Pondering upon the question "Who am I?" And what am I doing on this earth? Is there purpose to our lives? Am I just this body or is there more to me? Have you pondered about the definition of your identity? A better sense of self can be attained through an understanding of oneness. A better sense of identity can be found by singing the words of the wise. The following is a list of poems and words that have helped me immensely.

Tony Hoagland: Some questions have no answer

"We are what is missing from the world"
-Fernando Pessoa

Some questions have no answer.
Raised, they hang there in the mind
Like open mouths, full of something missing.

Emily Dickinson: I am nobody

There are some who would say we are nothing. See Emily Dickinson's I am nobody.

I'm nobody! Who are you?Are you nobody, too?

Alan Watts

You are something the whole universe is doing in the same way that a wave is something that the whole ocean is doing.

The real you is not a puppet which life pushes around.

The real, deep down you is the whole universe.

Walt Whitman: What am I? What are you?

What is a man anyhow? what am I? what are you? ...
In all people I see myself, none more and not one a barley-corn less, And the good or bad I say of myself I say of them.
I know I am solid and sound, To me the converging objects of the universe perpetually flow, All are written to me, and I must get what the writing means.
I know I am deathless, I know this orbit of mine cannot be swept by a carpenter's compass, I know I shall not pass like a child's carlacue cut with a burnt stick at night.

Bhagat Ravidas: I am you, you are me

Bhagat Ravidas sees himself in everyone as in his poem Mohi Tohi, Tohi Mohi, "I am you, you are me". He adds:

We are like waves and the sea
I am you, and you are me

Bulleh Shah: Who knows who I am

Bulla Ki Jaana Main Kaun

Bulla Who knows who I am

But one of the poems that comes closest to the essence of the "question" is Bulleh Shah's poem "Bulla ki jaana main kaun" where he says "Who knows who I am?" Bulleh shah accepts the strangeness in the world.

Vedanta: Neti Neti - Not this not that

In Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, Yajnavalkya is questioned by his students to describe God. He states "The Divine is not this and it is not that" (neti, neti). The self is the same. Not this not that. More on Neti Neti.

Shaad Azeemabadi: You can't find me; I am rare.

In the ghazal Dhoondoge Agar Mulkon Mulkon by Shaad Azeemabadi showcases the journey of a lover to self discovery which starts thus:

Dhoondo Ge Agar Mulkon Mulkon

Milne Ke Nahin Nayaab Hain Hum

Tabeer Hai Jiski Hasrat-O-Gham

Aye Humnafaso Woh Khwaab Hain Hum

Even if you search from nation to nation

You won’t find me, for I’m a rare jewel.

With a willingness to handle grief and sorrow,

O friends! I am an embodiment of that dream.

I am not I - Juan Ramon Jimenez

“I Am Not I”

BY JUAN RAMÓN JIMÉNEZ

TRANSLATED BY ROBERT BLY

I am not I.
I am this one
walking beside me whom I do not see,
whom at times I manage to visit,
and whom at other times I forget;
who remains calm and silent while I talk,
and forgives, gently, when I hate,
who walks where I am not,
who will remain standing when I die.

Carl Sagan

Our Sun is a second- or third-generation star. All of the rocky and metallic material we stand on, the iron in our blood, the calcium in our teeth, the carbon in our genes were produced billions of years ago in the interior of a red giant star. We are made of star-stuff.

Pondering upon this:

How to answer the who am I question:

How many times have you asked yourself this question?

How many times have you questioned why you’re supposed to be on this earth?

How many times have you questioned your very existence?

For me, the answer is countless times.

And the question itself makes me ask more questions: can I ever know who I am? Why do I need to know who I am? Will any answer ever satisfy me?

When these questions overwhelm me, I find myself inspired by this quote by Indian sage, Ramana Maharshi:

“The question, ‘who am I?’ is not really meant to get an answer, the question ‘who am I?’ is meant to dissolve the questioner.”

Whoa. Dissolve the questioner. What does that even mean?

How can dissolving my identity help me figure out who I am?

Let’s try and find out.

Who am I = what is my identity?

The “answer” to “who am I” is our identity.

Our identity is our all-encompassing system of memories, experience, feelings, thoughts, relationships, and values that define who each of us is.

It’s the stuff that makes up a “self.”

Identity is a critical component of understanding who we are. Why? Because we can break up identity into components (values, experiences, relationship).

These components we can identify and understand. Then, once we have understood the components of our identity, we can get a big-picture look at who we really are.

In a nutshell: we’re a lot more than one thing. We’re a whole system of ideas and experiences.

Our need for identity

“Who am I?” gets at the heart of one of our most basic needs: our need for identiy.

We, as living beings, search for and find comfort in a solid sense of identity. It grounds us. It gives us confidence. And our sense of identity affects every single thing in our lives – from the choices we make to the values we live by.

According to Shahram Heshmat Ph.D., author of Science of Choice:

“Identity relates to our basic values that dictate the choices we make (e.g., relationships, career). These choices reflect who we are and what we value.”

Wow. Our identities are almost avatars for the values and tenets that we hold. Our identity is a reflection of what we believe, what we do, and what we value.

Powerful stuff.

Yet, our sense of identity can be compromised by outside factors.

How is that possible? Well, Dr. Heshmat explains:

“Few people choose their identities. Instead, they simply internalize the values of their parents or the dominant cultures (e.g., pursuit of materialism, power, and appearance). Sadly, these values may not be aligned with one’s authentic self and create unfulfilling life.”

Oof. This is what can cause problems.

Here’s the painful truth: much of our identity was forced upon us. This inorganic identity causes us to experience a tremendous amount of stress.

Why?

Because we know that “that identity” is false. It’s something demanded of us.

The problem is, we don’t know what our “organic” identity is.

And that’s why we ask, “who am I?”

The roles we play

To make things harder on ourselves, we each have multiple identities – sons, daughters, parents, friends.

We basically split and compartmentalize our identites into “roles.” And we perform these “roles” in different circumstances.

Each role, to quote Dr. Heshmat, has “its own meanings and expectations that are internalized as identity.”

Basically, when we perform these roles, we internalize them as if they were our real identites.

We’re all actors, taking on a dozen roles. Except the problem is, we’ve tricked ourselves into believing these roles are real.

This conflict, coupled with the need to find our authentic self, is the cause of much of our unhappiness. This conflict is called “identity struggle.”

“Often, in the face of identity struggle, many end up adopting darker identities, such as drug abuse, compulsive shopper, or gambling, as a compensatory method of experiencing aliveness or staving off depression and meaninglessness.”

Struggling to figure out who we are can have grave side effects. That’s why it is important to discover the answer to the question “who am I?” Because the alternative is “depression and meaninglessness.”

On the upside, people who have successfully found their authentic selves are shown to be far happier and more content. This is because they are “able to live a life true to their values and pursue meaningful goals.”

But how can you figure out who you really are?

How can you separate your true identity from the one given to you by your family and what was shaped by society?

How can I figure out “who I am?”

Clearly, it’s critical to discover who you are. When you are firm in your identity, your life is more meaningful, joyful, and purpuseful.

We have found that there are 5 key steps you can take to help answer the question “who am I?”

These steps are backed by experts, and will help you firm up your identity so that you can live a life full of purpose.

Here are 5 ways to help answer the question, “who am I?”

1. Reflect

To quote the King of Pop, “I’m starting with the man in the mirror.”

And this advice rings true. You need to reflect upon yourself whenever you are engaging in self-discovery.

This means that you have to examine yourself — for all your strengths, flaws, impressions you give others, the whole lot.

You have to critically engage with the reflection you present.

Think of it like this:

“The first step, perhaps, is to take stock. Who are you? When you buy a house and prepare to live in it, you hire an inspector to list all its faults–as it is, in reality, now, not as you wish it could be. You’ll even pay him for the bad news. You need to know. You need to discover the home’s hidden flaws. You need to know whether they are cosmetic imperfections or structural inadequacies. You need to know because you can’t fix something if you don’t know it’s broken–and you’re broken. You need an inspector. The internal critic–it could play that role, if you could get it on track; if you and it could cooperate.”

– Dr. Jordan B. Peterson

You have to be your own inspector. You have to look at your whole self as the house, and get down deep to that foundation.

Ask yourself, who are you right now? What are your strengths? Your flaws?

Do you like who you see in the mirror?

Do you think that “who you are” doesn’t match “who you see?”

How does that make you feel?

Identify which areas of your life you are unhappy about. Look at what you think could be better – mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Don’t go rush and slap band-aids all over the issues. This step isn’t about quick fixes. It’s not even about changing anything.

Instead, it’s about sitting with yourself — ups and downs — and understanding where you are.

Once you have a good grasp on yourself, then you can move on to step two.

2. Decide who you want to be

You can never be a perfect person. There’s no such thing as a perfect person. You have to embrace the fact that you will never be perfect.

But, on the path to self-discovery, you should embrace that there are things you want to improve.

And improvement is possible!

So, for step two, what you need to do is identify who you want to become.

And be honest with yourself about what’s possible. Being Superman isn’t what we’re after.

Let’s take a page out of Dr. Jordan B. Peterson’s international bestselling book, 12 Rules For Life:

“Start with yourself. Take care with yourself. Refine your personality. Choose your destination and articulate your Being.”

Who is your ideal person? Is it someone kind, strong, intelligent, brave? Is it a person who isn’t afraid of a challenge? Is it a person who can open herself up to love?

Whoever this dream person is, define them. Define who you want to become. That’s step two.

3. Make better choices

Make better choices… for yourself.

The truth is, most of us are programmed to make choices out of fear. We instinctively make an easy choice based on anxiety, desire to please, or because we don’t want to put in the effort.

These choices only do one thing: continue the status quo.

And if you’re not happy with who you are, with your current status quo, then these choices do nothing to help you.

Those choices, then, are the bad choices.

But you can choose better for yourself. You can make “active decisions.”

Take if from clinical psychologist Marcia Reynolds

“Choice means you are free to do or not do something because you decided on your own.

“To activate conscious choice, you first have to do some work to determine what really matters to you. What strengths are you proud of? What tasks do you most enjoy? What dreams keep haunting you? What would you do if you had no obligations or people to please? Take time to sort through your desires.”

Once you know what you want, and once you know who you want to be; you can take the time to make active, conscious choices that help you be better.

What are these choices like?

Well, let’s say that your dream version of yourself is a marathoner. That active choice means choosing to get off the couch, lace up those shoes, and hit the pavement.

Maybe you want to go back to school and graduate college. That means choosing to complete applications, choosing to ask for recommendation letters, and choosing to study.

Once you make decisions that are in line with your values and what you want, you’ll start feeling empowered to find out your true identity.

4. Explore your passions

One of the best parts about discovering the answer to “who am I,” is figuring out parts of yourself you never knew about.

Sure, you’ve figured out who you “want to be” and you’ve done a great job “looking in the mirror,” but there’s always going to be parts of you that are hidden away.

And it’s your job to discover them.

One of the best ways to help discover yourself is to explore your passions.

When you engage in things you are passionate about, you stimulate creative energies. If you’re passionate about sewing, go out and sew! The more that you sew, you’ll begin to see yourself as a “sewer,” even perhaps a master of your craft. This exploration will give you confidence and expertise, which helps positively ground your sense of identity.

But what if I don’t know what I’m passionate about

When your identity has been built by society’s expectations, it’s natural that you might not know what youre really passionate about. That’s ok!

But if you haven’t, don’t go looking for it. Instead, develop it.

“What? How am I supposed to develop something if I don’t even have it?”

Hear me out: take a listen to Terri Trespicio’s 2015 TED Talk, Stop Searching For Your Passion.

“Passion is not a job, a sport or a hobby. It is the full force of your attention and energy that you give to whatever is right in front of you. And if you’re so busy looking for this passion, you could miss opportunities that change your life.”

If you don’t know what your passion is, don’t freak out. It’s not like it’s “the one,” and if you can’t find it, you’ll miss out on your life. Instead, try your hand at hobbies and projects that are available to you right now.

The backyard looks a little weedy? Try mulching the beds, plant some flowers. Maybe you’ll realize you have a passion for gardening.

Maybe you won’t. But that’s ok. It’s all about exploration. You need to explore the possibilities for growth.

Developing a growth mindset is a key component of exploring your passions. Along the way, you’ll figure out who you are. If you’re looking for some inspiring in developing the growth mindset, check out these growth mindset quotes.

5. Develop your social circle

Humans are social beings by nature. So much of our identity is shaped by our friends and family.

When you work to figure out “who you really are,” you have to actively create your social circle.

This means choosing who you want to hang out with. It means choosing who to let in, and who to cut loose.

it’s crucial you find people who are aligned with your values and identity.

Author and life coach Mike Bundrant explains:

“When you understand what’s most important to you in life – your life values – you can clarify who you are by choosing your social circles based on compatible values. You can have great clarity in your relationships, too, as you see yourself reflected in the people around you.”

They always say you can judge a man by the company he keeps.

This is very true. You can judge yourself by the people you hang out with.

If you’re hoping to develop yourself as a person, look at the friend group you have. Are they pushing you forward or holding you back?

Your identity is an ongoing process

The task of finding out who you are isn’t an easy one.

It’s probably one of the hardest things you’ll ever take on.

One of the worst things you can do (during this process) is to put pressure on yourself to figure it out right away.

Discovering your identity is a journey, not an ending.

When we race to the finish line, we forget the value of the growth process.

Identity isn’t a static term. Why should it be? We’re constantly growing, changing, evolving. We have trillions of cells in our body that live and die all the time.

We’re dynamic! Our identities must be dynamic too!

Psychotherapist and author of A Shift Of Mind, Mel Schwartz believes that we should look at our identities as an evolution of ourselves.

“Our identity should be seen as an ongoing process. Rather than a static snapshot, we should embrace a flowing sense of self, whereby we are perpetually re-framing, re-organizing, re-thinking and re-considering ourselves.

“How different would life be if rather than asking who am I, we contemplated how we’d like to engage life?”

When you embrace that your identity is dynamic, you take a lot of pressure off of yourself to pin down exactly who you are. Relax! You’re you. You know what you value, what you like, and what you want to be. You got the basics down! If those change, that’s ok. Start back over from step one.

Don’t be afraid of growth.

Positive disintegration

Growth comes at a cost. When you figure out who you truly are, you have to rid yourself of the parts of you that aren’t honest.

So how do you go through such a complicated process? When you have to shed off parts of yourself to become who you really are, it may feel like you’re tugging yourself in two.

Ripping yourself in two can be scary, right? There’s fear that you could be throwing away a valid part of yourself — a part of yourself that you’ve held onto for far too long.

But, you have to remember, that isn’t you.

We have to embrace our ability to change, evolve, and become better.

We have to engage in Positive Disintegration.

“The goal then is to access that potential, keeping the parts of our identity that continue to serve us well and shedding the old, habitual pieces that constrain us. This process is known as positive disintegration. This permits us to find balance between the extremes previously discussed and enter into a relationship with self that commits to our personal evolution.”

You have to let go of the things that are holding you back. You have to trust that you’re doing the right thing by shedding the parts of you that aren’t you.

I promise you, you’re not going to miss the false you.

Instead, you’ll be excited to finally meet and accept yourself.

Takeaway

This much is clear: discovering who you are is a never-ending journey.

Like the universe, you are never in the same state. You will always change, evolve, grow.

Why do we get so caught up with our definition of identity?

It’s because we all crave for the same things: happiness, peace, and success.

Without finding out who you are, you feel like you’ll never come close to any of it.

So in your journey of self-discovery, remember to take a step back and reflect on yourself:

“Am I making decisions based on my own values? Am I who I want to be?”

Once you have reflected upon yourself, and discovered who you want to be, you can engage in the process of pushing yourself forward through active choosing, exploration, and positive disintigration to finally make yourself the person you always hoped you’d become.

And in the process, you’ll discover the answer to the question “who am I?”

“I am me.”

The first shabad below is written by Guru Arjan (based on the sirlekh): Ek Gusain Alah Mera. But the last line indicates that the shabad was inspired by Bhagat Kabir. It is possible that Guru Sahib was inspired by the following Kabir shabad (Pandit Mullah Chhade Dou) - both shabads are in raag bhairav and they are both about rejecting the Hindu and Islamic practices, pilgrimages and priests, and finding the Lord through their own search.

Interestingly I couldn't find the rahao lines of either of these shabads on youtube. Hmm. I did find "Na hum hindu, na hum muslim" ... it happens so many times that we tend to focus on what we think is important, not necessarily what the Guru thinks. We need to get better ...

Guru Arjan's Ek Gusain

ਭੈਰਉ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
ਵਰਤ ਨ ਰਹਉ ਨ ਮਹ ਰਮਦਾਨਾ ॥ ਤਿਸੁ ਸੇਵੀ ਜੋ ਰਖੈ ਨਿਦਾਨਾ ॥੧॥
ਏਕੁ ਗੁਸਾਈ ਅਲਹੁ ਮੇਰਾ ॥ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਤੁਰਕ ਦੁਹਾਂ ਨੇਬੇਰਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਹਜ ਕਾਬੈ ਜਾਉ ਨ ਤੀਰਥ ਪੂਜਾ ॥ ਏਕੋ ਸੇਵੀ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੨॥
ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਉ ਨ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਗੁਜਾਰਉ ॥ ਏਕ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਲੇ ਰਿਦੈ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਉ ॥੩॥
ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥ ਅਲਹ ਰਾਮ ਕੇ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਰਾਨ ॥੪॥
ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹੁ ਕੀਆ ਵਖਾਨਾ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਪੀਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਖੁਦਿ ਖਸਮੁ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥੫॥੩॥

I love this line: ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥ ਅਲਹ ਰਾਮ ਕੇ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਰਾਨ ॥੪॥ Usually translated, "I am neither Hindu, nor Muslim. My body and breath belong to Allah and Raam." I hear Guru Arjan saying, "I don't belong to Hindu or Muslim. I belong to Ram and Allah."

Bhagat Kabir's Pandit Mullah

ਉਲਟਿ ਜਾਤਿ ਕੁਲ ਦੋਊ ਬਿਸਾਰੀ ॥

उलटि जाति कुल दोऊ बिसारी ॥

Ulat jāṯ kul ḏo▫ū bisārī.

Turning away from the world, I have forgotten both my social class and ancestry.

ਸੁੰਨ ਸਹਜ ਮਹਿ ਬੁਨਤ ਹਮਾਰੀ ॥੧॥

सुंन सहज महि बुनत हमारी ॥१॥

Sunn sahj mėh bunaṯ hamārī. ||1||

My weaving now is in the most profound celestial stillness. ||1||

ਹਮਰਾ ਝਗਰਾ ਰਹਾ ਨ ਕੋਊ ॥

हमरा झगरा रहा न कोऊ ॥

Hamrā jẖagrā rahā na ko▫ū.

I have no quarrel with anyone.

ਪੰਡਿਤ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਛਾਡੇ ਦੋਊ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

पंडित मुलां छाडे दोऊ ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥

Pandiṯ mulāŉ cẖẖāde ḏo▫ū. ||1|| rahā▫o.

I have abandoned both the Pandits, the Hindu religious scholars, and the Mullahs, the Muslim priests. ||1||Pause||

ਬੁਨਿ ਬੁਨਿ ਆਪ ਆਪੁ ਪਹਿਰਾਵਉ ॥

बुनि बुनि आप आपु पहिरावउ ॥

Bun bun āp āp pahirāva▫o.

I weave and weave, and wear what I weave.

ਜਹ ਨਹੀ ਆਪੁ ਤਹਾ ਹੋਇ ਗਾਵਉ ॥੨॥

जह नही आपु तहा होइ गावउ ॥२॥

Jah nahī āp ṯahā ho▫e gāva▫o. ||2||

Where egotism does not exist, there I sing God's Praises. ||2||

ਪੰਡਿਤ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਜੋ ਲਿਖਿ ਦੀਆ ॥

पंडित मुलां जो लिखि दीआ ॥

Pandiṯ mulāŉ jo likẖ ḏī▫ā.

Whatever the Pandits and Mullahs have written,

ਛਾਡਿ ਚਲੇ ਹਮ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਲੀਆ ॥੩॥

छाडि चले हम कछू न लीआ ॥३॥

Cẖẖād cẖale ham kacẖẖū na lī▫ā. ||3||

I reject; I do not accept any of it. ||3||

ਰਿਦੈ ਇਖਲਾਸੁ ਨਿਰਖਿ ਲੇ ਮੀਰਾ ॥

रिदै इखलासु निरखि ले मीरा ॥

Riḏai ikẖlās nirakẖ le mīrā.

My heart is pure, and so I have seen the Lord within.

ਆਪੁ ਖੋਜਿ ਖੋਜਿ ਮਿਲੇ ਕਬੀਰਾ ॥੪॥੭॥

आपु खोजि खोजि मिले कबीरा ॥४॥७॥

Āp kẖoj kẖoj mile kabīrā. ||4||7||

Searching, searching within the self, Kabeer has met the Lord. ||4||7||

This ghazal written by Shaad Azeemabadi (1846 - 1927) showcases the journey of a lover who is imploring his beloved to join him. Or perhaps its a journey of self discovery.

Dhoondo Ge Agar Mulkon Mulkon

Milne Ke Nahin Nayaab Hain Hum

Tabeer Hai Jiski Hasrat-O-Gham

Aye Humnafaso Woh Khwaab Hain Hum

Even if you search from nation to nation

You won’t find me, for I’m a rare jewel.

With a willingness to handle grief and sorrow,

O friends! I am an embodiment of that dream.

Roman Script

Dhoondo Ge Agar Mulkon Mulkon

Milne Ke Nahin Nayaab Hain Hum

Tabeer Hai Jiski Hasrat-O-Gham

Aye Humnafaso Woh Khwaab Hain Hum

Translation

Even if you search from nation to nation,

You won’t find me, for I’m a rare jewel.

With a willingness to handle grief and sorrow,

O friends! I am an embodiment of that dream.

Tabeer - Interpretation of a dream

Roman Script

Aye Dard Bata Kuch Tu Hi Pata

Ab Tak Yeh Mu’ammya Hal Na Hua

Hum Mein Hain Dil-E-Betaab Nihan

Yah Aap Dil-E-Betaab Hain Hum

Translation

O grief! Please help me understand

For the situation hasn't resolved itself yet,

Whether a restless heart is embedded inside me

Or am I the restless heart itself?

Roman Script

Main Hairat-O-Hasrat Ka Maara

Khamosh Khada Hoon Sahil Par

Dariya-E-Mohabbat Kehta Hai

“Aa Kuch Bhi Nahin Payaab Hain Hum”

Translation

I, driven by wonder and desire

Stand quietly at the bank of a river.

The river of love beckons,

"Don't be afraid, I am shallow and fordable”

Roman Script

Lakhon Hi Musafir Chalte Hain

Manzil pohunchte Hain Do Ik

Aye Ahl-E-Zamana Qadr Karo

Nayaab Na Hon Kamyaab Hain Hum

Translation

Millions of travelers walk,

Only a handful reach their destinations,

O my contemporaries! Appreciate me for I am,

rare, if not elusive.

Roman Script

Murghan-E-Qafas Ko Phoolon Ne

Aye Shaad Ye Kahla Bheja Hai

Aa Jao Jo Tum Ko Aana Ho

Aise Mein Abhi Shadaab Hain Hum

Translation

O Shaad! The flowers have dispatched

This message to birds in captivity

"Come if you wish to,

I am resplendent in the present moment."

Translation and further explanation can be found here: http://gurmeet.net/poetry/dhoondoge-agar-mulkon-mulkon/

What Guru Nanak Dev taught

By Ram Lingam

This small piece of writing is simply inadequate to do any justice to the standing of Shri SatGuru Nanak Devji or his teachings. To get to know the life story of this great Guru and his teachings is a journey that helps recognise the trivialities of life and acquire the knowledge of our true divine nature which we seem to miss constantly.

Though not born into a Sikh family, I was fortunate to discover Guru Nanak Devji’s sublime teachings through a music album called ‘Ashram Bhajanavali’, which is a collection of devotional songs that formed part of the morning and evening prayers at Gandhiji’s ashrams. Of the many bhajans, there was Guru Nanak Devji’s song “Kaahe re ban khojan jaai…Sarab nivaasi sadaa alepaa tohi sang samaai” which caught my attention. Just reading the translation of this song, I got seriously educated on Guru Nanak Devji’s teachings and also about Sikh faith, which to me became much more than the dress code of the faithful. Even so the ‘langar’ that I enjoyed in the company of my Sikh friends at the Gurudwara certainly became sanctified.

The translation of this transforming song “Kaahe re ban khojan jaai’ goes “Why do you go looking for God in the forest? Although he is ever detached, he dwells everywhere. He even abides with you. Like the fragrance which remains in the flower, and like the reflection in the mirror, the Lord dwells deep within all. Therefore search for Him within your own heart, O brother. The Guru has imparted this wisdom: outside the body and inside the body, know that there is only the One Lord pervading everywhere. O servant Nanak, without realizing one’s own True Self, the moss of doubt i.e. ignorance of one's True Nature or Essential Being, etc.cannot be eradicated from the mind.”

Guru Nanak Devji taught the absolute unity of God; everything is God, and everything is dependent on the will of God. The Guru’s life story is full of saintly actions and divine events that teach us to lead a pure life, to be a ‘Sikh’, a sincere disciple and to receive the grace of the Guru for self-unfoldment. The word ‘Sikh’ means ‘disciple’ or student. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term ‘Sisya’ meaning "disciple, student" or ‘siksa’ meaning "instruction" according to the ‘The Illustrated History of the Sikhs’ by Khushwant Singh. The word ‘Sikh’ means ‘disciple’ and they are the disciples of God who follow the writings and teachings of the 10 Sikh Gurus.

The origins of Sikhism lie in the spiritual and social teachings of Guru Nanak Devji, which can be found in the Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib, a vast collection of revelatory verses recorded in Gurmukhi. Guru Nanak Devji taught that the way to connect with the Supreme is not through the mind or through rituals, but through Guru’s grace and direct personal experience. Therefore, he emphasised meditation on the Name (Naam) and Presence of God.

Guru Nanak Devji has given a beautiful summary of his teachings in one of his hymns where he says: “Love the saints of every faith: Put away thy pride. Remember the essence of religion is meekness and sympathy, not fine clothes, not the Yogi’s garb and ashes, not the blowing of the horns, not the shaven head, not long prayers, not recitations and torturings, not the ascetic way, but a life of goodness and purity, amid the world’s temptations.”

Here are given some famous sayings of Guru Nanak Devji
• "There is but One God, His name is Truth, He is the Creator, He fears none, He is without hate, He never dies, He is beyond the cycle of births and death, He is self illuminated, He is realised by the kindness of the True Guru…" (Japji)
• Even Kings and emperors with heaps of wealth and vast dominion cannot compare with an ant filled with the love of God.
• God is one, but he has innumerable forms. He is the creator of all and He himself takes the human form.
• I am neither a child, a young man, nor an ancient; nor am I of any caste.
• I am not the born; how can there be either birth or death for me?
• I bow at His Feet constantly, and pray to Him, the Guru, the True Guru, has shown me the Way.
• Let no man in the world live in delusion. Without a Guru none can cross over to the other shore.

These sayings just give us a glimpse of his humility, his holiness, his message of universality and equality. The core teachings attributed to Guru Nanak are that there is only one God, and that all human beings can have direct access to divinity without empty rituals or priests. His most radical social teachings denounced the degenerated caste system and taught that everyone is equal, regardless of caste or gender.

Bulleh Shah the celebrated sufi poet of Punjab asks the question:

Bulla Ki Jaana Main Kaun
O Bulla! Who knows who I am?

Bulleh Shah is trying to say that he is more than what he seems - his true essence is his soul. It is interesting the way he answers the question is by telling us what he is not. For instance he starts with "I am not a believer, I am not the pagan." Bulleh Shah is implying that he is just not the believer or the pagan, he is something bigger. He is beyond labels and distinctions. It is a sufi's way of Adi Shankara saying Neti Neti.

In his poem To You Walt Whitman does to "you" what Bulleh Shah is doing to "I" in this song.

Whoever you are, I fear you are walking the walks of dreams,
I fear these supposed realities are to melt from under your feet and hands
Even now your features, joys, speech, house, trade, manners, troubles, follies, costume, crimes, dissipate away from you,
Your true soul and body appear before me,

There is some uncertainty as to who this person is, which is why Whitman says, "Whoever you are." He is not interested in the person with certain features, joys and speech. Similarly to Bulleh Shah, Whitman is interested in the true soul of this person.

There are two alternative deeper meanings to the opening line. The first meaning uses the first person singular meaning - "Who knows who I am". But the way this is written, it can also mean second person or third singular (if you put the comma after Main): Bullah, what do I know who "you" are? It could also mean, "Bullah, what do I know who "he" is? By having a line that can mean any of the three persons, the differences between, you, I and he are blurred. Just like by repeating "you" Kabir loses his "I" in Tu Tu Karta Tu Hua.

This poem also reminds me of I Am Not I by Juan Ramon Jimenez. He implies "I am not I." I am the "one who will remain standing when I die." Again a pointer to the soul!

My Favorite Versions of Bulla Ki Jaana Main Kaun

1. Rabbi Shergill:

2. Junoon:

Lyrics of Bulla Ki Jaana Main Kaun in English

Na main momin vich maseetaan
Na main vich kufar diyan reetaan
Na main paakaan vich paleetaan
Na main moosa na firown

Bulla Ki Jaana Main Kaun

Bulla! who knows who I am

Na main andar ved kitaabaan
Na vich bhangaan na sharaabaan
Na vich rindaan masat kharaabaan
Na vich jaagan na vich saun

Bulleya Ki jaana main Kaun
Bulleya! who knows who I am

Na vich shaadi na ghamnaaki
Na main vich paleeti paaki
Na main aabi na main khaki
Na main aatish na main paun

Bulla Ki Jaana Main Kaun

Bulla! who knows who I am

Na main arabi na lahori
Na main hindi shehar nagauri
Na hindu na turak peshawri
Na main rehnda vich nadaun

Bulleya Ki jaana main Kaun
Bulleya! who knows who I am

Na main bheth mazhab da paaya
Ne main aadam havva jaaya
Na main apna naam dharaaya
Na vich baitthan na vich bhaun

Bulla Ki Jaana Main Kaun

Bulla! who knows who I am

Avval aakhir aap nu jaana
Na koi dooja hor pehchaana
Maethon hor na koi siyaana
Bulla! ooh khadda hai kaun

Bulleya Ki jaana main Kaun

Bullah Ki Jaana Main Kaun

Transliteration and Translation in English

Bulleya Ki jaana main Kaun
Bulleya who knows who I am

Na main momin vich maseetaan
Na main vich kufar diyan reetaan
Na main paakaan vich paleetaan
Na main moosa na firown

Not a believer inside the mosque, am I

Nor a pagan disciple of false rites
Not the pure amongst the impure
Neither Moses, nor the Pharoh

Bulleya Ki jaana main Kaun
Bulleya who knows who I am

Na main andar ved kitaabaan
Na vich bhangaan na sharaabaan
Na vich rindaan masat kharaabaan
Na vich jaagan na vich saun

Not in the holy Vedas, am I
Nor in opium, neither in wine
Not in the drunkard’s intoxicated craze
Neither awake, nor in a sleeping daze

-

Bulleya Ki jaana main Kaun
Bulleya! who knows who I am

Na vich shaadi na ghamnaaki
Na main vich paleeti paaki
Na main aabi na main khaki
Na main aatish na main paun

In happiness nor in sorrow, am I
Neither clean, nor a filthy mire
Not from water, nor from earth
Neither fire, nor from air, is my birth
-
Bulleya Ki jaana main Kaun
Bulleya! who knows who I am

Na main arabi na lahori
Na main hindi shehar nagauri
Na hindu na turak peshawri
Na main rehnda vich nadaun

Not an Arab, nor Lahori
Neither Hindi, nor Nagauri
Hindu, Turk, nor Peshawari
Nor do I live in Nadaun

-

Bulleya Ki jaana main Kaun
Bullah who knows who I am

Na main bheth mazhab da paaya
Ne main aadam havva jaaya
Na main apna naam dharaaya
Na vich baitthan na vich bhaun
Secrets of religion, I have not known
From Adam and Eve, I am not born
I am not the name I assume
Not in stillness, nor on the move
-
Bulleya Ki jaana main Kaun
Bulleya who knows who I am

Avval aakhir aap nu jaana
Na koi dooja hor pehchaana
Maethon hor na koi siyaana
Bulla! ooh khadda hai kaun

I am the first, I am the last
None other, have I ever known
I am the wisest of them all
Bulleh! do I stand alone?

Bulleya Ki jaana main Kaun

O Bulla! Who knows who I am?

Bullah Ki Jaana Main Kaun

O Bulla! Who knows who I am?

Lyrics in Hindi with Hindi and English Translations

बुल्ला की जाणां मैं कौंण

मैं नहीं जानता की मैं कौन हूँ।

Bulla! I know not who I am

बुल्ला की जाणां मैं कौंण

नां मैं मोमन विच मसीतां

ना तो मैं मुस्लिम हूँ और ना ही मुझे मस्जिद में आस्था है।

Nor am I the believer in mosque

नां मैं विच कुफ़र दियाँ रीतां

Nor am I in the rituals of the infidel

ना ही मुझे धार्मिक विश्वास /अविश्वास के तरीकों में विश्वास है।

नॉन मैं पकां विच पलितां

Nor am I the pure in the impure

ना तो मैं शुद्ध (पकां) हूँ और ना ही अशुद्ध(पलितां)

ना मैं अंदर बेद किताबां

ना ही मैं वेद और धार्मिक किताबों में हूँ

Nor am I inherent in the Vedas

ना मैं रेह्न्दा भंग शराबां

मैं शराब और भांग जैसे किसी भी नशे में नहीं हूँ

Nor am I present in intoxicants

ना मैं रेह्न्दा मस्त ख़राबां

Nor am I lost nor the corrupt

मैं खोया हुआ और खराब भी नहीं हूँ

ना मैं शादी ना गमनाकी

Nor am I union nor grief

ना तो मैं ख़ुशी में हूँ और नाही दुःख में

ना मैं विच पलीतां पाकी

ना तो मैं शुद्ध हूँ और ना ही असुद्ध ही

ना मैं आबी ना मैं खाकी

ना तो मैं पानी (आबि) हूँ और ना ही खाकी (जमीन)

ना मैं आतिश ना मैं पौन

ना तो मैं आग (आतिश ) हूँ और ना ही पानी (पौन) हूँ

बुल्ला की जाणां मैं कौंण

मैं नहीं जानता की मैं कौन हूँ।

Bulla! I know not who I am

ना मैं अरबी ना लाहौरी

ना तो मैं अरबी हूँ और ना ही लाहौर से ताल्लुकात रखता हूँ

Nor am I Arabic nor from Lahore

ना मैं हिंदी शहर नागौरी

ना ही मैं नागौरी (नागौर, राजस्थान ) का हूँ

Nor am I the Indian City of Nagaur

ना हिन्दू ना तुर्क पशुरी

ना तो मैं हिन्दू हूँ और ना ही तुर्क, पाशुरी

Nor a Hindu nor a Peshawri turk

ना मैं भेद मजहब दा पाया

मैं मजहब मैं कोई अंतर् नहीं किया है /मैं मजहब को नहीं जाना है

Nor did I create the difference of faith

ना मैं आदम हवा जाया

ना ही मैं आदम और इव का उत्पन्न हूँ

Nor did I create adam-eve

ना कोई अपना नाम धराया

मैं स्वंय को किसी नाम विशेष (पहचान ) मैं बाँधा नहीं है

Nor did I name myself

अव्वल आखर आप नूं जाणा

शुरआत हो या आखिरी हो जाना खुद को है (खुदा के पास )

Beginning or end I know just the self

ना कोई दूजा होर पछाना

किसी दूसरे की पहचान काम नहीं आनी

Do not acknowledge duality

मैं तो ना कोई होर सयाना

मुझसे बुद्धिमान और कोई नहीं हैं

There’s none wiser than I

बुल्ले शाह खड़ा है कौन

बुल्ले शाह कौन है

Who is this Bulla Shah

बुल्ला की जाणां मैं कौंण

मैं नहीं जानता की मैं कौन हूँ।

Bulla! I know not who I am

ना मैं मूसा ना फरोस

ना तो मैं 'मूसा' हूँ और नाही "फरोस" हूँ

Nor am I Moses nor Pharoah

ना मैं आतिश ना मैं पौन

ना तो मैं आग (आतिश ) हूँ और ना ही पानी (पौन) हूँ

Nor am I fire nor wind

ना मैं रेह्न्दा विच नादाँन

मैं नादानों के बीच भी नहीं रहता हूँ

I do not stay in Nadaun (city of innocents)

बुल्ले शाह खड़ा है कौन

बुल्ले शाह कौन है

Who is this Bulla Shah

बुल्ला की जाणां मैं कौंण

मैं नहीं जानता की मैं कौन हूँ।

Bulla! I know not who I am

बुल्ला की जाणां मैं कौंण

मैं नहीं जानता की मैं कौन हूँ।

Bulla! I know not who I am

बुल्ला की जाणां मैं कौंण

मैं नहीं जानता की मैं कौन हूँ।

Bulla! I know not who I am

WHAT am I, after all, but a child, pleas’d with the sound of my own name? repeating it over and over;
I stand apart to hear—it never tires me.

To you, your name also;
Did you think there was nothing but two or three pronunciations in the sound of your name?

Ghazal in English followed by 2 Translations

Translation in English - Dayaar-e-Ishq Main by Shivpreet Singh

Alternative Translation by Maahwish Mirza

Lyrics in Hindi - दयार-ए-इश्क़

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Performance and Translation:

Whitman Confirms The purpose of life is to sing

Oh me! Oh life! - A reading by interestingliterature.com

Oh me! Oh life! - A reading by gradesaver.com

Tony Hoagland: Some questions have no answer

Emily Dickinson: I am nobody

Alan Watts

Walt Whitman: What am I? What are you?

Bulleh Shah: Who knows who I am

Vedanta: Neti Neti - Not this not that

Shaad Azeemabadi: You can't find me; I am rare.

I am not I - Juan Ramon Jimenez

Carl Sagan

Guru Arjan's Ek Gusain

Bhagat Kabir's Pandit Mullah

What Guru Nanak Dev taught

By Ram Lingam

My Favorite Versions of Bulla Ki Jaana Main Kaun

1. Rabbi Shergill:

2. Junoon:

Lyrics of Bulla Ki Jaana Main Kaun in English

Transliteration and Translation in English

Lyrics in Hindi with Hindi and English Translations

SHIVPREET SINGH

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