jihi bikhiā sagalī tajī līo bhekh bairāg.
kahu nānak sunu re manā tih nar māthai bhāgu.17.
-Guru Granth Sahib 1427
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
Calligraphy
In the seventeenth stanza, Guru Teghbahadar says, the one who has renounced all poisonous attachments, who has donned the attitude of detachment, on the forehead of that person there is fortune.
Who is fortunate? Who has their good fortune written on their forehead for all to see? The one who has been able to rid themselves of all of the poisons of life — all of the negativities of life (lust, anger, greed, attachment, and ego). The one who has adopted the garbs of renunciation; that is the individual who we consider to be the visibly fortunate one. Are they? So fortunate that we can see their fortune shining on them because they demonstrate it — they exhibit the qualities of the fortunate one. Do they? This is a person who has practiced remembrance, recognized the presence of the 1-Light in their own heart, become like the One through inculcating virtues, become free by ridding themselves of attachment and duality, become steady even in the temporary, become insightful by overcoming fear, and become fortunate by renouncing attachment.
This garb of renunciation is important to dwell on. Renunciation here is about what we bring into our state of existence, not about what we wear to demonstrate renunciation, like certain clothing or certain ornaments. The garb of renunciation here is about adopting an attitude of renunciation such that it shows from the inside out. We have so many ideas about who is fortunate, and a lot of that is based on external signs, zodiacs, or different labels we have for people. This renunciate is not an ascetic, not unfeeling towards all of the relationships and emotions that make up the human experience, not leaving the responsibilities of life, but instead not impulsive — not tugged at. This is a person who has risen above states of impulse or passion or reactionary living and is instead living with a mind that does not hold differentiation or doubt. There is instead a sense of stability, steadiness, intuitive connection with the One, beyond wavering. This is the person very much of and in the world, for whom in every breath is remembrance, in every breath is praise, in every breath is the virtues.
Who is fortunate? Who has their good fortune written on their forehead for all to see? The one who has been able to rid themselves of all of the poisons of life — all of the negativities of life (lust, anger, greed, attachment, and ego). The one who has adopted the garbs of renunciation; that is the individual who we consider to be the visibly fortunate one. Are they? So fortunate that we can see their fortune shining on them because they demonstrate it — they exhibit the qualities of the fortunate one. Do they? This is a person who has practiced remembrance, recognized the presence of the 1-Light in their own heart, become like the One through inculcating virtues, become free by ridding themselves of attachment and duality, become steady even in the temporary, become insightful by overcoming fear, and become fortunate by renouncing attachment.
This garb of renunciation is important to dwell on. Renunciation here is about what we bring into our state of existence, not about what we wear to demonstrate renunciation, like certain clothing or certain ornaments. The garb of renunciation here is about adopting an attitude of renunciation such that it shows from the inside out. We have so many ideas about who is fortunate, and a lot of that is based on external signs, zodiacs, or different labels we have for people. This renunciate is not an ascetic, not unfeeling towards all of the relationships and emotions that make up the human experience, not leaving the responsibilities of life, but instead not impulsive — not tugged at. This is a person who has risen above states of impulse or passion or reactionary living and is instead living with a mind that does not hold differentiation or doubt. There is instead a sense of stability, steadiness, intuitive connection with the One, beyond wavering. This is the person very much of and in the world, for whom in every breath is remembrance, in every breath is praise, in every breath is the virtues.
Tags
