Saints often speak of sin—not to shame us, but to remind us of where love begins: in our limitations. When we talk of sin, I am reminded of Baba Farid:
ਫਰੀਦਾ ਕਾਲੇ ਮੈਡੇ ਕਪੜੇ ਕਾਲਾ ਮੈਡਾ ਵੇਸੁ ॥
ਗੁਨਹੀ à¨à¨°ਿਆ ਮੈ ਫਿਰਾ ਲੋਕੁ ਕਹੈ ਦਰਵੇਸੁ ॥੬੧॥
Farid, my garments are black, my appearance dark with grief.
I wander burdened by sins—yet people still call me a saint. (61)
Interpretation:
Farid here reveals a deep truth about spiritual life: outward appearance can deceive. Despite being steeped in spiritual failings, society labels him a "darvesh" (a holy man). This couplet dismantles spiritual pride and emphasizes inner honesty.
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, the French Carmelite mystic, once confessed that she often fell asleep during prayer. But instead of guilt, she discovered grace:
“I remember that little children are as pleasing to their parents asleep as awake.”
Her words reveal a divine tenderness. We are not loved because we perform well. We are loved because we belong.
In the Sikh tradition, Guru Nanak taught Ik Oankar—that there is One Source, one Father. If that’s true, then we are not competitors or failures—we are siblings. Even when we fall short, even when our prayers falter or our lives feel off-key, we are still part of the family.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji sings, “I have not practiced meditation or self-restraint... Yet I seek Your sanctuary—preserve my honor.” Baba Farid says, “I wander full of sins, yet people call me a saint.” They weren’t lowering the bar—they were lifting the veil of pride.
Real growth begins not in being great, but in knowing we are small—and still loved.
ਫਰੀਦਾ ਕਾਲੇ ਮੈਡੇ ਕਪੜੇ ਕਾਲਾ ਮੈਡਾ ਵੇਸੁ ॥
ਗੁਨਹੀ à¨à¨°ਿਆ ਮੈ ਫਿਰਾ ਲੋਕੁ ਕਹੈ ਦਰਵੇਸੁ ॥੬੧॥
Farid, my garments are black, my appearance dark with grief.
I wander burdened by sins—yet people still call me a saint. (61)
Interpretation:
Farid here reveals a deep truth about spiritual life: outward appearance can deceive. Despite being steeped in spiritual failings, society labels him a "darvesh" (a holy man). This couplet dismantles spiritual pride and emphasizes inner honesty.
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, the French Carmelite mystic, once confessed that she often fell asleep during prayer. But instead of guilt, she discovered grace:
“I remember that little children are as pleasing to their parents asleep as awake.”
Her words reveal a divine tenderness. We are not loved because we perform well. We are loved because we belong.
In the Sikh tradition, Guru Nanak taught Ik Oankar—that there is One Source, one Father. If that’s true, then we are not competitors or failures—we are siblings. Even when we fall short, even when our prayers falter or our lives feel off-key, we are still part of the family.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji sings, “I have not practiced meditation or self-restraint... Yet I seek Your sanctuary—preserve my honor.” Baba Farid says, “I wander full of sins, yet people call me a saint.” They weren’t lowering the bar—they were lifting the veil of pride.
Real growth begins not in being great, but in knowing we are small—and still loved.
Singing oneness!
