Monday, February 27, 2023

A beginner's guide to Japji Sahib: Pauri 8 to 11

 

suN-yai,  siDh  peer  sur  naath.
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru, one comes to understand Sidhs (miracle-workers), Peers (religious guides), Sur (angelic beings), and Naaths (great yogic masters).

suN-yai,  Dharat  Dhaval  aa-kaash.
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru, one obtains the understanding that in reality, Vaheguru supports the earth and sky (instead of the mythological stories of a bull supporting the earth from beneath).

suN-yai,  deep  loh  paa-taal.
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru, one obtains knowledge of all the continents, planets, and regions down below.

suN-yai,  po-eh  na  sak-kai  kaal.
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru, one cannot be touched by Death (i.e. one becomes attached to the timeless and deathless soul within).

naa-nak,  bhag-taa  sad-aa  vi-gaas.
(Guru) Nanak (Ji) says- the devotees that are attached to the Guru’s Word are forever in bliss.

suN-yai,  dookh  paap  kaa  naas.  ||8||
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru, their pains and sins are erased. ||8||

suN-yai,  ee-shar  bar-maa  inn’d.
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru, one comes to know that Vaheguru is the real Power working as the destructive force (Ishar/Shiva), creative form (Brahma), and the force governing of the skies (Indar).
Ý

 suN-yai,  mukh  saa-laa-haN  mann’d.
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru, even an evil person comes to praise Vaheguru with their mouth.

suN-yai,  joh’g  ju-gat  tan  bhey’d.
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru, the secrets of the human body used to unite with Vaheguru become known.
The ancient Yogis would teach Yoga as a way of knowing the secrets of the human body to help achieve spiritual union with God. These techniques are understood by one who deeply and attentively listens to the Word of the Guru.

suN-yai,  shaasht  simm-rit  vey'd.
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru, one realises the reality within the ancient philosophical books of the Shaastras, the Simritees, and the Vedas.

naa-nak,  bhag-taa  sad-aa  vi-gaas.
(Guru) Nanak (Ji) says- the devotees that are attached to the Guru’s Word are forever in bliss.

suN-yai,  dookh  paap  kaa  naas. ||9||
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru, their pains and sins are erased. ||9||

suN-yai,  sat  sann-tokh  gi-yaan.
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru, one becomes charitable, content, and spiritually knowledgeable.

suN-yai,  aTh-saTh  kaa  ish-naan.
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru –is the real cleansing bath of all sixty-eight places of pilgrimage.
è

suN-yai,  paR  paR  paa-veh  maan.
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru –one gets the honour that others get after (years of) reading and studying.

suN-yai,  laa-gai  s-haj  Dhi-yaan.
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru –one’s mind becomes still and aware.

naa-nak,  bhag-taa  sad-aa  vi-gaas.
(Guru) Nanak (Ji) says- the devotees (that are attached to the Guru’s Word) are forever in bliss.

suN-yai,  dookh  paap  kaa  naas.  ||10||
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru, their pains and sins are erased. ||10||

suN-yai,  s-raa  gu-Naa  key  gaah.
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru, one becomes a knower of the ocean of virtues (goodness).

suN-yai,  shey’kh  peer  paat-shaah.
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru, one attains the respect of Sheikhs (religious scholars), Peers (spiritual guides), and emperors.

suN-yai,  ann-Dhey  paa-veh  raah.
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru, even the spiritually blind find the Path.

suN-yai,  haath  ho-vai  as-gaah.
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru, the Unreachable comes within your grasp.

naa-nak,  bhag-taa  sad-aa  vi-gaas.
(Guru) Nanak (Ji) says-
the devotees that are attached to the Guru’s Word are forever in bliss.

suN-yai,  dookh  paap  kaa  naas.  ||11||
By deeply listening to the Word of the Guru, their pains and sins are erased. ||11||



Ý Shiva, Brahma, and Indra are beings with supernatural powers that are considered gods by Hindus. However, for Sikhs, each demi-god represents a particular virtue or aspect of the One Almighty’s power. For example, in Sikh scripture ‘Brahma’ has been used to describe the One Almighty’s creative power, Vishnu has been used to describe the One Almighty’s power to preserve and nourish the creation, and Shiva has been used to describe the One Almighty’s power to destroy and take away life.

è According to the Hindu tradition, there are sixty-eight sacred places that have a river or lake for people to visit and bathe in. It is believed that if one visits all these places and bathes in their waters, one’s sins are all washed and one’s spiritual goal has been achieved. Guru Ji rejected this and stressed loving meditation on Vaheguru’s Name is the true pilgrimage bath that washes away our sins.

Monday, February 13, 2023

A beginner's guide to Japji Sahib: Pauri 6 & 7

tee-rath  naa-vaa(n),  jey  tis  bhaa-vaa(n),
viN  bhaa-Ney  ke  naa-e  k-ree.
I would bathe at a blessed place if it were to please Vaheguru. Without pleasing Them, what use would such a bath have?
What use is there to going to a sacred or blessed place if when going there we do not have the mindset or behaviour that we wish to please Vaheguru, and instead follow our ego or man-made rules?

jey-tee  se-raTh  u-paa-ee  vey-khaa,
viN  kar-maa  ke  mil-ai  le-ee.
Without Vaheguru’s blessings, how can any living being that I see in this world receive or get anything?

mat  vich,  ratan  j-vaa-har  maa-Nik,
jey  ikk  gur  kee  sikh  su-Nee.
However, if you listen and follow the Guru’s one message, you will find gems, jewels, and rubies (i.e. Godly virtues) within your mind.
The Guru’s teachings are priceless, and therefore, we should be careful to receive them with care and attention.

gur-aa,  ikk  deh  bu-jhaa-ee.
O Guru, O Lord-Enlightener! (I pray to You–) please instill within me this one understanding:

sabh-naa  jee-aa  kaa  ikk  daa-taa,
so mai
,  visar  na  jaa-ee.  ||6||
that I never forget that there is One Great Universal-Giver that provides for all! ||6||

jey  jug  chaa-rey  aar-jaa,
hor  d-soo-Nee  ho-e.

If someone could live as long as the four Ages
ð (i.e. history) or even ten times more;

nav-aa(n)  khann-daa  vich  jaa-Nee-yai,
naal  chal-ai  sabh  ko-e.

if they were known throughout all the regions
¨ of the world and followed by all;

 chann-gaa  naa-o  r-khaa-e  kai,
jass  kee-rat  jagg  ley-e.

and achieved a good reputation, fame, and praise in the world through people’s say so; (then so what?)

jey  tis  nadar  na  aa-vayee,
t
a  vaat  na  pushh-ai  key.
(The true reality is that) without Vaheguru’s Grace and blessings, no one would care about such a person.

kee-taa  ann-dar  keett  kar,
d
oh-shee  dosh  Dhar-ey.
(Despite someone considering themselves to be big because of their ego,) those accused of being ungrateful are considered by the Universe to be like insects within insects, i.e. insignificant amongst insignificant people.

naa-nak,  nir-guN  guN  k-rey,
guN-vann-tiyaa  guN  dey.
(Guru) Nanak (Ji) says- Vaheguru blesses those considered lowly or unworthy with the virtue (quality) of remembering Them, as well as blessing those considered highly or worthy with more virtue.

teh-aa  ko-e  na  sujh-yee,
je  tis  guN  ko-e  k-rey.  ||7||
There is no one else in the world like Vaheguru, who can make someone virtuous (full of goodness). ||7||



ð Early traditions divided timeline of creation into four Yugs, ages or periods.

¨ The literal translation of ‘nav-aa(n) khann-daa’ is nine regions. In ancient times South Asia was divided into nine regions.