This morning I am ruminating and meditating on poetry about being woven from one thread.
Just like one thread holds a thousand beads - Bhagat Namdev
ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
ੴ सतिगुर प्रसादि ॥
Ikoaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:
ਆਸਾ ਬਾਣੀ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਨਾਮਦੇਉ ਜੀ ਕੀ
आसा बाणी स्री नामदेउ जी की
Āsā baṇī sarī nāmḏeo jī kī
Aasaa, The Word Of The Reverend Naam Dayv Jee:
ਏਕ ਅਨੇਕ ਬਿਆਪਕ ਪੂਰਕ ਜਤ ਦੇਖਉ ਤਤ ਸੋਈ ॥
एक अनेक बिआपक पूरक जत देखउ तत सोई ॥
Ėk anek biāpak pūrak jaṯ ḏekẖau ṯaṯ soī.
In the one and in the many, He is pervading and permeating; wherever I look, there He is.
ਮਾਇਆ ਚਿਤ੍ਰ ਬਚਿਤ੍ਰ ਬਿਮੋਹਿਤ ਬਿਰਲਾ ਬੂਝੈ ਕੋਈ ॥੧॥
माइआ चित्र बचित्र बिमोहित बिरला बूझै कोई ॥१॥
Māiā cẖiṯar bacẖiṯar bimohiṯ birlā būjẖai koī. ||1||
The marvelous image of Maya is so fascinating; how few understand this. ||1||
ਸਭੁ ਗੋਬਿੰਦੁ ਹੈ ਸਭੁ ਗੋਬਿੰਦੁ ਹੈ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਈ ॥
सभु गोबिंदु है सभु गोबिंदु है गोबिंद बिनु नही कोई ॥
Sabẖ gobinḏ hai sabẖ gobinḏ hai gobinḏ bin nahī koī.
God is everything, God is everything. Without God, there is nothing at all.
ਸੂਤੁ ਏਕੁ ਮਣਿ ਸਤ ਸਹੰਸ ਜੈਸੇ ਓਤਿ ਪੋਤਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੋਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
सूतु एकु मणि सत सहंस जैसे ओति पोति प्रभु सोई ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Sūṯ ek maṇ saṯ sahaʼns jaise oṯ poṯ parabẖ soī. ||1|| rahāo.
As one thread holds hundreds and thousands of beads, He is woven into His creation. ||1||Pause||
ਜਲ ਤਰੰਗ ਅਰੁ ਫੇਨ ਬੁਦਬੁਦਾ ਜਲ ਤੇ ਭਿੰਨ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥
जल तरंग अरु फेन बुदबुदा जल ते भिंन न होई ॥
Jal ṯarang ar fen buḏbuḏā jal ṯe bẖinn na hoī.
The waves of the water, the foam and bubbles, are not distinct from the water.
ਇਹੁ ਪਰਪੰਚੁ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਕੀ ਲੀਲਾ ਬਿਚਰਤ ਆਨ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥੨॥
इहु परपंचु पारब्रहम की लीला बिचरत आन न होई ॥२॥
Ih parpancẖ pārbarahm kī līlā bicẖraṯ ān na hoī. ||2||
This manifested world is the playful game of the Supreme Lord God; reflecting upon it, we find that it is not different from Him. ||2||
ਮਿਥਿਆ ਭਰਮੁ ਅਰੁ ਸੁਪਨ ਮਨੋਰਥ ਸਤਿ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥
मिथिआ भरमु अरु सुपन मनोरथ सति पदारथु जानिआ ॥
Mithiā bẖaram ar supan manorath saṯ paḏārath jāniā.
False doubts and dream objects - man believes them to be true.
ਸੁਕ੍ਰਿਤ ਮਨਸਾ ਗੁਰ ਉਪਦੇਸੀ ਜਾਗਤ ਹੀ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ॥੩॥
सुक्रित मनसा गुर उपदेसी जागत ही मनु मानिआ ॥३॥
Sukariṯ mansā gur upḏesī jāgaṯ hī man māniā. ||3||
The Guru has instructed me to try to do good deeds, and my awakened mind has accepted this. ||3||
ਕਹਤ ਨਾਮਦੇਉ ਹਰਿ ਕੀ ਰਚਨਾ ਦੇਖਹੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥
कहत नामदेउ हरि की रचना देखहु रिदै बीचारी ॥
Kahaṯ nāmḏeo har kī racẖnā ḏekẖhu riḏai bīcẖārī.
Says Naam Dayv, see the Creation of the Lord, and reflect upon it in your heart.
ਘਟ ਘਟ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਰਬ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਕੇਵਲ ਏਕ ਮੁਰਾਰੀ ॥੪॥੧॥
घट घट अंतरि सरब निरंतरि केवल एक मुरारी ॥४॥१॥
Gẖat gẖat anṯar sarab niranṯar keval ek murārī. ||4||1||
In each and every heart, and deep within the very nucleus of all, is the One Lord. ||4||1||
There is a thread you follow - William Stafford
The Way it is
There’s a thread you follow. It goes among
things that change. But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the thread.
- William Stafford
I remember you on the rosary of my breath - Mirabai
Saanson Ki Mala Pe, made famous by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and written inspired by Mirabai and Amir Khusro.
SANSON KI MALA PE SIMRUUN MAIN PEE KA NAAM
I bead my beloveds name on the garland of my breaths
PREM KI MAALA JAPTE JAPTE AAP BANI MEIN SHAYAAM
Beading the garland of love my beloveds name I myself became the God or shyaam,
I forgot about my own physical and spiritual existence
PREETAM KA KUCH DOSH NAHI HAI, WO TO HAI NIRDOSH
My beloved is not guilty He is innocent he is blemish less
APNE AAP SE BAATEIN KER KE HOO GAYI MEIN BADNAAM
Like insane person by talking with myself, I got a bad repute , bad name
PREM PIYALA JAB SE PIYA HAI, JEE KA HAI YEH HAAL
Since I drank the love from the glass of love my condition is such that
TAARO PE NEEND AA JAYE KAANTON PE AARAM
On burning coils I can sleep and thorns I can rest
JEEVAN KA SHINGAR HAI PREETAM, MAANG KA HAI SINDOOR
My beloved is the beautification adornment of life and vermilion in my hair
PREETAM KI NAZROON SE GIR KER JEENA HAI KISS KAAM
When fallen from the eyes of my beloved what is the use of such living
In one thread everyone is strung - Guru Arjan
ਪਉੜੀ ॥
पउड़ी ॥
Paoṛī.
Pauree:
ਓਅੰ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਕੀਓ ਅਕਾਰਾ ॥
ओअं गुरमुखि कीओ अकारा ॥
Oaʼn gurmukẖ kīo akārā.
ONG: The One Universal Creator created the Creation through the Word of the Primal Guru.
ਏਕਹਿ ਸੂਤਿ ਪਰੋਵਨਹਾਰਾ ॥
एकहि सूति परोवनहारा ॥
Ėkėh sūṯ parovanhārā.
He strung it upon His one thread.
ਭਿੰਨ ਭਿੰਨ ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਬਿਸਥਾਰੰ ॥
भिंन भिंन त्रै गुण बिसथारं ॥
Bẖinn bẖinn ṯarai guṇ bisthāraʼn.
He created the diverse expanse of the three qualities.
ਨਿਰਗੁਨ ਤੇ ਸਰਗੁਨ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟਾਰੰ ॥
निरगुन ते सरगुन द्रिसटारं ॥
Nirgun ṯe sargun ḏaristāraʼn.
From formless, He appeared as form.
ਸਗਲ ਭਾਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਉਪਾਇਓ ॥
सगल भाति करि करहि उपाइओ ॥
Sagal bẖāṯ kar karahi upāio.
The Creator has created the creation of all sorts.
ਜਨਮ ਮਰਨ ਮਨ ਮੋਹੁ ਬਢਾਇਓ ॥
जनम मरन मन मोहु बढाइओ ॥
Janam maran man moh badẖāio.
The attachment of the mind has led to birth and death.
ਦੁਹੂ ਭਾਤਿ ਤੇ ਆਪਿ ਨਿਰਾਰਾ ॥
दुहू भाति ते आपि निरारा ॥
Ḏuhū bẖāṯ ṯe āp nirārā.
He Himself is above both, untouched and unaffected.
ਨਾਨਕ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਪਾਰਾਵਾਰਾ ॥੨॥
नानक अंतु न पारावारा ॥२॥
Nānak anṯ na pārāvārā. ||2||
O Nanak, He has no end or limitation. ||2||
One thread of cotton - Bhai Gurdas
ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੨ ਪਉੜੀ ੧੦
ਹੋਵੇ ਸੂਤ ਕਪਾਹ ਦਾ ਕਰਿ ਤਾਣਾ ਵਾਣਾ।
Hovay Sootu Kapaah Daa Kari Taanaa Vaanaa |
From cotton the thread and then its warp and waft is prepared.
ਸੂਤਹੁ ਕਪੜੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਆਖਾਣ ਵਖਾਣਾ।
Sootahu Kaparhu Jaaneeai Aakhaan Vakhaanaa |
It is well known that from that very thread the cloth is made.
ਚਉਸੀ ਤੈ ਚਉਤਾਰ ਹੋਇ ਗੰਗਾ ਜਲੁ ਜਾਣਾ।
Chausee Tai Chautaar Hoi Gangaa Jalu Jaanaa |
Made of the four threads are what are known as chausi, gangajali etc.(in india).
ਖਾਸਾ ਮਲਮਲ ਸਿਰੀਸਾਫੁ ਤਨਸੁਖ ਮਨਿ ਭਾਣਾ।
Khaasaa Malamal Sireesaadhu Tan Sukh Mani Bhaanaa |
The superior clothes (malmal, sirisaph) made out of it impart comfort and pleasure to the body.
ਪਾਗ ਦੁਪਟਾ ਚੋਲਣਾ ਪਟਕਾ ਪਰਵਾਣਾ।
Pag Dupataa Cholanaa Patukaa Pravaanaa |
By becoming turban, scarf, waist coat etc that thread from cotton becomes acceptable to one and all.
ਆਪੇ ਆਪਿ ਵਰਤਦਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਰੰਗ ਮਾਣਾ ॥੧੦॥
Aapay Aapi Varatadaa Guramukhi Rang Maanaa ||10 ||
The Lord permeates among all and the gurmukhs enjoy His love.
The Master Weaver - Unknown
The Master Weaver
- Unknown
- Unknown
Our lives are but fine weavings,
that God and we prepare,
each life becomes a fabric planned,
and fashioned in his care . . .
We may not always see,
just how the weavings intertwine,
that God and we prepare,
each life becomes a fabric planned,
and fashioned in his care . . .
We may not always see,
just how the weavings intertwine,
but we must trust the Master’s hand,
and follow His design.
For He can view the pattern,
upon the upper side,
while we must look from underneath,
and trust in Him to guide.
Sometimes a strand of sorrow,
is added to His plan,
and though it’s difficult for us,
we still must understand.
That it’s He who flies the shuttle,
it’s He who knows what’s best,
so we must weave in patience,
and leave to Him the rest . . .
Not till the loom is silent,
and the shuttles cease to fly,
shall God unroll the canvas,
and explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needed,
in the Weaver’s skillful hand,
as the threads of gold and silver,
in the pattern He has planned
The above poem seems to be anonymous but it has similarities to the following:
“Life is but a Weaving” (The Tapestry Poem) by Corrie ten Boom
My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth steadily.
Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.
Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned
He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him.
Corrie ten Boom
Separation by W.S. Merwin
Separation
By W. S. Merwin
Your absence has gone through me
Like thread through a needle.
Everything I do is stitched with its color
By W. S. Merwin
Your absence has gone through me
Like thread through a needle.
Everything I do is stitched with its color
Life weaves itself into its patterns - Kabir
ਗਉੜੀ ॥
गउड़ी ॥
Gaoṛī.
Gauree:
ਗਜ ਨਵ ਗਜ ਦਸ ਗਜ ਇਕੀਸ ਪੁਰੀਆ ਏਕ ਤਨਾਈ ॥
गज नव गज दस गज इकीस पुरीआ एक तनाई ॥
Gaj nav gaj ḏas gaj ikīs purīā ek ṯanāī.
Nine yards, ten yards, and twenty-one yards - weave these into the full piece of cloth;
ਸਾਠ ਸੂਤ ਨਵ ਖੰਡ ਬਹਤਰਿ ਪਾਟੁ ਲਗੋ ਅਧਿਕਾਈ ॥੧॥
साठ सूत नव खंड बहतरि पाटु लगो अधिकाई ॥१॥
Sāṯẖ sūṯ nav kẖand bahṯar pāt lago aḏẖikāī. ||1||
take the sixty threads and add nine joints to the seventy-two on the loom. ||1||
ਗਈ ਬੁਨਾਵਨ ਮਾਹੋ ॥
गई बुनावन माहो ॥
Gaī bunāvan māho.
Life weaves itself into its patterns.
ਘਰ ਛੋਡਿਐ ਜਾਇ ਜੁਲਾਹੋ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
घर छोडिऐ जाइ जुलाहो ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Gẖar cẖẖodiai jāe julāho. ||1|| rahāo.
Leaving her home, the soul goes to the world of the weaver. ||1||Pause||
ਗਜੀ ਨ ਮਿਨੀਐ ਤੋਲਿ ਨ ਤੁਲੀਐ ਪਾਚਨੁ ਸੇਰ ਅਢਾਈ ॥
गजी न मिनीऐ तोलि न तुलीऐ पाचनु सेर अढाई ॥
Gajī na miniai ṯol na ṯulīai pācẖan ser adẖāī.
This cloth cannot be measured in yards or weighed with weights; its food is two and a half measures.
ਜੌ ਕਰਿ ਪਾਚਨੁ ਬੇਗਿ ਨ ਪਾਵੈ ਝਗਰੁ ਕਰੈ ਘਰਹਾਈ ॥੨॥
जौ करि पाचनु बेगि न पावै झगरु करै घरहाई ॥२॥
Jou kar pācẖan beg na pāvai jẖagar karai gẖarhāī. ||2||
If it does not obtain food right away, it quarrels with the master of the house. ||2||
ਦਿਨ ਕੀ ਬੈਠ ਖਸਮ ਕੀ ਬਰਕਸ ਇਹ ਬੇਲਾ ਕਤ ਆਈ ॥
दिन की बैठ खसम की बरकस इह बेला कत आई ॥
Ḏin kī baiṯẖ kẖasam kī barkas ih belā kaṯ āī.
How many days will you sit here, in opposition to your Lord and Master? When will this opportunity come again?
ਛੂਟੇ ਕੂੰਡੇ ਭੀਗੈ ਪੁਰੀਆ ਚਲਿਓ ਜੁਲਾਹੋ ਰੀਸਾਈ ॥੩॥
छूटे कूंडे भीगै पुरीआ चलिओ जुलाहो रीसाई ॥३॥
Cẖẖūte kūnde bẖīgai purīā cẖalio julāho rīsāī. ||3||
Leaving his pots and pans, and the bobbins wet with his tears, the weaver soul departs in jealous anger. ||3||
ਛੋਛੀ ਨਲੀ ਤੰਤੁ ਨਹੀ ਨਿਕਸੈ ਨਤਰ ਰਹੀ ਉਰਝਾਈ ॥
छोछी नली तंतु नही निकसै नतर रही उरझाई ॥
Cẖẖocẖẖī nalī ṯanṯ nahī niksai naṯar rahī urjẖāī.
The wind-pipe is empty now; the thread of the breath does not come out any longer. The thread is tangled; it has run out.
ਛੋਡਿ ਪਸਾਰੁ ਈਹਾ ਰਹੁ ਬਪੁਰੀ ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਸਮਝਾਈ ॥੪॥੩॥੫੪॥
छोडि पसारु ईहा रहु बपुरी कहु कबीर समझाई ॥४॥३॥५४॥
Cẖẖod pasār īhā rahu bapurī kaho Kabīr samjẖāī. ||4||3||54||
So renounce the world of form and substance while you remain here, O poor soul; says Kabeer: you must understand this! ||4||3||54||
No one knows the secret of the cosmic weaver - Kabir
ਆਸਾ ॥
आसा ॥
Āsā.
Aasaa:
ਕੋਰੀ ਕੋ ਕਾਹੂ ਮਰਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਨਾਂ ॥
कोरी को काहू मरमु न जानां ॥
Korī ko kāhū maram na jānāʼn.
No one knows the secret of God, the Cosmic Weaver.
ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਆਨਿ ਤਨਾਇਓ ਤਾਨਾਂ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
सभु जगु आनि तनाइओ तानां ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Sabẖ jag ān ṯanāio ṯānāʼn. ||1|| rahāo.
He has stretched out the fabric of the whole world. ||1||Pause||
ਜਬ ਤੁਮ ਸੁਨਿ ਲੇ ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨਾਂ ॥
जब तुम सुनि ले बेद पुरानां ॥
Jab ṯum sun le beḏ purānāʼn.
When you listen to the Vedas and the Puraanas,
ਤਬ ਹਮ ਇਤਨਕੁ ਪਸਰਿਓ ਤਾਨਾਂ ॥੧॥
तब हम इतनकु पसरिओ तानां ॥१॥
Ŧab ham iṯnak pasrio ṯānāʼn. ||1||
you shall know that the whole world is only a small piece of His woven fabric. ||1||
ਧਰਨਿ ਅਕਾਸ ਕੀ ਕਰਗਹ ਬਨਾਈ ॥
धरनि अकास की करगह बनाई ॥
Ḏẖaran akās kī kargah banāī.
He has made the earth and sky His loom.
ਚੰਦੁ ਸੂਰਜੁ ਦੁਇ ਸਾਥ ਚਲਾਈ ॥੨॥
चंदु सूरजु दुइ साथ चलाई ॥२॥
Cẖanḏ sūraj ḏue sāth cẖalāī. ||2||
Upon it, He moves the two bobbins of the sun and the moon. ||2||
ਪਾਈ ਜੋਰਿ ਬਾਤ ਇਕ ਕੀਨੀ ਤਹ ਤਾਂਤੀ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਾਂ ॥
पाई जोरि बात इक कीनी तह तांती मनु मानां ॥
Pāī jor bāṯ ik kīnī ṯah ṯāʼnṯī man mānāʼn.
Placing my feet together, I have accomplished one thing - my mind is pleased with that Weaver.
ਜੋਲਾਹੇ ਘਰੁ ਅਪਨਾ ਚੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਂ ਘਟ ਹੀ ਰਾਮੁ ਪਛਾਨਾਂ ॥੩॥
जोलाहे घरु अपना चीन्हां घट ही रामु पछानां ॥३॥
Jolāhe gẖar apnā cẖīnĥāʼn gẖat hī rām pacẖẖānāʼn. ||3||
I have come to understand my own home, and recognize the Lord within my heart. ||3||
ਕਹਤੁ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਕਾਰਗਹ ਤੋਰੀ ॥
कहतु कबीरु कारगह तोरी ॥
Kahaṯ Kabīr kārgah ṯorī.
Says Kabeer, when my body workshop breaks,
ਸੂਤੈ ਸੂਤ ਮਿਲਾਏ ਕੋਰੀ ॥੪॥੩॥੩੬॥
सूतै सूत मिलाए कोरी ॥४॥३॥३६॥
Sūṯai sūṯ milāe korī. ||4||3||36||
the Weaver shall blend my thread with His thread. ||4||3||36||
I weave your name on the loom of my mind - Kabir
I weave your name on the loom of my mind,
To make my garment when you come to me.
My loom has ten thousand threads
To make my garment when you come to me.
The sun and moon watch while I weave your name;
The sun and moon hear while I count your name.
These are the wages I get by day and night
To deposit in the lotus bank of my heart.
I weave your name on the loom of my mind
To clean and soften ten thousand threads
And to comb the twists and knots of my thoughts.
No more shall I weave a garment of pain.
For you have come to me, drawn by my weaving,
Ceaselessly weaving your name on the loom of my mind.
— Kabir
Singing oneness!
