made for suffering. Both happened in accordance with the Will. O mind! Everything happens within the Will of the 1-Light.
We want comfort in life, and we do so much to experience comfort. But we do not do anything to experience pain or suffering. We also do not do anything to work to eliminate pain. We only orient ourselves around gaining comfort. We never think about what it would mean to get rid of pain because we are worried about collecting different comforts. Our human interest is in creating transformation only within that comfort. And when we run more and more towards comforts, we run farther and farther away from taking care of our pain and suffering. Our constant search for comfort occupies our time and effort, and there is no effort left to spend on eliminating pain.
But the Guru offers us hope as if to say, it is okay; I know this is your state or condition, so know that whatever happens is willed by the 1-Light, and the 1-Light understands your state.
When we surround ourselves with comforts, we are distracted from pain. A person might be worried about supporting their family, making sure their spouse is comfortable, making sure their children have not just what they need, but also what they want, making sure they are getting good grades and have good coaches for their extracurriculars and have the best equipment for whatever hobbies they are involved in. But when we spend so much time on those external comforts, we forget to make an effort in making sure that those same people are stress-free and pride-free; we do not think about their internal comfort, calming anxieties, calming sadness. The Guru tells our minds that it will be okay, but we ought to acknowledge that this is our condition and know that the 1-Light will understand our condition.
We want comfort in life, and we do so much to experience comfort. But we do not do anything to experience pain or suffering. We also do not do anything to work to eliminate pain. We only orient ourselves around gaining comfort. We never think about what it would mean to get rid of pain because we are worried about collecting different comforts. Our human interest is in creating transformation only within that comfort. And when we run more and more towards comforts, we run farther and farther away from taking care of our pain and suffering. Our constant search for comfort occupies our time and effort, and there is no effort left to spend on eliminating pain.
But the Guru offers us hope as if to say, it is okay; I know this is your state or condition, so know that whatever happens is willed by the 1-Light, and the 1-Light understands your state.
When we surround ourselves with comforts, we are distracted from pain. A person might be worried about supporting their family, making sure their spouse is comfortable, making sure their children have not just what they need, but also what they want, making sure they are getting good grades and have good coaches for their extracurriculars and have the best equipment for whatever hobbies they are involved in. But when we spend so much time on those external comforts, we forget to make an effort in making sure that those same people are stress-free and pride-free; we do not think about their internal comfort, calming anxieties, calming sadness. The Guru tells our minds that it will be okay, but we ought to acknowledge that this is our condition and know that the 1-Light will understand our condition.
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