bilāvalu mahalā 9
hari ke nām binā dukhu pāvai.
bhagati binā sahsā nah cūkai guru ihu bhedu batāvai.1. rahāu.
kahā bhaïo tīrath brat kīe rām sarani nahī āvai.
jog jag nihphal tih mānaü jo prabh jasu bisrāvai.1.
mān moh dono kaü parhari gobind ke gun gāvai.
kahu nānak ih bidhi ko prānī jīvan mukati kahāvai.2.2.
-Guru Granth Sahib 830-831
Guru Teghbahadar Sahib explains that people continue to suffer without reflecting on the virtues of IkOankar (the Divine) and adopting them in life. Only through the adoration of Wisdom (Guru) can a seeker comprehend that their ignorance and delusions can be dispelled by IkOankar.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In this composition, Guru Teghbahadar says, without the Identification of the 1-Light, one finds pain. Without devotion, doubt is not removed; the Wisdom reveals this mystery. The human mind is filthy because of doubts or fears, or anxieties. Without devotion, our doubts are not removed. Our fears are not removed. We get caught up in this sickness. But the remedy is devotion; if we can figure out what our devotion is. If we are not able to figure this out, the Wisdom will solve the mystery for us. This is the role of the Wisdom. The Wisdom can solve this for us.
Without the Identification of the 1-Light, one finds pain. The Wisdom can solve this for us, but we do other simple things that we think will quickly resolve our situations instead of allowing for that. We go to extremes; we partake in fasts; we go on pilgrimages; we do certain rituals; we get caught up in checking something off of a list because we think it will help us become more “religious.” But if we are not taking refuge in the Beautiful Charming One, then what use are all of these deeds? Praise of IkOankar (One Universal Integrative Force, 1Force) is not in yoga, fire-worship, pilgrimage, or fast. These things are outward displays of piety or religiosity, things we do less for the purpose of praising and more for the purpose of showing others how dedicated we are. We might convince ourselves in a moment that we are doing these things with good intentions and for the purpose of connection with IkOankar, but time and again, we find that they only cause our pride to swell. When we search externally, we think that everything is dependent on those external deeds. And it is this dependence that causes anxiety and second-guessing and constant fixation on the external. These things do not solve our pain. They do not cure our ailments.
Without the Identification of the 1-Light, one finds pain. The pride and attachment that come from performing certain deeds actually further build upon our religious theatricalities. They feed the urge to put on a show for others, to display our dedication and devotion to IkOankar. The Guru says that if we can get rid of both pride and attachment and sing the virtues of the Earth-Knower, then we will have experienced what it is like to praise the One. And if we can do that, if we can sing the virtues of the Earth-Knower and inculcate those virtues, allow our praise to turn into remembrance, allow our remembrance to turn into transformation, then we can become free in this world, here and now.
The Guru takes us through our ailments and their causes as well as their remedies. We are in pain and doubt and anxiety and fear. The remedy is devotion. The Wisdom solves this for us. We tend to look outwards for our remedies, but we do these external deeds without praise, and they build up our pride. The remedy is to sing the virtues of the Earth-Knower, to inculcate those virtues. But to even enter the arena of singing the virtues, we must first discard our pride and attachment. Praise requires internalization and reflection on the virtues, imbibing them and letting them change us from the inside out, letting them become a part of us. We do not need to sing with just intensity, but we ought to surely sing with devotion. We ought to sing without expectation of reward or transaction. We ought to sing because we are devoted, praise because we are called to praise, and live the virtues out in our behaviors. Can we finally address the things that ail us and move in devotion?
Without the Identification of the 1-Light, one finds pain. The Wisdom can solve this for us, but we do other simple things that we think will quickly resolve our situations instead of allowing for that. We go to extremes; we partake in fasts; we go on pilgrimages; we do certain rituals; we get caught up in checking something off of a list because we think it will help us become more “religious.” But if we are not taking refuge in the Beautiful Charming One, then what use are all of these deeds? Praise of IkOankar (One Universal Integrative Force, 1Force) is not in yoga, fire-worship, pilgrimage, or fast. These things are outward displays of piety or religiosity, things we do less for the purpose of praising and more for the purpose of showing others how dedicated we are. We might convince ourselves in a moment that we are doing these things with good intentions and for the purpose of connection with IkOankar, but time and again, we find that they only cause our pride to swell. When we search externally, we think that everything is dependent on those external deeds. And it is this dependence that causes anxiety and second-guessing and constant fixation on the external. These things do not solve our pain. They do not cure our ailments.
Without the Identification of the 1-Light, one finds pain. The pride and attachment that come from performing certain deeds actually further build upon our religious theatricalities. They feed the urge to put on a show for others, to display our dedication and devotion to IkOankar. The Guru says that if we can get rid of both pride and attachment and sing the virtues of the Earth-Knower, then we will have experienced what it is like to praise the One. And if we can do that, if we can sing the virtues of the Earth-Knower and inculcate those virtues, allow our praise to turn into remembrance, allow our remembrance to turn into transformation, then we can become free in this world, here and now.
The Guru takes us through our ailments and their causes as well as their remedies. We are in pain and doubt and anxiety and fear. The remedy is devotion. The Wisdom solves this for us. We tend to look outwards for our remedies, but we do these external deeds without praise, and they build up our pride. The remedy is to sing the virtues of the Earth-Knower, to inculcate those virtues. But to even enter the arena of singing the virtues, we must first discard our pride and attachment. Praise requires internalization and reflection on the virtues, imbibing them and letting them change us from the inside out, letting them become a part of us. We do not need to sing with just intensity, but we ought to surely sing with devotion. We ought to sing without expectation of reward or transaction. We ought to sing because we are devoted, praise because we are called to praise, and live the virtues out in our behaviors. Can we finally address the things that ail us and move in devotion?
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