Shivpreet Singh
Shivpreet Singh
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At the end of the year I want to focus on the light of hope in these troubled times. Let us ignite the light within, and let the light do its magic. Listen to the following shabad as you read this:


The Oxen

Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.
“Now they are all on their knees,”
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.

We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.

So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years! Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
“Come; see the oxen kneel,

“In the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know,”
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so.

- Thomas Hardy



In his tender poem The Oxen, Thomas Hardy reflects on a fragile yet enduring hope—a childlike belief in the miraculous, expressed through the story of oxen kneeling in reverence on Christmas Eve. Hardy, writing in the shadow of doubt and skepticism, reveals a deeper truth: in moments of despair and uncertainty, the human spirit longs for something sacred, something that affirms goodness in the world. He leaves us not with certainty, but with the willingness to believe, even if it is only "hoping it might be so."

Let's look at Mary Oliver's poem: 

Summery Day

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean—
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

- Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver echoes this sentiment in her reflections on prayer, where she reminds us that prayer need not be elaborate or perfect—it is simply the act of paying attention, of opening our hearts to the divine presence in the ordinary. Both poets, in their own ways, speak to the power of quiet faith and the solace of small acts of reverence.


Gurbani, the sacred hymns of the Sikh Gurus, deepens this understanding by illuminating the Divine Light within us. Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Shabad, "Puran Jot Jagai Ghat Mai," resonates particularly with this idea:

Let nothing enter your mind except oneness
Day & night, rekindle this awakening lamp
You don’t need fasts, shrines, and temples
Adorn the wisdom of real love
Pilgrimage, charity, kindness, meditation, equanimity
None of these have any credence without oneness
If you want to see clearly
Light the authentic lamp within
- Guru Gobind Singh

This Shabad is both a reminder and an invitation. It tells us that no matter how dim the world appears, the divine Light—the Puran Jot—exists within us, waiting to be kindled. This Light is not something external or fleeting; it is eternal and radiant, capable of dispelling the shadows of fear, doubt, and despair.

Today, as we face wars in Europe and the Middle East, the looming threat of climate change, and the pervasive uncertainty of our times, the wisdom of this Shabad calls us to look inward. Just as Hardy invites us to “hope it might be so” and Oliver asks us to pay attention in prayer, Gurbani urges us to awaken this Light within ourselves. It is here, in this illumination, that we find clarity, peace, and the courage to move forward. The ancient bards are urging us to listen. 

Hardy’s “The Oxen,” Oliver’s meditations, and Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Shabad come together as a gentle reminder: in a fractured world, our hope, however fragile, is an act of faith. It is the kneeling oxen, the small prayer, the flicker of divine Light in our hearts—signs that, despite everything, the sacred remains.

This holiday season, and during my first meditation session for next year (January 4), let us embrace these moments of quiet reverence. Let us look for the sacred, not in distant promises, but in the nearness of hope and love. Let us awaken the Puran Jot within and, in doing so, illuminate the path for ourselves and others. Let the light do the magic. 
No better time than Diwali to think about this: no one knows the light within unless the enlightener enables the soul. This is a new composition of Bhagat Sant Namdev's shabad in Raag Parbhati. It is part of my 750 year anniversary celebrations for Bhagat Sant Namdev. This is a rare shabad hardly ever sung, also sung in a rare raag. Lyrics and meanings are below. 





Lyrics in English - Jee Ki Jot
Parbẖāṯī.

Akul purakẖ ik cẖaliṯ upāiā.
Gẖat gẖat anṯar barahm lukāiā. ||1||

Jīa kī joṯ na jānai koī.
Ŧai mai kīā so mālūm hoī. ||1|| rahāo.

Jio pargāsiā mātī kumbẖeo.
Āp hī karṯā bīṯẖul ḏeo. ||2||

Jīa kā banḏẖan karam biāpai.
Jo kicẖẖ kīā so āpai āpai. ||3||

Paraṇvaṯ nāmḏeo ih jīo cẖiṯvai so lahai.
Amar hoe saḏ ākul rahai. ||4||3||


Translation in English by Mohan Singh: 

Prabhaatee:

The Primal Being has no ancestry; He has staged this play.
God is hidden deep within each and every heart. ||1||

No one knows the Light of the soul.
Whatever I do, is known to You, Lord. ||1||Pause||

Just as the pitcher is made from clay,
everything is made from the Beloved Divine Creator Himself. ||2||

The mortal's actions hold the soul in the bondage of karma.
Whatever he does, he does on his own. ||3||

Prays Naam Dayv, whatever this soul wants, it obtains.
Whoever abides in the Lord, becomes immortal. ||4||3||


My Thoughts - Jee Ki Jot

No one knows the light within 
The enlightener makes it known

The one beyond Lineage plays a game
He hid brahm in every vessel

Like a pot emerges from earth
Beethal is the doer of everything

Life is entangled by karma 
He himself is the entangler

Resting my mind on you I am lit
I am beyond death and lineage 


Punjabi Translation by Professor Sahib Singh


ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ ॥ ਅਕੁਲ ਪੁਰਖ ਇਕੁ ਚਲਿਤੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਲੁਕਾਇਆ ॥੧॥ ਜੀਅ ਕੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਨ ਜਾਨੈ ਕੋਈ ॥ ਤੈ ਮੈ ਕੀਆ ਸੁ ਮਾਲੂਮੁ ਹੋਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਜਿਉ ਪ੍ਰਗਾਸਿਆ ਮਾਟੀ ਕੁੰਭੇਉ ॥ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਕਰਤਾ ਬੀਠੁਲੁ ਦੇਉ ॥੨॥ ਜੀਅ ਕਾ ਬੰਧਨੁ ਕਰਮੁ ਬਿਆਪੈ ॥ ਜੋ ਕਿਛੁ ਕੀਆ ਸੁ ਆਪੈ ਆਪੈ ॥੩॥ ਪ੍ਰਣਵਤਿ ਨਾਮਦੇਉ ਇਹੁ ਜੀਉ ਚਿਤਵੈ ਸੁ ਲਹੈ ॥ ਅਮਰੁ ਹੋਇ ਸਦ ਆਕੁਲ ਰਹੈ ॥੪॥੩॥ {ਪੰਨਾ 1351}

ਪਦ ਅਰਥ: ਕੁ-ਧਰਤੀ। ਕੁਲ = ਧਰਤੀ ਤੇ ਪੈਦਾ ਹੋਇਆ, ਖ਼ਾਨਦਾਨ, ਬੰਸ। ਅਕੁਲ = (ਅ-ਕੁਲ) ਜੋ ਧਰਤੀ ਉਤੇ ਜੰਮੀ (ਕਿਸੇ ਕੁਲ) ਵਿਚੋਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ। ਪੁਰਖ = ਸਭ ਵਿਚ ਵਿਆਪਕ (Skt. puir _yqy eiq pu{ =) । ਚਲਿਤੁ = ਜਗਤ-ਰੂਪ ਤਮਾਸ਼ਾ। ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ = ਹਰੇਕ ਘਟ ਵਿਚ। ਅੰਤਰਿ = ਹਰੇਕ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰ। ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ = ਆਤਮਾ, ਜਿੰਦ।1।

ਜੀਅ ਕੀ ਜੋਤਿ = ਹਰੇਕ ਜੀਵ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਵੱਸਦੀ ਜੋਤਿ। ਕੋਈ = ਕੋਈ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ। ਤੈ ਮੈ ਕੀਆ = ਅਸਾਂ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਨੇ ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਕੀਤਾ, ਅਸੀਂ ਜੀਵ ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਾਂ। ਮੈ = ਤੂੰ ਤੇ ਮੈਂ, ਅਸੀਂ ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ। ਹੋਈ = ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।1। ਰਹਾਉ।

ਜਿਉ = ਜਿਵੇਂ। ਕੁੰਭੇਉ = ਕੁੰਭ, ਘੜਾ। ਕਰਤਾ = ਪੈਦਾ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ। ਬੀਠੁਲ ਦੇਉ = ਮਾਇਆ ਤੋਂ ਰਹਿਤ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ।2।

ਕਰਮੁ = ਕੀਤਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਕੰਮ। ਬੰਧਨੁ = ਜੰਜਾਲ। ਬਿਆਪੈ = ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ ਪਾ ਰੱਖਦਾ ਹੈ। ਆਪੈ = ਆਪ ਹੀ ਆਪ, ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਨੇ ਆਪ ਹੀ।3।

ਚਿਤਵੈ = ਚਿਤਵਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂਘ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਲਹੈ– ਹਾਸਲ ਕਰ ਲੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਅਮਰੁ = (ਅ-ਮਰੁ) ਮੌਤ-ਰਹਿਤ। ਆਕੁਲ = ਸਰਬ-ਵਿਆਪਕ।4।

ਅਰਥ: ਜਿਸ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੀ ਕੋਈ ਖ਼ਾਸ ਕੁਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ ਉਸ ਸਰਬ-ਵਿਆਪਕ ਨੇ ਇਹ ਜਗਤ-ਰੂਪ ਇਕ ਖੇਡ ਬਣਾ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਹੈ। ਹਰੇਕ ਸਰੀਰ ਵਿਚ, ਹਰੇਕ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਤਮਾ ਗੁਪਤ ਰੱਖ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ।1।

ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਵੱਸਦੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਨੂੰ ਤਾਂ ਕੋਈ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਅਸੀਂ ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਾਂ (ਸਾਡੇ ਅੰਦਰ) ਉਸ ਅੰਦਰ-ਵੱਸਦੀ-ਜੋਤਿ ਨੂੰ ਮਲੂਮ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।1। ਰਹਾਉ।

ਜਿਵੇਂ ਮਿੱਟੀ ਤੋਂ ਘੜਾ ਬਣ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, (ਤਿਵੇਂ ਉਸ ਪਰਮ-ਜੋਤਿ ਤੋਂ ਸਾਰੇ ਜੀਵ ਬਣਦੇ ਹਨ, ਪਰ) ਉਹ ਬੀਠੁਲ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਸਭ ਦਾ ਪੈਦਾ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੈ।2।

ਜੀਵ ਦਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਕੰਮ ਉਸ ਲਈ ਜੰਜਾਲ ਹੋ ਢੁਕਦਾ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਇਹ ਜੰਜਾਲ ਆਦਿਕ ਭੀ ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਬਣਾਇਆ ਹੈ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਨੇ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਬਣਾਇਆ ਹੈ।3।

ਨਾਮਦੇਵ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਇਹ ਜੀਵ ਜਿਸ ਸ਼ੈ ਉਤੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਮਨ ਟਿਕਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਹਾਸਲ ਕਰ ਲੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ (ਮਾਇਆ-ਜਾਲ ਦੀ ਚਿਤਵਨੀ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਮਾਇਆ-ਜਾਲ ਵਿਚ ਫਸ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਪਰ) ਜੇ ਇਹ ਜੀਵ ਸਰਬ-ਵਿਆਪਕ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਨ ਵਿਚ ਟਿਕਾਏ ਤਾਂ (ਉਸ ਅਮਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਵਿਚ ਟਿਕ ਕੇ ਆਪ ਭੀ) ਅਮਰ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।4।

ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦਾ ਭਾਵ: ਸਰਬ-ਵਿਆਪਕ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਨੇ ਜਗਤ ਦੀ ਇਹ ਖੇਡ ਆਪ ਹੀ ਰਚਾਈ ਹੈ।


Hindi Translation by Professor Sahib Singh

प्रभाती ॥ अकुल पुरख इकु चलितु उपाइआ ॥ घटि घटि अंतरि ब्रहमु लुकाइआ ॥१॥

पद्अर्थ: कु = धरती। कुल = धरती से पैदा हुआ, खानदान, वंश। अकुल = (अ+कुल) जो धरती के ऊपर पैदा हुई (किसी भी) कुल में से नहीं है। पुरख = सब में व्यापक (संस्कृत: पुरि शेते इति पुरुष:)। चलित्रु = जगत रूप तमाशा। घटि घटि = हरेक घट में। अंतरि = हरेक के अंदर। ब्रहमु = आत्मा, जिंद।1।

अर्थ: जिस परमात्मा की कोई खास कुल नहीं है उस सर्व-व्यापक ने ये जगत-रूप एक खेल बना दी है। हरेक शरीर में, हरेक के अंदर उसने अपनी आत्मा गुप्त रख दी है।1।

जीअ की जोति न जानै कोई ॥ तै मै कीआ सु मालूमु होई ॥१॥ रहाउ॥

पद्अर्थ: जीअ की जोति = हरेक जीव के अंदर बसती ज्योति। कोई = कोई प्राणी। तै मै कीआ = हम जीवों ने जो कुछ किया, हम जीव जो कुछ करते हैं। मैं = तू और मैं, हम सारे जीव। होई = होता है।1। रहाउ।

अर्थ: सारे जीवों में बसती ज्योति को तो कोई प्राणी जानता नहीं है, पर हम सारे जीव जो कुछ करते हैं (हमारे अंदर) उस अंदर-बस-रही-ज्योति को मालूम हो जाता है।1। रहाउ।

जिउ प्रगासिआ माटी कु्मभेउ ॥ आप ही करता बीठुलु देउ ॥२॥

पद्अर्थ: जिउ = जैसे। कुंभेउ = कुंभ, घड़ा। करता = पैदा करने वाला। बीठुल देउ = माया से रहित प्रभु।2।

अर्थ: जैसे मिट्टी से घड़ा बन जाता है, (वैसे ही उस परम ज्योति से सारे जीव बनते हैं, पर) वह बीठलु प्रभु खुद ही सबको पैदा करने वाला है।2।

जीअ का बंधनु करमु बिआपै ॥ जो किछु कीआ सु आपै आपै ॥३॥

पद्अर्थ: करमु = किया हुआ कर्म। बंधनु = जंजाल। बिआपै = प्रभाव डाले रखता है। आपै = आप ही आप, प्रभु ने आप ही।3।

अर्थ: जीव का किया हुआ काम उसके लिए जंजाल बन जाता है, पर यह जंजाल आदि भी जो कुछ बनाया है प्रभु ने स्वयं ही बनाया है।3।

प्रणवति नामदेउ इहु जीउ चितवै सु लहै ॥ अमरु होइ सद आकुल रहै ॥४॥३॥

पद्अर्थ: चितवै = चितवता है, तमन्ना रखता है। लहै = हासिल कर लेता है। अमरु = (अ+मरु) मौत रहित। आकुल = सर्व व्यापक।4।

अर्थ: नामदेव विनती करता है, यह जीव जिस शै के ऊपर अपना मन टिकाता है उसको हासिल कर लेता है (माया-जाल की चितवनी करता है और माया-जाल में फंस जाता है, पर) अगर यह जीव सर्व-व्यापक परमात्मा को अपने मन में टिकाए तो (उस अमर प्रभु में टिक के स्वयं भी) अमर हो जाता है।4।

शब्द का भाव: सर्व-व्यापक परमात्मा ने जगत की यह खेल खुद ही रची है।

नोट: नामदेव जी का ‘बीठुल’ वह है जो ‘आप ही करता’ है जिस ने यह जगत-तमाशा बनाया है और जिसको सब जीवों के दिल के भेद मालूम हो जाते हैं। यह शब्द ‘बीठुल’ सतिगुरु जी ने भी अपनी वाणी में कई बार बरता है। अगर निरा यह शब्द बरतने से ही नामदेव जी को किसी बीठुल-मूर्ति का उपासक मान लेना है तो यह शब्द सतिगुरु जी ने भी उपयोग किया है।
These are notes for katha on Oct 27, 2019 on Diwali. Also continuing the 2 year long Guru Nanak 550 project.



Guru Nanak composed Bani (974 shabads) in 19 Raags: Sri raag, Majh, Gauri, Asa. Gujri, Wadhans, Sorath, Dhanasri, Tilang, Suhi, Bilawal, Ramkali, Tukhaari, Bhairav, Basant, Sarang, Malhaar and Prabhati.

We have covered Sri Raag or Shri Raag through Dhanasri until last time, but for Diwali it is apt to do Shri and Dhanasri once more.  It also marks a half way point through all the raags of Guru Nanak. These will continue through next year. 

One shabad in Dhanasri and one in Sri -

ਰਾਗੁ ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥

ਗਗਨ ਮੈ ਥਾਲੁ ਰਵਿ ਚੰਦੁ ਦੀਪਕ ਬਨੇ ਤਾਰਿਕਾ ਮੰਡਲ ਜਨਕ ਮੋਤੀ ॥
ਧੂਪੁ ਮਲਆਨਲੋ ਪਵਣੁ ਚਵਰੋ ਕਰੇ ਸਗਲ ਬਨਰਾਇ ਫੂਲੰਤ ਜੋਤੀ ॥੧॥

ਕੈਸੀ ਆਰਤੀ ਹੋਇ ॥
ਭਵ ਖੰਡਨਾ ਤੇਰੀ ਆਰਤੀ ॥
ਅਨਹਤਾ ਸਬਦ ਵਾਜੰਤ ਭੇਰੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਸਹਸ ਤਵ ਨੈਨ ਨਨ ਨੈਨ ਹਹਿ ਤੋਹਿ ਕਉ ਸਹਸ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਨਨਾ ਏਕ ਤੋੁਹੀ ॥
ਸਹਸ ਪਦ ਬਿਮਲ ਨਨ ਏਕ ਪਦ ਗੰਧ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਹਸ ਤਵ ਗੰਧ ਇਵ ਚਲਤ ਮੋਹੀ ॥੨॥

ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਹੈ ਸੋਇ ॥
ਤਿਸ ਦੈ ਚਾਨਣਿ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਚਾਨਣੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
ਗੁਰ ਸਾਖੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਪਰਗਟੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
ਜੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੁ ਆਰਤੀ ਹੋਇ ॥੩॥

ਹਰਿ ਚਰਣ ਕਵਲ ਮਕਰੰਦ ਲੋਭਿਤ ਮਨੋ ਅਨਦਿਨੋੁ ਮੋਹਿ ਆਹੀ ਪਿਆਸਾ ॥
ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਜਲੁ ਦੇਹਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਰਿੰਗ ਕਉ ਹੋਇ ਜਾ ਤੇ ਤੇਰੈ ਨਾਇ ਵਾਸਾ ॥੪॥੩॥


ਰਾਗੁ ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ ਪਹਿਲਾ ੧ ਘਰੁ ੧ ॥

ਮੋਤੀ ਤ ਮੰਦਰ ਊਸਰਹਿ ਰਤਨੀ ਤ ਹੋਹਿ ਜੜਾਉ ॥
ਕਸਤੂਰਿ ਕੁੰਗੂ ਅਗਰਿ ਚੰਦਨਿ ਲੀਪਿ ਆਵੈ ਚਾਉ ॥
ਮਤੁ ਦੇਖਿ ਭੂਲਾ ਵੀਸਰੈ ਤੇਰਾ ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਨਾਉ ॥੧॥

ਹਰਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਜੀਉ ਜਲਿ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਉ ॥
ਮੈ ਆਪਣਾ ਗੁਰੁ ਪੂਛਿ ਦੇਖਿਆ ਅਵਰੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਥਾਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਧਰਤੀ ਤ ਹੀਰੇ ਲਾਲ ਜੜਤੀ ਪਲਘਿ ਲਾਲ ਜੜਾਉ ॥
ਮੋਹਣੀ ਮੁਖਿ ਮਣੀ ਸੋਹੈ ਕਰੇ ਰੰਗਿ ਪਸਾਉ ॥
ਮਤੁ ਦੇਖਿ ਭੂਲਾ ਵੀਸਰੈ ਤੇਰਾ ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਨਾਉ ॥੨॥

ਸਿਧੁ ਹੋਵਾ ਸਿਧਿ ਲਾਈ ਰਿਧਿ ਆਖਾ ਆਉ ॥
ਗੁਪਤੁ ਪਰਗਟੁ ਹੋਇ ਬੈਸਾ ਲੋਕੁ ਰਾਖੈ ਭਾਉ ॥
ਮਤੁ ਦੇਖਿ ਭੂਲਾ ਵੀਸਰੈ ਤੇਰਾ ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਨਾਉ ॥੩॥

ਸੁਲਤਾਨੁ ਹੋਵਾ ਮੇਲਿ ਲਸਕਰ ਤਖਤਿ ਰਾਖਾ ਪਾਉ ॥
ਹੁਕਮੁ ਹਾਸਲੁ ਕਰੀ ਬੈਠਾ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸਭ ਵਾਉ ॥
ਮਤੁ ਦੇਖਿ ਭੂਲਾ ਵੀਸਰੈ ਤੇਰਾ ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਨਾਉ ॥੪॥੧॥


ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥
ਕੋਟਿ ਕੋਟੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਆਰਜਾ ਪਵਣੁ ਪੀਅਣੁ ਅਪਿਆਉ ॥
ਚੰਦੁ ਸੂਰਜੁ ਦੁਇ ਗੁਫੈ ਨ ਦੇਖਾ ਸੁਪਨੈ ਸਉਣ ਨ ਥਾਉ ॥
ਭੀ ਤੇਰੀ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਨਾ ਪਵੈ ਹਉ ਕੇਵਡੁ ਆਖਾ ਨਾਉ ॥੧॥

ਸਾਚਾ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ ਨਿਜ ਥਾਇ ॥
ਸੁਣਿ ਸੁਣਿ ਆਖਣੁ ਆਖਣਾ ਜੇ ਭਾਵੈ ਕਰੇ ਤਮਾਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਕੁਸਾ ਕਟੀਆ ਵਾਰ ਵਾਰ ਪੀਸਣਿ ਪੀਸਾ ਪਾਇ ॥
ਅਗੀ ਸੇਤੀ ਜਾਲੀਆ ਭਸਮ ਸੇਤੀ ਰਲਿ ਜਾਉ ॥
ਭੀ ਤੇਰੀ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਨਾ ਪਵੈ ਹਉ ਕੇਵਡੁ ਆਖਾ ਨਾਉ ॥੨॥

ਪੰਖੀ ਹੋਇ ਕੈ ਜੇ ਭਵਾ ਸੈ ਅਸਮਾਨੀ ਜਾਉ ॥
ਨਦਰੀ ਕਿਸੈ ਨ ਆਵਊ ਨਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਪੀਆ ਨ ਖਾਉ ॥
ਭੀ ਤੇਰੀ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਨਾ ਪਵੈ ਹਉ ਕੇਵਡੁ ਆਖਾ ਨਾਉ ॥੩॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਕਾਗਦ ਲਖ ਮਣਾ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਕੀਚੈ ਭਾਉ ॥
ਮਸੂ ਤੋਟਿ ਨ ਆਵਈ ਲੇਖਣਿ ਪਉਣੁ ਚਲਾਉ ॥
ਭੀ ਤੇਰੀ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਨਾ ਪਵੈ ਹਉ ਕੇਵਡੁ ਆਖਾ ਨਾਉ ॥੪॥੨॥




ਹਰਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਜੀਉ ਜਲਿ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਉ ॥
Guru Nanak talks about what is important to remember. The name of the lord. 


It is very difficult - hearing is difficult ... it is difficult to ascertain your value. 
ਭੀ ਤੇਰੀ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਨਾ ਪਵੈ ਹਉ ਕੇਵਡੁ ਆਖਾ ਨਾਉ ॥੧॥

ਤਮਾਇ 
Tama - means Desire and also means Night

How to remember ... he starts

We grow accustomed to the Dark -
When Light is put away -
As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp
To witness her Good bye -

A Moment - We Uncertain step
For newness of the night -
Then - fit our Vision to the Dark -
And meet the Road - erect -

And so of larger - Darknesses -
Those Evenings of the Brain -
When not a Moon disclose a sign -
Or Star - come out - within -

The Bravest - grope a little -
And sometimes hit a Tree
Directly in the Forehead -
But as they learn to see -

Either the Darkness alters -
Or something in the sight
Adjusts itself to Midnight -
And Life steps almost straight.




A Seeker’s Journey (first revision)
- poem

In the quiet of dawn,  
I whisper a prayer,  
not for the weight of gold,  
nor for the fleeting shine of silver.  
No, it is not the comfort of the world  
that stirs this heart,  
but a longing to be led  
from the false to the real.

The world shifts and sways,  
a dance of shadows  
that play across the walls of the mind.  
I reach out,  
not for the shifting sand beneath my feet,  
but for the solid ground  
that lies beneath the illusion.

"Guide me," I ask,  
"from the darkness that blinds,  
to the light that reveals  
the truth hidden in plain sight."  
For in the stillness of night,  
when the stars are silent,  
it is not the light of day I seek,  
but the light of understanding  
that burns eternal within.

And death—what is it,  
but a veil drawn across the eyes?  
I do not ask to live forever,  
but to know the truth  
that life and death are but the play of time,  
and I am something more,  
something timeless,  
something that cannot be touched  
by the hands of the clock.

So I walk, step by step,  
on a path that winds inward,  
where each turn brings me closer  
to the knowledge  
that I am not this body,  
not this mind,  
but the still, silent witness  
to the dance of the world.

And in this journey,  
I find peace,  
not in the world outside,  
but in the understanding  
that I am, have always been,  
and will always be  
the light,  
the truth,  
the immortal self  
that lies beyond all shadows.
Today, I find solace in the words of Marianne Williamson's poem, "Our Deepest Fear" (see below for the full poem). In her poignant opening lines, she astutely notes:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear
is that we are powerful beyond measure.
Williamson's words prompt profound contemplation on the connection between fear and the failure to recognize the light within us. It compels us to reflect on the immense potential that lies dormant within our souls, waiting to be acknowledged and embraced.

Guru Nanak's Kaisi Aarti

Fear is an intrinsic aspect of the human experience, capable of hindering our personal growth and preventing us from embracing life's opportunities. Yet, within each of us resides an indomitable light that has the power to dispel fear and ignite our true potential. By recognizing and nurturing this inner light, we can overcome our deepest fears, discover our authentic selves, and embrace a life of courage and fulfillment. Through poetry and reflection, we will explore the profound truth that the recognition of the light within makes us fearless.

I am reminded of words from three poets:

1. William Wordsworth


In the depths of our being lies a sacred spark, an essence that radiates with infinite potential. This inner light represents our inherent goodness, resilience, and capacity for greatness. It is a source of strength, love, and compassion that can guide us through even the darkest of times. William Wordsworth's famous lines from his poem "Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood" beautifully capture this idea:
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home.
These verses remind us that our origin is divine, and we carry within us a connection to something greater than ourselves. By recognizing this eternal light, we tap into a boundless source of courage that enables us to face our fears head-on.

2. Mary Oliver


Fear often arises from the vulnerability we experience as human beings. However, when we acknowledge and accept our vulnerabilities, we begin to unravel the layers that conceal our true essence. In her poem "Wild Geese," Mary Oliver encourages us to embrace our imperfections and let go of the fear that holds us back:

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.

Oliver's words urge us to release the burdens of societal expectations and judgments. By embracing our authentic selves, we tap into the core of our being and illuminate the path towards fearlessness. The recognition of our inner light allows us to transcend the limitations we impose upon ourselves, thereby freeing us from the grip of fear.

3. Rumi


The light within us grows brighter when we cultivate our inner strength and resilience. Rumi, the renowned Sufi poet, speaks of this inner strength in his poem "The Guest House":

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!

Rumi reminds us that life's experiences, both positive and negative, are opportunities for growth and transformation. By embracing every emotion and circumstance that comes our way, we nurture our inner light, and fear loses its power over us. The recognition of our strength, even in the face of adversity, allows us to stand tall and navigate life's challenges with unwavering courage.

The recognition of the light within us is an empowering realization that dispels fear and guides us towards a life of courage and fulfillment. Through the wisdom of poets, we are reminded of our intrinsic connection to the divine, the importance of embracing vulnerability, and the cultivation of inner strength. As we acknowledge and nurture the spark of divinity within, we find the strength to face our fears head-on, transforming them into stepping stones on the path to personal growth and self-realization. May we remember that within each of us shines a light that illuminates the way to fearlessness and a life lived to its fullest potential. 

Here is Marianne Williamson poem:

Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear
is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness,
that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?
Actually who are we not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people
won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine as children do.
We were born to make manifest
the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And when we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

- Marianne Williamson
"Many who observe this holiday will light the Diya, or lamp, which symbolises the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. As that lamp is lit, we should all recommit ourselves to bring light to any place still facing darkness," Obama said.


- The purpose of life is to sing
http://www.shivpreetsingh.com
How can you light candles for the One who has lit the stars?  Light the candle in your heart! 
- Guru Nanak

My favorite Charlie Peacock song ... In the light ... Absolutely lovely live recording.




I keep trying to find a life
On my own, apart from you
I am the king of excuses
I`ve got one for every selfish thing I do

What`s going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I`m still a man in need of a saviour

CHORUS
I wanna be in the light as you are in the light
I wanna shine like the stars in the heavens
Lord be my light and my salvation
All I want is to be in the light of love
All I want is to be in the light

The disease of the self runs through my blood
Like a cancer fatal to the soul
Every attempt on my behalf has failed
To bring the sickness under control

Chorus

I wanna be in the light as you are in the light
Lead me into the presence of the Father
I will follow right behind, true love will find
All I want is to be in the light of love
All I want is to be in the light

Is there such a thing as a man of peace?
If there is, then a man of peace I want to be
I will need your help if I`m ever to be that
If i`m to lay down, lay down, lay down
Then I`ll lay my life for my brothers and sisters
I will nees your help, Jesus I need your light
Forever shining bright
Older Posts Home

SHIVPREET SINGH

Singing oneness!
- Shivpreet Singh

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