saloku.
sant manḍal hari jasu kathahi bolahi sati subhāi.
nānak manu santokhīai ekasu siu liv lāi.7.
-Guru Granth Sahib 298
Guru Arjan Sahib depicts Wisdom-oriented (Guru-oriented) virtuous beings constantly singing praises of IkOankar (the Divine), through which their minds remain contented. Corresponding to the fifteen-day lunar calendar and each pauri (stanza) correlates to each day formed by the waxing and waning of the moon. The seventh pauri advises seekers always to remember Nam (Identification with IkOankar). This Nam is found in the company of Wisdom-oriented virtuous beings. By renouncing pride and remembering Nam, sorrows are dispelled, and the being departs from this world, having made their life fruitful.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the seventh salok (couplet), Guru Arjan says, the communities of virtuous beings utter praise of the 1-Light. They utter the eternal Nam with deep love and devotion. The virtuous engage in remembrance and Identification with IkOankar (One Universal Integrative Force, 1Force, the One). The truth-exemplars gather and speak of the glory of the 1-Light. Their elaborations and praise bring contentment to the mind. Their consciousness is connected with the one IkOankar, and their sense of I-ness is erased through their remembrance. The Guru emphasizes that these are the ones who are naturally speaking the truth with deep love; they speak it habitually and effortlessly. The question is, what truth are they voicing? They are voicing the truth that causes contentment and connection with the One. This is the only thing worth uttering, but we debate other things. We might engage in questions and answers and dialogue and discussion, and we might seek clarifications, but our human tendency is to ask about smaller trivialities without a clear end goal. The utterances the Guru speaks of here are vaster and serve the purpose of helping us develop a relationship with the One.
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