To the garden, the world, anew ascending, Potent mates, daughters, sons, preluding, The love, the life of their bodies, meaning and being, Curious, here behold my resurrection, after slumber; The revolving cycles, in their wide sweep, have brought me again, Amorous, mature—all beautiful to me—all wondrous; My limbs, and the quivering fire that ever plays through them, for reasons, most wondrous; Existing, I peer and penetrate still, Content with the present—content with the past, By my side, or back of me, Eve following, Or in front, and I following her just the same.
Guru Nanak's Baba Jugta Jio
Concept Composition: 19006
New Raag
ਆਸਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥
आसा महला १ ॥
Āsā mėhlā 1.
Aasaa, First Mehl:
ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਮਨੈ ਮਹਿ ਮੁੰਦ੍ਰਾ ਖਿੰਥਾ ਖਿਮਾ ਹਢਾਵਉ ॥
गुर का सबदु मनै महि मुंद्रा खिंथा खिमा हढावउ ॥
Gur kā sabaḏ manai mėh munḏrā kẖinthā kẖimā hadẖāva▫o.
Let the Word of the Guru's Shabad be the ear-rings in your mind, and wear the patched coat of tolerance.
ਜੋ ਕਿਛੁ ਕਰੈ ਭਲਾ ਕਰਿ ਮਾਨਉ ਸਹਜ ਜੋਗ ਨਿਧਿ ਪਾਵਉ ॥੧॥
जो किछु करै भला करि मानउ सहज जोग निधि पावउ ॥१॥
Jo kicẖẖ karai bẖalā kar mān▫o sahj jog niḏẖ pāva▫o. ||1||
Whatever the Lord does, look upon that as good; thus you shall obtain the treasure of Sehj Yoga. ||1||
ਬਾਬਾ ਜੁਗਤਾ ਜੀਉ ਜੁਗਹ ਜੁਗ ਜੋਗੀ ਪਰਮ ਤੰਤ ਮਹਿ ਜੋਗੰ ॥
बाबा जुगता जीउ जुगह जुग जोगी परम तंत महि जोगं ॥
Bābā jugṯā jī▫o jugah jug jogī param ṯanṯ mėh jogaʼn.
O father, the soul which is united in union as a Yogi, remains united in the supreme essence throughout the ages.
Kaho Nānak suṇ bẖarthar jogī pārbarahm liv ekaʼn. ||4||3||37||
Says Nanak, listen, O Bharthari Yogi: love only the Supreme Lord God. ||4||3||37||
I am participating in an event organized by Oneness USA at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Nov 23. The organizers requested me to sing Satgur Nanak Pargateya for a portion of the program, so I made a composition yesterday and recorded it. Bhai Gurdas' love for Guru Nanak shines through this one.
Sathguru Nanak pargateya miti dund jag chanan hoya
With the emergence of the true Guru Nanak, the mist cleared and the light scattered all around.
Jiou(n) kar sooraj nikaliaa thaarae shhapae a(n)dhhaer paloaa
As if at the sun rise the stars disappeared and the darkness dispelled.
Si(n)gh bukae miragaavalee bha(n)nee jaaeae n dhheer dhharoaa
With the roar of the lion in the forest the flocks of escaping deer now cannot have endurance.
Everyhome has become a place of dharma where singing.
Baabae thaarae chaar chak na kha(n)dd prithhamee sachaa dtoaa
Baba liberated all four directions and nine divisions of earth.
Guramukh kal vich paragatt hoaa
Gurmukh (Guru Nanak) has emerged in this kaliyug, the dark age.
I am participating in an event organized by Oneness USA at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Nov 23. The organizers requested me to sing Satgur Nanak Pargateya for a portion of the program, so I made a composition yesterday and recorded myself practicing it (video below).
This is the 157th composition for this year; most of the compositions are that of or about Guru Nanak. Its been a wonderful year of singing!
Bhai Gurdas' love for Guru Nanak shines through this one.
Sathguru Nanak pargateya miti dund jag chanan hoya
With the emergence of the true Guru Nanak, the mist cleared and the light scattered all around.
Jiou(n) kar sooraj nikaliaa thaarae shhapae a(n)dhhaer paloaa
As if at the sun rise the stars disappeared and the darkness dispelled.
Si(n)gh bukae miragaavalee bha(n)nee jaaeae n dhheer dhharoaa
With the roar of the lion in the forest the flocks of escaping deer now cannot have endurance.
Everyhome has become a place of dharma where singing.
Baabae thaarae chaar chak na kha(n)dd prithhamee sachaa dtoaa
Baba liberated all four directions and nine divisions of earth.
Guramukh kal vich paragatt hoaa
Gurmukh (Guru Nanak) has emerged in this kaliyug, the dark age.
In this shabad, Guru Gobind Singh gives the same message as Guru Nanak in Japji Sahib. The highest spirituality and the deepest self is not found by searching in the wilderness; it is found by perfecting one's mind. The one who win's their own mind, conquers the world. Lyrics and Translation of the Shabad are below. For a deeper dive into this shabad see A Deeper Dive into Guru Gobind Singh's 'Sanyasa'
This collaboration was done with the help of one of world's best fingerstyle guitarists Muriel Anderson. You can find Muriel's amazing music on youtube and iTunes. For more info visit her website https://www.murielanderson.com.
The shabad is sung in Raag Jansammohini which is similar to Kalavati but a "Re" is added in the Avroh. This tune was made immortal by the voice of Asha Bhosle and the composition of S. Mohinder in the movie Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai.
Video footage is from the day of the recording in Highland Studios in Santa Cruz in January 2018. The vocal recording is primarily from the one-take live recording of this shabad. The guitar track was re-mixed to conform to the new arrangement. Piano and some synths was added later in my home studio.
ਰਾਗ ਰਾਮਕਲੀ ਪਾਤਸਾਹੀ ੧੦ ॥
Raaga Raamkalee Paatasaahee 10 ॥
RAMKALI OF THE TENTH KING
ਰੇ ਮਨ ਐਸੋ ਕਰਿ ਸੰਨਿਆਸਾ ॥
Re Man Aaiso Kari Saanniaasaa:
O mind ! the asceticism be practised in this way :
ਬਨ ਸੇ ਸਦਨ ਸਬੈ ਕਰ ਸਮਝਹੁ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ਉਦਾਸਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥Ban Se Sadan Sabai Kar Samajhahu Man Hee Maahi Audaasaa ॥1॥ Rahaau ॥
Consider your house as the forest and remain unattached within yourself…..Pause.
ਜਤ ਕੀ ਜਟਾ ਜੋਗ ਕੋ ਮਜਨੁ ਨੇਮ ਕੇ ਨਖੁਨ ਬਢਾਓ ॥
Jata Kee Jattaa Joga Ko Majanu Nema Ke Nakhuna Badhaao ॥
Consider continence as the matted hair, Yoga as the ablution and daily observances as your nails,
ਗਿਆਨ ਗੁਰੂ ਆਤਮ ਉਪਦੇਸਹੁ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਭੂਤ ਲਗਾਓ ॥੧॥
Giaan Guroo Aatama Aupadesahu Naam Bibhoota Lagaao ॥1॥
Consider the knowledge as the preceptor giving lessons to you and apply the Name of the Lord as ashes.1.
ਅਲਪ ਅਹਾਰ ਸੁਲਪ ਸੀ ਨਿੰਦ੍ਰਾ ਦਯਾ ਛਿਮਾ ਤਨ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ॥Alapa Ahaara Sulapa See Niaandaraa Dayaa Chhimaa Tan Pareeti ॥
Eat less and sleep less, cherish mercy and forgiveness
ਸੀਲ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਸਦਾ ਨਿਰਬਾਹਿਬੋ ਹ੍ਵੈਬੋ ਤ੍ਰਿਗੁਣ ਅਤੀਤ ॥੨॥
Seela Saantokh Sadaa Nribaahibo Havaibo Triguna Ateet ॥2॥
Practise gentleness and contentment and remain free from three modes.2.
ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਹੰਕਾਰ ਲੋਭ ਹਠ ਮੋਹ ਨ ਮਨ ਮੋ ਲਯਾਵੈ ॥Kaam Karodha Haankaara Lobha Hattha Moha Na Man Mo Layaavai ॥
Keep your mind unattached from lust, anger, greed, insistence and infatuation,
ਤਬ ਹੀ ਆਤਮ ਤਤ ਕੋ ਦਰਸੈ ਪਰਮ ਪੁਰਖ ਕਹ ਪਾਵੈ ॥੩॥੧॥Taba Hee Aatama Tata Ko Darsai Parma Purkh Kaha Paavai ॥3॥1॥
Then you will visualize the supreme essence and realise the supreme Purusha.3.1.
This album is in celebration of the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, a visa-free access for the lovers of Guru Nanak to go from India to the Pakistani town of Kartarpur, where Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life. Much thanks to Janapriyan Levine who helped arrange a couple of the shabads in this album, and also to Jeremy Marais and Abhijit Chakraborty for playing the Saxophone and Bass respectively in one shabad each.
Notes in preparing for a talk in NY this weekend -
Do well by doing good is an English idiom that has been used since the 19th century. Sometimes it is attributed to Benjamin Franklin but its true origins are not known.
Listening to the songs of the wind. Or hearing oneness. If you would ask Gurbani's perspective on this it would be, be ecstatic by remembering the essence.
Remembrance of the essence is the most important thing. Thinking precedes speech and action. We think we can be well by doing good, but there is no guarantee. There are so many who have done good that are not preceded by being well. There are so many good things you may have done, and these things haven't led to.
Maanu ghalai, Uthi chalai
Saad Naahi, Ehevi galai
The tasteful life is not to come here and work hard.
Work hard. Share. Remember Naam.
I am ambivalent if this is a good starting point. But I am confident that this is not where we want to end up.
Kal Meh Raam Naam Saar
Naam is the source of illumination in dark times
Aakhan Aukha Saacha Nao -
If you want to say the true name, it is hard
It is difficult to do go good deeds
Because there are competing deeds
Because you may require courage.
From Sukhmani Sahib:
Sarab Dharam meh saraysat Dharam.
Of all religions, the best religion
Har ko naam jap nirmal karam.
is to chant the Name of the Lord and do good deeds.
Today Mexicans are celebrating Día de Muertos ... the day of the dead. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and helping support their spiritual journey. In Mexican culture, as it is in many cultures, death is viewed as a natural part of the human cycle. Mexicans view it not as a day of sadness but as a day of celebration because their loved ones awake and celebrate with them.
I like the fact that we can devote one day for the departed souls so we can get on with life the rest of the year, versus celebrating different days for every person you know. In our family, we started doing a thanksgiving kirtan a few years ago in remembrance of our departed elders. Its amazing how the love for ancestors appears in different cultures.
I am also especially fascinated by the similarities between words in languages. Dia, day and divas/din in Spanish, English, Punjabi/Hindi/Sanskrit are similar. And meurtos and mrityu are again similar in Spanish and Punjabi/Hindi/Sanskrit. And of course, we have mortal in English potentially using the same root. To me it is obvious that some of the roots of these words come from an ancient language that was common between humans.
So many words are then made from these words. For example, in Punjabi/Hindi/Sanskrit, Amrit, or the nectar of life is A-mrit ... not dying! The city established by Guru Arjan is called Amritsar, A-mrit-sar ... the sarovar of A-mrit ... or the lake of perpetual life.
The common roots of words, the commonality of human experience and then using those building blocks and developing languages and related culture is truly amazing. The soul is compelled in amazement, to say, Wow! Waheguru!
Following is a playlist of shabads for Antim Sanskar/Death/Funeral Services:
Singing oneness!
