Category: Instructions

ਰਾਗੁ ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਭਗਤ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਕੀ

Raag Dhanaasaree, The Word Of Devotee Kabeer Jee:

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

One Universal Creator God manifesting Himself into His Creation. Realized By The Grace Of The True Guru.

ਜੋ ਜਨੁ ਭਾਉ ਭਗਤਿ ਕਛੁ ਜਾਨੈ ਤਾ ਕਉ ਅਚਰਜੁ ਕਾਹੋ ॥

That humble being, who knows even a little about loving devotional worship – what surprises are there for him?

(Kabir speaks of a person who has understood, even to a small degree, the essence of devotion filled with love. For such a person, the surprises of the world cease to be so; they remain undisturbed by the dualities of life, like pleasure and pain or praise and criticism. Their steady focus on the divine makes the ups and downs of the mundane world appear trivial.)

ਜਿਉ ਜਲੁ ਜਲ ਮਹਿ ਪੈਸਿ ਨ ਨਿਕਸੈ ਤਿਉ ਢੁਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਓ ਜੁਲਾਹੋ ॥੧॥

Like water, dripping into water, which cannot be separated out again, so is the weaver Kabeer, with softened heart, merged into the Lord. ||1||

(Kabir uses the metaphor of water merging with water to describe his state of oneness with God. The weaver Kabir refers to himself in the third person here, indicating the complete dissolution of ego. Just as a drop of water loses its individuality when it joins the vastness of a body of water, Kabir, too, has merged his identity into the Divine, signifying the ultimate goal of a spiritual seeker — to become one with the Eternal.)

ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਲੋਗਾ ਮੈ ਤਉ ਮਤਿ ਕਾ ਭੋਰਾ ॥

O people of the Lord, I am just a simple-minded fool.

(Here, Kabir humbly addresses the people who belong to the Lord (Har ke loga) and calls himself a “mat ka bhora,” which means a simple-minded fool. He uses this term to express that he is innocent or naive in worldly matters, as his focus is entirely on the divine.)

ਜਉ ਤਨੁ ਕਾਸੀ ਤਜਹਿ ਕਬੀਰਾ ਰਮਈਐ ਕਹਾ ਨਿਹੋਰਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

If Kabeer were to leave his body at Benares, and so liberate himself, what obligation would he have to the Lord? ||1||Pause||

(Kabir challenges the popular belief that dying in the holy city of Kashi (Varanasi) guarantees liberation. He questions this ritualistic approach by suggesting that if liberation can be attained by merely dying in a sacred place, then what would be the role of God’s grace? He implies that true liberation is not bound by place or ritual but is achieved through the grace of God and one’s devotion.)

Review:

Through these verses, Kabir conveys that true devotion and love for the Divine eclipse the need for rituals and supersede all materialistic distinctions and surprises, leading to ultimate unity with God. The essence is not in the physical acts but in the devotion that permeates one’s actions.

Hukmnama, Golden Temple, Amritsar (Nov 13, 2023)

ਰਾਮਕਲੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥

*Raamkalee, Fourth Mehl:*

(The fourth Guru in the Raamkalee musical measure shares his spiritual insights.)

🎶 ਰਾਮ ਜਨਾ ਮਿਲਿ ਭਇਆ ਅਨੰਦਾ ਹਰਿ ਨੀਕੀ ਕਥਾ ਸੁਨਾਇ ॥

*Meeting with the people of the Lord, I am ecstatic; they preach the sublime sermon of the Lord.*

(In the company of the devout, immense joy is found; they share the profound teachings of the Divine.)

💠 ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਗਈ ਸਭ ਨੀਕਲਿ ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਿਲਿ ਬੁਧਿ ਪਾਇ ॥੧॥

*The filth of evil-mindedness is totally washed away; by joining the company of the faithful, one is blessed with understanding. ||1||*

(Engaging with the faithful cleanses the mind of negative thoughts, granting wisdom and clarity.)

🌟 ਰਾਮ ਜਨ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਰਾਮੁ ਬੋਲਾਇ ॥

*O humble servant of the Lord, follow the Guru’s Teachings and chant the Name of the Lord.*

(Devotees are urged to adhere to the Guru’s teachings and recite the Divine Name.)

✨ ਜੋ ਜੋ ਸੁਣੈ ਕਹੈ ਸੋ ਮੁਕਤਾ ਰਾਮ ਜਪਤ ਸੋਹਾਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

*Whoever hears and speaks it is liberated; chanting the Lord’s Name, one is embellished with beauty. ||1||Pause||*

(Those who hear and repeat the Divine Name find liberation; in its recitation, they are adorned with spiritual beauty.)

🌌🌟🌌🌟🌌🌟🌌🌟🌌🌟🌌🌟🌌🌟🌌🌟🌌🌟🌌🌟🌌

Review:

The Shabad delves into the transformative effects of spiritual companionship and the practice of chanting the Divine Name on one’s mental and emotional state. It underscores the cleansing of the mind from negative thoughts and the gaining of wisdom through the company of the devout, highlighting a significant link between one’s surroundings and inner wellbeing. This aspect mirrors the broader human experience where the environment and practices we engage in play a crucial role in shaping our mental peace and understanding. The narrative reinforces the idea that spiritual activities, such as chanting and being in the company of like-minded individuals, can have a profound impact on our mental state, offering a pathway to tranquility and inner clarity.

🙏 **Hukmnama, Golden Temple, Amritsar (Nov 08, 2023)** 🙏

🎵 ਸੂਹੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ਘਰੁ ੬🎵

*Soohee, First Mehl, Sixth House:*

Penned by First Guru, Guru Nanak Dev

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
*One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru.*
(This stanza lays the foundation, emphasizing a sole, universal Creator whose realization is attainable through the grace of the true Guru.)

✨ ਉਜਲੁ ਕੈਹਾ ਚਿਲਕਣਾ ਘੋਟਿਮ ਕਾਲੜੀ ਮਸੁ ॥
*Bronze is bright and shiny, but when it is rubbed, its blackness appears.*
(Outer lustre is deceptive; true nature is revealed through testing, just as bronze shows its blackness when polished.)

🌺 ਧੋਤਿਆ ਜੂਠਿ ਨ ਉਤਰੈ ਜੇ ਸਉ ਧੋਵਾ ਤਿਸੁ ॥੧॥
*Washing it, its impurity is not removed, even if it is washed a hundred times. ||1||*
(Surface cleansing does not remove inherent impurities, symbolic of the ineffectiveness of superficial acts to purify the soul.)

🌼 ਸਜਣ ਸੇਈ ਨਾਲਿ ਮੈ ਚਲਦਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ਚਲੰਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ॥
*They alone are my friends, who travel along with me;*
(The true ‘companions’ that accompany a soul are the good deeds performed in one’s lifetime.)

💮 ਜਿਥੈ ਲੇਖਾ ਮੰਗੀਐ ਤਿਥੈ ਖੜੇ ਦਿਸੰਨਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
*and in that place where the accounts are called for, they appear standing with me. ||1||Pause||*
(At the ultimate reckoning, it is these deeds that stand in support of the soul, testifying to its true journey.)

🌸🌿🌸🌿🌸🌿🌸🌿🌸🌿🌸🌿🌸🌿🌸🌿🌸🌿🌸🌿

Review:

The Shabad invites a contemplative approach to understanding the self and one’s actions, suggesting that the inner purity and deeds we perform ultimately accompany us through life’s journey and beyond. It offers a layered perspective on accountability, where it is not our external accolades but our intrinsic actions that present themselves in our final audit of life.

From a critical standpoint, the Shabad provides a compelling counter-narrative to the often superficial value system that prioritizes appearance over substance. It challenges the reader to look beyond societal measures of success and consider the lasting impact of their actions. The metaphor of the bronze vessel serves as a potent allegory for the human condition, prompting a reassessment of what constitutes true companionship on our spiritual voyage.

In essence, the Shabad is a call to introspection and a life lived in accordance with values that withstand the test of time and transcend the physical world. These virtues, the ‘good deeds,’are lauded as the ultimate allies in the spiritual realm.