Shivpreet Singh
Shivpreet Singh
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I am donating all proceeds from my music to DhunAnand Foundation today. Based on what the team at DhunAnand has been doing, I am confident that musicians, artists and poets will benefit immensely from this. I encourage everyone to give to this or other charities, especially to artists who have been hit very hard by the pandemic.  

Donate 

  • $10/month or $100 one-time - Membership for 2022: For sponsoring an artist for a month, you will get early access to music from DhunAnand artists. 

    • $100/month or $1000 one-time - Gold Membership for 2022" For adopting an artist for a year, you will be invited to 4 sessions with an artist of your choosing. 
    • For amounts over $1000, artist selection opportunities, or potential board membership please email dhunanand17@gmail.com

    Note: The volunteers or management of DhunAnand will not be drawing any compensation. As a result, the administrative costs will be low and the money that you donate will go primarily to those who need the money. 

    Char Sahibzade Shaheedi - This is the week we remember the sacrifice of the four young sons. Their sacrifice was within 6 days of each other: The elder two were martyred fighting with a huge Mughal army on December 21st and the younger two were mercilessly walled alive on December 26th. Guru Gobind Singh recited the following shahad in the Machhivara forest while he was separated from his family. Even in such pain, the pain he talks about is the pain of separation from Waheguru, who he calls my “beloved friend” … mittar pyara: 

    Mittar Pyare Nu: 



    Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji, the two youngest of the Chaar Sahibzade were told by Wazir Khan, the Nawab of Sirhind to be bricked alive because they refused to become muslims. This event took place on 26th December 1705. Before the Chaar Sahibzade attained Martyrdom, they wew captured and kept in a cold tower called "Thanda Burj" with their grandmother Mata Gujari, in the middle of winter.

    They were taken to Fatehgarh Sahib where they had a brick wall built around them but had broken down before the Princes lost their breaths. Wazir Khan then ordered the executioners to slit the throats of the Princes. After hearing this news, their grandmother took her last breath.

    The two older Princes, Baba Ajit Singh Ji and Baba Jujhar Singh Ji both fought in the Chamkaur battle, which attained their martyrdom. This is how Guru Gobind Singh Ji lost their four sons and mother.


    Don't forget to Love today! Love yourself. And love your neighbor because they come from the same creator. There is no stranger says Guru Arjan. Only those who love can attain God says Guru Gobind. "I love you in all your names," sings Guru Nanak. The guru sings, and that is how he loves. And when you sing, you love too. Sing!





    #Love #christmas #jesus #sing #gurugobindsinghji #shivpreetsingh

    This is a live recording of Guru Arjan's Saas Saas Simro Gobind from last month when Suellen visited home. Suellen has been going through chemotherapy for blood cancer recently. And her white blood counts were very low. But carefree from any worries we sang and played. Saas Saas Simro Gobind, Man Antar ki utarai chind. Every breath I remember Gobind. And all the inner worries of my mind are dispelled. 

    This shabad will be released along with 7 other shabads on Wednesday. Most of them are live versions of compositions I have recorded earlier. But there are a couple of new ones too. Exciting times ahead … 

    #NewMusic #SaasSaas #ShivpreetSingh #Gurbani #GuruNanak #GuruArjan

    Shabad by Guru Arjan 

    Sās sās simro gobinḏ 
    Man anṯar kī uṯrai cẖinḏ

    Pūre gur kā sun upḏes
    Pārbarahm nikat kar pekẖ

    Ās aniṯ ṯyāgo ṯarang
    Sanṯ janā kī ḏẖūr man mang

    Āp cẖẖod benṯī karho
    Sāḏẖsang agan sāgar ṯarho

    Har ḏẖan ke bẖar leho bẖandār
    Nānak gur pūre namaskār

    Translation/Reflection by Shivpreet Singh


    Listening to the complete Guru
    I come in the vicinity of oneness

    Remembering oneness in every breath
    I erase all the pain inside

    Asking for the dust of Saints' feet
    I abandon fleeting waves of desire

    Renouncing my ego, praying with Saints
    I cross life's ocean of fire

    Bowing down to the complete Guru
    I fill my coffers with divine wealth


    Music

    iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/artist/shivpreet-singh/id359828252

    Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/artist/Shivpreet_Singh?id=Aoqsuo6pyrdjdkld6uutbsxty7a

    An album of eight live recordings from the home studio: 

    Spotify

    Apple Music

     




    I have some good news: DhunAnand Foundation, which we founded earlier this year has been recognized by IRS as a Public Charity! And now we get to raise some money for artists who have been devastated by the pandemic. So this is exciting!!!



    If you missed my previous post on this, at DhunAnand, we have been offering monthly stipends and paid projects to selected artists who focus on oneness since the middle of this year. We plan to continue this in 2022. Last week, I received a letter from the IRS that DhunAnand has been recognized as a 501 (c)(3) orgnanization. With this recognition, contributions to the foundation will be tax deductible for donors in the US.

    I want to thank the founding team for all their efforts, including Amrita Asrani, Kirthana Kavassery, Harjeet Bajaj, Harprit Singh, Fontain Riddle, Gurpaul Kapoor, Sakshi Saini, and Suellen Primost.
     
    The organization currently has no administrative costs and your donation would go directly to an artist and their family. Any amount donations are welcome, but you can cosponsor projects for $100 (2022 Membership, includes downloads of all music produced by DhunAnand in 2022) and cosponsor artists for $1000 (2022 Gold Membership, includes all downloads and also invitations to 4 intimate online events with artists in 2022).
     

    If you want to volunteer, help us in other ways, or if you have questions please email us at dhunanand17@gmail.com.

    I will share more about DhunAnand (including some music from our artists) in the coming days and weeks. The pandemic has really had a drastic impact on artists' lives and I am glad we are able to a serve of few of them through our efforts. We will gradually build our social media and online presence. Thanks for your support!

    More information about DhunAnand and how to help is available here: https://www.shivpreetsingh.com/p/dhunanand-foundation.html






    Where the mind is without fear 

    and the head is held high; 

    - Rabindranath Tagore


    Original Bengali version:

    চিত্ত যেথা ভয়শূন্য উচ্চ যেথা শির,
    জ্ঞান যেথা মুক্ত, যেথা গৃহের প্রাচীর
    আপন প্রাংগণতলে দিবস-শর্বরী 
    বসুধারে রাখে নাই খণড ক্ষুদ্র করি,

    যেথা বাক্য হৃদযের উতসমুখ হতে 
    উচ্ছসিয়যা উঠে, যেথা নির্বারিত স্রোতে,
    দেশে দেশে দিশে দিশে কর্মধারা ধায়
    অজস্র সহস্রবিধ চরিতার্থতায়,

    যেথা তুচ্ছ আচারের মরু-বালু-রাশি
    বিচারের স্রোতঃপথ ফেলে নাই গ্রাসি -
    পৌরুষেরে করেনি শতধা, নিত্য যেথা 
    তুমি সর্ব কর্ম-চিংতা-আনংদের নেতা,

    নিজ হস্তে নির্দয় আঘাত করি পিতঃ, 
    ভারতেরে সেই স্বর্গে করো জাগরিত ||

    Devanaagari transliteration

    चित्त जेथा भयशून्य ,उच्च जेथा शिर ,
    ज्ञान जेथा मुक्त जेथा गृहेर प्राचीर
    आपन प्रांगणतले दिवसशर्वरी
    बसुधारे राखे नाइ खण्ड खण्ड क्षुद्रकरि,

    जेथा वाकय हृदयेर उत् समुखहते
    उच्छ्वसिया उठे , जेथा निर्वारित स्रोते
    दशे देशे दिशे दिशे कर्मधारा धाय
    अजस्र सहसबिध चरितार्थताय-

    जेथा तुच्छ आचारेर मरुबालुराशि 
    बिचारेर स्रोतःपथे फेले नाइ ग्रासि,
    पौरुषेरे करे नि शतधा-नित्य जेथा
    तुमि सर्व कर्म चिन्ता आनंदेर नेता-

    निज हस्ते निर्दय आधात करि पितः,
    भारतेर सेइ स्वर्गे करो जागरित।


    Hindi Translation - कवी शिवमंगल सिंह "सुमन" द्वारा

    जहां चित्‍त भय से शून्‍य हो 
    जहां हम गर्व से माथा ऊंचा करके चल सकें
    जहां ज्ञान मुक्‍त हो 
    जहां दिन रात विशाल वसुधा को खंडों में विभाजित कर 
    छोटे और छोटे आंगन न बनाए जाते हों 

    जहां हर वाक्‍य ह्रदय की गहराई से निकलता हो
    जहां हर दिशा में कर्म के अजस्‍त्र नदी के स्रोत फूटते हों
    और निरंतर अबाधित बहते हों 
    जहां विचारों की सरिता 
    तुच्‍छ आचारों की मरू भूमि में न खोती हो
    जहां पुरूषार्थ सौ सौ टुकड़ों में बंटा हुआ न हो 
    जहां पर सभी कर्म, भावनाएं, आनंदानुभुतियाँ तुम्‍हारे अनुगत हों

    हे पिता, अपने हाथों से निर्दयता पूर्ण प्रहार कर
    उसी स्‍वातंत्र्य स्‍वर्ग में इस सोते हुए भारत को जगाओ


    English Translation

    Where the mind is without fear 
    and the head is held high; 
    Where knowledge is free; 
    Where the world has not been 
    broken up into fragments by the tireless efforts of men; 

    Where words come out from 
    the depth of truth; 
    Where the currents of tireless striving originate 
    and flow without hindrance all over;

    Where the clear stream of reason and thoughts has not lost its way into the dreary 
    desert sand of lowly habits and deeds; 
    Where the valour is not divided in 100 different streams;
    Where all the deeds, emotions are blissfully given by you

    My father, strike the sleeping India without mercy,
    so that she may awaken into such a heaven.

    Just came back from watching House of Gucci in the theaters and chanced upon this different solo version of this ghazal by Jagjit Singh. Different from the widely available versions of this ghazal. Poet: Rana Akbarabadi.

    Lyrics


    Sunte hain ke mil jaati hai, Har cheez dua se
    Ek roz tumhain maang ke, Dekhenge Khuda se

    tum saamne baiThe ho to hai kaif kii baarish
    vo din bhii thay jab aag barsatii thii ghaTaa se

    ae dil tuu unhein dekh kar kuchh aise taDapnaa
    aa jaaye ha.Nsii un ko jo baiThe hai.n Khafaa se

    duniyaa bhii milii hai Gam-e-duniyaa bhii milaa hai
    vo kyuu.N nahin miltaa jisay maaNgaa tha Khuda se

    jab kuchh na milaa haath duaaon ko uThaakar
    phir haath uThaane hii paday, ham ko duaa se

    aaiine mein vo apnii adaa dekh rahe hain
    mar jaaye ki jii jaaye koii unkii balaa se

    Neend aane lagi phir tere daaman ki havaa se 
    Hum chaunkne vaale hi the bas khaab-e-vafaa se

    Translation


    They say that you can have anything you ask in prayer
    One day I will try asking for you from God

    If you come in front of me, it rains from heavens 
    There were days when fire would rain from the skies

    O heart, when you see your love, tremble in such a way
    that my love starts laughing, she seems dissatisfied now

    I have received the world, and all its pains
    Why haven't I attained who I had asked from God. 

    When I received nothing then I had 
    raise my hands to pray

    She is looking at herself in the mirror
    whether someone lives or dies, she doesn't care

    I am sleepy again because of the wind of your dress
    I was just going to wake up from this dream of loyalty



    "Samrath Guru" now on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1y9WWdCA59ghJq62QO01eb


    Reflection -

    When the Samrath Guru
    put his hand on my head
    he gave me Hari’s name
    and my burns were healed

    Whether it was night or day
    hearing Hari’s name incessantly
    even the messenger of death
    himself was fearful

    The only wish I had left
    was of the universe’s Guru,
    Of touching that magical stone
    who’s touch makes you magical

    The disciple of the Guru
    became divine himself ….
    when the samrath guru
    placed his hand on the head


    Credits:
    Production - Shivpreet Singh
    Original Reet - Nirinjan Kaur
    Flute - Rajesh Prasanna
    Oboe - Kimberly Foree
    Harmonies - Christine Linge

    Original Lyrics and Traditional Translation 

    ਸਮਰਥ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਿਰਿ ਹਥੁ ਧਰ੍ਯ੍ਯਉ ॥ 
    समरथ गुरू सिरि हथु धर्यउ ॥ 
    Samrath gurū sir hath ḏẖaryao. 
    The All-powerful Guru placed His hand upon my head. 


    ਗੁਰਿ ਕੀਨੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਦੀਅਉ ਜਿਸੁ ਦੇਖਿ ਚਰੰਨ ਅਘੰਨ ਹਰ੍ਯ੍ਯਉ ॥ 
    गुरि कीनी क्रिपा हरि नामु दीअउ जिसु देखि चरंन अघंन हर्यउ ॥ 
    Gur kīnī kirpā har nām ḏīao jis ḏekẖ cẖarann agẖann haryao. 
    The Guru was kind, and blessed me with the Lord's Name. Gazing upon His Feet, my sins were dispelled. 


    ਨਿਸਿ ਬਾਸੁਰ ਏਕ ਸਮਾਨ ਧਿਆਨ ਸੁ ਨਾਮ ਸੁਨੇ ਸੁਤੁ ਭਾਨ ਡਰ੍ਯ੍ਯਉ ॥ 
    निसि बासुर एक समान धिआन सु नाम सुने सुतु भान डर्यउ ॥ 
    Nis bāsur ek samān ḏẖiān so nām sune suṯ bẖān daryao. 
    Night and day, the Guru meditates on the One Lord; hearing His Name, the Messenger of Death is scared away. 


    ਭਨਿ ਦਾਸ ਸੁ ਆਸ ਜਗਤ੍ਰ ਗੁਰੂ ਕੀ ਪਾਰਸੁ ਭੇਟਿ ਪਰਸੁ ਕਰ੍ਯ੍ਯਉ ॥ 
    भनि दास सु आस जगत्र गुरू की पारसु भेटि परसु कर्यउ ॥ 
    Bẖan ḏās so ās jagṯar gurū kī pāras bẖet paras karyao. 
    So speaks the Lord's slave: Guru Raam Daas placed His Faith in Guru Amar Daas, the Guru of the World; touching the Philosopher's Stone, He was transformed into the Philosopher's Stone. 


    ਰਾਮਦਾਸੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਸਤਿ ਕੀਯਉ ਸਮਰਥ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਿਰਿ ਹਥੁ ਧਰ੍ਯ੍ਯਉ ॥੭॥੧੧॥ 
    रामदासु गुरू हरि सति कीयउ समरथ गुरू सिरि हथु धर्यउ ॥७॥११॥ 
    Rāmḏās gurū har saṯ kīyao samrath gurū sir hath ḏẖaryao. ||7||11|| 
    Guru Raam Daas recognized the Lord as True; the All-powerful Guru placed His hand upon His head. ||7||11|| 

    It’s close to 4:30am on Sunday morning and I’m reading this poem by Robert Hayden. About winter sundays, love, family, thanksgiving. The quiet of the morning makes for a great time to reflect. 

    Those Winter Sundays 

    Sundays too my father got up early
    and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold,
    then with cracked hands that ached
    from labor in the weekday weather made
    banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.

    I’d wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking.
    When the rooms were warm, he’d call,
    and slowly I would rise and dress,
    fearing the chronic angers of that house,


    Speaking indifferently to him,
    who had driven out the cold
    and polished my good shoes as well.
    What did I know, what did I know
    of love’s austere and lonely offices?


    #poem #poetry #shivpreetsingh #love #father #fatherhood #morning #morningmotivation #quotes #sunday

    Video on YouTube || Spotify || Apple Music 


    Shivpreet Singh · Navai Kai Rang

    The words

    This is the 20th pauri of Guru Nanak's long poem Japji Sahib. It is said that Guru Nanak composed this poem n Kartarpur on the right bank of the Ravi river towards the end of his travels. Many have called Japji Sahib the distillation of Guru Nanak's philosophy. From what I have experienced from listening to Japji over the years, Guru ji lays down a 40-step path for the soul bride to sing the essence of truth, Satnam. The initial and last steps are called shloka's and the 38 poems within are called pauris, which literally means steps. Devout sikhs like my grandfather and my parents recite Japji Sahib everyday in the morning. The lyrics and 3 alternative translations are below.

    The music

    I have been working on the music for this composition since several years. The idea was to interject the verses with chanting on Satnam. The harmonies are not computer generated as is for many arrangements these days; I took my sweet time and took over 100 takes for the different vocals in this track and layered them for the harmonies. So I want to especially thank my collaborators who had to wait a long long time before this was completed. In 2018, my friend and his wife David and Ana contributed some tracks to help with this. David Baynes (who also did the arrangement of Jo Mange from 2014, and played the guitar in Jin Prem Kiyo with me) played the guitar and bass for this track. Ana Milena Varona, a highly accomplished cellist, has played several cello tracks to make it sound like a string quartet. Both of them poured their hearts into this so if you enjoy the music, please send them your best wishes. 

    Lyrics and Translation 

    ਭਰੀਐ ਹਥੁ ਪੈਰੁ ਤਨੁ ਦੇਹ ॥
    भरीऐ हथु पैरु तनु देह ॥
    Bẖarīai hath pair ṯan ḏeh.
    When the hands and the feet and the body are dirty,

    ਪਾਣੀ ਧੋਤੈ ਉਤਰਸੁ ਖੇਹ ॥
    पाणी धोतै उतरसु खेह ॥
    Pāṇī ḏẖoṯai uṯras kẖeh.
    water can wash away the dirt.

    ਮੂਤ ਪਲੀਤੀ ਕਪੜੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
    मूत पलीती कपड़ु होइ ॥
    Mūṯ palīṯī kapaṛ hoe.
    When the clothes are soiled and stained by urine,

    ਦੇ ਸਾਬੂਣੁ ਲਈਐ ਓਹੁ ਧੋਇ ॥
    दे साबूणु लईऐ ओहु धोइ ॥
    Ḏe sābūṇ laīai oh ḏẖoe.
    soap can wash them clean.

    ਭਰੀਐ ਮਤਿ ਪਾਪਾ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ॥
    भरीऐ मति पापा कै संगि ॥
    Bẖarīai maṯ pāpā kai sang.
    But when the intellect is stained and polluted by sin,

    ਓਹੁ ਧੋਪੈ ਨਾਵੈ ਕੈ ਰੰਗਿ ॥
    ओहु धोपै नावै कै रंगि ॥
    Oh ḏẖopai nāvai kai rang.
    it can only be cleansed by the Love of the Name.

    ਪੁੰਨੀ ਪਾਪੀ ਆਖਣੁ ਨਾਹਿ ॥
    पुंनी पापी आखणु नाहि ॥
    Punnī pāpī ākẖaṇ nāhi.
    Virtue and vice do not come by mere words;

    ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਣਾ ਲਿਖਿ ਲੈ ਜਾਹੁ ॥
    करि करि करणा लिखि लै जाहु ॥
    Kar kar karṇā likẖ lai jāhu.
    actions repeated, over and over again, are engraved on the soul.

    ਆਪੇ ਬੀਜਿ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਖਾਹੁ ॥
    आपे बीजि आपे ही खाहु ॥
    Āpe bīj āpe hī kẖāhu.
    You shall harvest what you plant.

    ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੀ ਆਵਹੁ ਜਾਹੁ ॥੨੦॥
    नानक हुकमी आवहु जाहु ॥२०॥
    Nānak hukmī āvhu jāhu. ||20||
    O Nanak, by the Hukam of God's Command, we come and go in reincarnation. ||20||

    Translation by Sant Kirpal Singh

    More: https://www.shivpreetsingh.com/2012/10/guru-nanaks-japji-translation-by-sant.html

    STANZA XX
    When the hands, feet and the body are besmeared
    they are washed clean with water;
    When the clothes get dirty and polluted, they are cleansed
    by soap;
    When one's mind gets defiled by sin, it can be purified
    only by communion with the Word.
    Men do not become saints or sinners merely by words.
    But they carry deeds with them wherever they go.
    As one sows, so does one reap;
    O Nanak, men come and go by the wheel(1) of birth and death
    as ordained by His Will.

    (1) The inexorable Law of Karma or the Law of Cause and Effect also works under His Will.
    Good actions like acts of mercy and charity although commendable in themselves do not have an important bearing on the highest spiritual attainment. They cease to be of consequence once the soul begins its inner journey from the "Til" or the third eye: "If therefore thine eye be single thy whole body shall be full of Light." Matt 6:22. Borne along the Current of the Word, the soul reaches "Amrit-saar" or "Amritsar" or the Fount of Nectar, the Amritsar in man. There any impurities that may be still clinging to the soul are finally washed away. Thus the soul is made fit for the onward journey to the highest spiritual plane of "Sat Naam" which is of ineffable greatness and glory.

    Rhyming Translation of Pauri 20 by Swami Raama 


    For full Japji: https://www.shivpreetsingh.com/2011/02/guru-nanak-japji-rhyming-translation.html

    The dirt from off the hands can clean
    And face and feet may water glean.
    When the garments have been stained,
    With soap is stainlessness regained.
    When sin and vice the mind may blight,
    Love of Name will set it right.
    A saint or sinner can’t be known
    Merely by the speech he’s sown,
    But language of the heart unveils
    The action that a man travails.
    “As you show, so shall you reap”
    The fruits of action one may keep.
    Nanak says:
    A person comes and then he dies,
    To order of the lord complies. ||20||

    #GuruNanak #Japji #ShivpreetSingh #Satnam
     

    Babul mora naihar chhuto hi jaay
    Char kahaar mile, mori doliyaa sajave
    Mora aapnaa begana chhuto jaay!
    Naihar chhuto hi jaay... 
    Aangana toh parbat bhayo aur dehari bayi bidesh
    Jay babul ghar aapno mai chali piya ke desh! 

    बाबुल मोरा, नैहर छूटो ही जाए बाबुल मोरा, नैहर छूटो ही जाए

    चार कहार मिल, मोरी डोलिया सजावें (उठायें) मोरा अपना बेगाना छूटो जाए | बाबुल मोरा ...

    आँगना तो पर्बत भयो और देहरी भयी बिदेश जाए बाबुल घर आपनो मैं चली पीया के देश | बाबुल मोरा 

    O My father! I'm leaving home.
    O My father! I'm leaving home.

    The four (palanquin) bearers lift my palanquin.
    I'm leaving those who were my own.

    Your courtyard is now like a mountain, and the threshold, a foreign country.
    I leave your house, father, I am going to my beloved's country.



    Babul, my canopy will be cut.
    Where did you meet four people, decorate my girlfriend
    My own and strangers leave me!
    Naihar keeps getting cuter...
    The courtyard is Parbat brothers and Dehari is also foreign
    Hail Babul, I am going to the country of my own people!

    History 

    The song was written by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the 19th-century Nawab of Awadh as a lamentwhen he was exiled from his beloved Lucknow by the British Raj before the failed Rebellion of 1857, where he uses the metaphor of bidaai (bride's farewell) of a bride from her father's (babul) home, and his own banishment from his beloved Lucknow, to far away Calcutta, where he spent the rest of his years.[1][2][3][4]

    It was also popularised by the legendary classical vocalist, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.




    https://maddy06.blogspot.com/2010/12/story-of-babul-mora.html





    Listening and reading about Amir Khusro's poetry tonight. 

    Bahauddin Khan Qawwal (1934-2006), whose party render the qawwali below, traced his lineage back to the days of Amir Khusrau. To remind centuries-yet-to-be that he had loved his murshid, Khusrau banded together twelve youngsters, personally trained them, funded them, and performed with them. He appointed Mian Saamat as the leader of the Bachche (Youngsters) Qawwal. Bahauddin's family claims descent from the Bachche.



    The first couplet is by Saʿdī. Abū-Muhammad Muslih al-Dīn bin Abdallāh Shīrāzī, aka Saʿdī Shirazi (Persian: ابومحمد مصلح الدین بن عبدالله شیرازی‎; 1210-1292) was the major classical Persian poet of the middle ages, recognized for the quality of his composition and for the depth of his thought.

    اگرم حیات بخشی و گرم هلاک خواهی
    سر بندگی به حکمت بنهم که پادشاهی

    Garam hayat bakhshi wa garam hayat khwahi
    Sar-e-bandagi-ba-khidmat bane humke badshahi

    Grant me a warm new life or grant me a hot death
    I bow my head at Thy service and make Thee my king.

    The second couplet is by ‘Araqi. Fakhr al-dīn Ibrahīm ‘Irāqī, or ‘Araqi (Persian: فخرالدین ابراهیم عراقی‎; 1213-1289), was a Persian Sufi master (a friend of Jalaluddin Rumi), poet and writer. Born in Hamedan, (i.e. 'Irani Iraq'), ‘Araqi spent many years in Multan in the Indian subcontinent, as well as in Konya in present day Turkey.

    نہ شود نصب دشمن، کہ شود ہلاک تیغت
    سر دوستاں سلامت، کہ تو خنجر آزمائی


    Na shabad naseeb-e-dushman ke shabad halaq-e-taighat
    Sar-e-doston-salamat ke tu khanjarat ma aaye

    Why should our enemies be so fortunate to die by Thine hands?
    The heads of comrades are standing alive, ready for dagger-wielder Thou.

    The rest is by Amir Khusrau (1253-1305):

    گفتم که روشن از قمر گفتا که رخسار منست

    گفتم که شیرین از شکر گفتا که گفتار منست


    Guftam ke roshan az qamar gufta ke rukhsar-e-man ast
    Guftam ke shireen az shakar gufta ke guftar-e-man ast


    I asked: 'What is brighter than the moon?' She said: 'It is my face.'
    I asked: 'What is sweeter than sugar?' She said: 'It is my talk.'


    گفتم کہ مرگِ ناگہاں، گفتا که درد هجر من
    گفتم علاج زندگی ،گفتا که دیدار منست


    Guftam ke marg-e-'ashiqan gufta ke dard-e-hijr-e-man
    Guftam 'ilaaj-e-zindagi gufta ke deedar-e-man ast


    I asked about the death of lovers; She said; 'The pain of being separated from me.'
    I asked about the cure of life; She said: 'It is the sight of my face.'


    گفتم طریق عاشقان گفتا وفاداری بود
    گفتم مکن جور و جفا، گفتا کہ این کار منست


    Guftam tareeq-e-'ashiqan gufta wafadari buwad
    Guftam makun jaur o jafa gufta ke iin kar-e-man ast


    I asked about the way of lovers; She said: 'Fidelity.'
    I said: 'Then do not be cruel and wicked.' She said: 'That is my task.'


    گفتم که حوری یا پری ، گفتا که من شاه ِ بتاں
    گفتم که خسرو ناتوان گفتا پرستار منست


    Guftam ke houri ya pari gufta ke man shah-e-butan
    Guftam ke Khusrau na-tavaan gufta parastar-e-man ast


    I said: 'Are you a houri or a fairy?' She said: 'Of idols I am King.'
    I said: 'Khusrau is helpless.' She said: 'Worship me.'


    In his Lectures on Aesthetics, Hegel wrote:

    Pantheistic poetry has had, it must be said, a higher and freer development in the Islamic world, especially among the Persians ... The full flowering of Persian poetry comes at the height of its complete transformation in speech and national character, through Mohammedanism ... In later times, poetry of this order [Ferdowsi's epic poetry] had a sequel in love epics of extraordinary tenderness and sweetness; but there followed also a turn toward the didactic, where, with a rich experience of life, the far-traveled Saadi was master before it submerged itself in the depths of the pantheistic mysticism taught and recommended in the extraordinary tales and legendary narrations of the great Jalal-ed-Din Rumi.


    اگرم حیات بخشی و گرم هلاک خواهیسر بندگی به حکمت بنهم که پادشاهی

    e.e. cummings was revolutionary as a poet. Here is an ecstatic. You leap from one sentence to another like water going from pebble to pebble in a stream. 

    ee Cummings turned to literature after being prisoned in France on false grounds. His first book, the enourmous room came from that experience. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Enormous_Room

    This poem is about oneness. And how nature’s songs are better than our discussions: Birds sing sweeter than books can tell. Conventional wisdom imparted from books falls short of truth, love and beauty. Language likewise has a limited scope in describing such things. Bad teachers don’t understand this and keep focusing on conventional teachings; good teachers stress experiential learning and exploring beyond convention. 

    The poet breaks so many rules; he goes beyond the conventional rules of the language. He finds that truth love and beauty are in oneness. There is an incredible ness of oneness, truth, love and beauty.  

    if everything happens that can't be done
    e.e. cummings


    if everything happens that can't be done
    (and anything's righter
    than books
    could plan)
    the stupidest teacher will almost guess
    (with a run
    skip
    around we go yes)
    there's nothing as something as one

    one hasn't a why or because or although
    (and buds know better
    than books
    don't grow)
    one's anything old being everything new
    (with a what
    which
    around we come who)
    one's everyanything so

    so world is a leaf so a tree is a bough
    (and birds sing sweeter
    than books
    tell how)
    so here is away and so your is a my
    (with a down
    up
    around again fly)
    forever was never till now

    now i love you and you love me
    (and books are shuter
    than books
    can be)
    and deep in the high that does nothing but fall
    (with a shout
    each
    around we go all)
    there's somebody calling who's we

    we're anything brighter than even the sun
    (we're everything greater
    than books
    might mean)
    we're everyanything more than believe
    (with a spin
    leap
    alive we're alive)
    we're wonderful one times one


    Reminds me of 

    Dhai Akhar Prem Ke


    Today I was reading this poem by Hugo Williams and I was reminded of Ranjish hi Sahi, ghazal of Ahmed Faraz immortalized by the singing of Mehdi Hassan (ghazal).  

    Please Come Late 

    by Hugo Williams

    Please come late,
    so that I gave almost given you up
    and have started glancing round the room,
    thinking everyone is you.

    Ranjish hi Sahi




    Ranjish hi sahi dil hi dukhane ke liye aa
    Aa phir se mujhe chod ke jaane ke liye aa
    Let it be anguish, even to torture my heart, come
    Come even if only to abandon me to torment again.

    Pehle se marasim na sahi phir bhi kabhi to
    Rasm-o-reh.e.duniya hi nibhane ke liye aa
    Come, if not for our past commerce,
    Then to faithfully fulfill the ancient barbaric rituals.


    Kis kis ko bataayenge judaaii ka sabab hum
    Tu mujh se kafa hai to zamane ke liye aa
    How many people will I explain my grief to?
    If you are mad at me, come just for the sake of this world


    Kuch to mere pindaar-e-muhabbat ka bharam rakh
    Tu bhi kabhi mujh ko manane ke liye aa
    Respect, even if only a little, the depth of my love for you;
    Come, someday, to offer me consolation as well.


    Ek umr se hoon lazzat-e-giriya se bhi mehroom
    Aye raahat-e-jaan mujh ko rulaane ke liye aa
    Too long you have deprived me of the pathos of longing;
    Come again, my love, if only to make me weep.


    Ab tak dil-e-khush faham ko tujh se hain ummiiden
    Ye aakhri shamme bhi bhujaane ke liye aa
    Till now, my heart still suffers some slight expectation;
    So come, snuff out even the last flickering torch of hope!


    Maana ki muhabbat ka chupaana hai muhabbat
    Chupke se kisi roz jataane ke liye aa
    Agreed, silencing your love is the real form of love
    Some day, come to silently express your love


    Jaise tujhe aate hain na aane ke bahaane
    Aise hi kisi roz na jaane ke liye aa
    The way you find excuses to not come,
    Some day, come with an excuse to stay forever

    Alternative Translation (from rekhta)

    ranjish hī sahī dil hī dukhāne ke liye aa 
    aa phir se mujhe chhoḌ ke jaane ke liye aa 

    even if you are annoyed come just to give me pain 
    come even if you have to then leave me yet again 

    kuchh to mire pindār-e-mohabbat kā bharam rakh 
    tū bhī to kabhī mujh ko manāne ke liye aa 

    the notion of my love's self-pride please do pacify 
    you should surely come one day and try to mollify 

    pahle se marāsim na sahī phir bhī kabhī to 
    rasm-o-rah-e-duniyā hī nibhāne ke liye aa 

    even tho no longer close we are as used to be 
    come even if it's purely for sake of formality 

    kis kis ko batā.eñge judā.ī kā sabab ham 
    tū mujh se ḳhafā hai to zamāne ke liye aa 

    the reason for our parting to whom should I relate 
    if cross with methen come and to the world narrate 

    ik umr se huuñ lazzat-e-girya se bhī mahrūm 
    ai rāhat-e-jāñ mujh ko rulāne ke liye aa 

    a lifetime have I missed the joy of tearful ecstasy 
    life's comfort thus to make me cry, you should come to me 

    ab tak dil-e-ḳhush-fahm ko tujh se haiñ ummīdeñ 
    ye āḳhirī sham.eñ bhī bujhāne ke liye aa 

    my heart is optimistic yet, its hopes are still alive 
    come to snuff it out, let not this final flame survive 

    Please Come Late 

    by Hugo Williams

    Please come late,
    so that I gave almost given you up
    and have started glancing round the room,
    thinking everyone is you.
    Please don’t come
    until I have started missing you,
    thinking I will never see you again,
    praying you are lost.
    Come too late for me not to notice.
    Make me suffer,
    wondering what you are doing
    on the other side of town,
    still in your dressing down.
    make me beg for mercy
    when you pick up a magazine.

    Are you looking in your mirror,
    suddenly remembering me?
    I’m on my second coffee by now,
    eating the little bits of sugar in my cup.
    Haven’t you even set out yet?
    I decide I don’t want to see you after all.
    I don’t really like you.
    I’d rather be on my own.
    I know it is all over between us.

    but I go on sitting here,
    reading a newspaper,
    not understanding a word.
    If you came in now, I wouldn’t recognize you.
    Don’t come anywhere near me
    until I have gone slightly mad for love of you.
    Newer Posts Older Posts Home

    SHIVPREET SINGH

    Singing oneness!
    - Shivpreet Singh

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