parmāṇo parjant ākāsah dīp loa si khanḍaṇah.
gacheṇ naiṇ bhāreṇ nānak binā sādhū na sidhyate.2.
-Guru Granth Sahib 1360
Guru Arjan Sahib describes a flaw-riddled body and the futile nature of pride in material attachment to the physical world. The seeker is encouraged to connect with the eternal IkOankar (the Divine), who removes diseases, sorrows, and sufferings, making way for a fruitful life. The precious gift of Nam is received in the company of virtuous beings and makes the seekers’ lives fruitful. This saloks encourages seekers to welcome the company of virtuous beings to unite with the all-pervasive IkOankar and find eternal comfort and happiness.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the second salok, Guru Arjan creates a hypothetical and says, even if one could become as tiny as an atom and fly up to the skies, to the islands and regions of the earth, to different parts of the cosmos — even if one could come and go in the blink of an eye, that person still cannot succeed without the Wisdom and the company of virtuous beings.
We are all looking for freedom, and in this case, a tangibly physical sort of freedom is being explored — one that defies the laws of nature and our human limitations. The constant quest for this kind of freedom is evident in the fact that one of the most common answers to the question “if you could have any superpower, what would it be” is teleportation. It is evident in what our governments pour money into — space exploration and science and technology, and in what we pursue as individuals in a more spiritual sense through meditation. The end goal is the same: to experience a kind of freedom that we don’t currently feel we have. The Guru says that experiencing freedom is not possible — despite our skills, expertise, and fascinations — without sage-like qualities that help us on our journey. Freedom cannot be experienced without the companionship of the virtuous beings who help us remove our doubts. Without them, understanding does not come. How have we defined advancement or freedom? Are we willing to understand what it means to advance and be free?
We are all looking for freedom, and in this case, a tangibly physical sort of freedom is being explored — one that defies the laws of nature and our human limitations. The constant quest for this kind of freedom is evident in the fact that one of the most common answers to the question “if you could have any superpower, what would it be” is teleportation. It is evident in what our governments pour money into — space exploration and science and technology, and in what we pursue as individuals in a more spiritual sense through meditation. The end goal is the same: to experience a kind of freedom that we don’t currently feel we have. The Guru says that experiencing freedom is not possible — despite our skills, expertise, and fascinations — without sage-like qualities that help us on our journey. Freedom cannot be experienced without the companionship of the virtuous beings who help us remove our doubts. Without them, understanding does not come. How have we defined advancement or freedom? Are we willing to understand what it means to advance and be free?
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