Embracing Divine Love
Discover the transformative path of surrendering to enlightened saints and embracing divine love. Learn how cultivating a deep connection with the saints can lead to spiritual growth and the experience of divine bliss with Guru Nanak Sahib Ji.
The Lord's grace and enlightenment illuminate the minds and hearts of individuals, dispelling ignorance and its associated suffering. By accepting the greatness of the Lord and embracing the knowledge bestowed upon them, individuals can experience the transformative power of spiritual enlightenment.
ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ ਰਾਗੁ ਸੂਹੀ ਛੰਤ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ਘਰੁ ੪ ॥
Ik Onkar Satgur Prasad
Rag Suhi chhant Mahala - 1 Ghar - 4
"By the Grace of the sublime Lord, Truth personified & attainable through the Guru's guidance."
(Jin Kia Tin Dekhia, Jag Dhandrhai Laya)
ਜਿਨਿ ਕੀਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਦੇਖਿਆ ਜਗੁ ਧੰਧੜੈ ਲਾਇਆ ॥ ਦਾਨਿ ਤੇਰੈ ਘਟਿ ਚਾਨਣਾ ਤਨਿ ਚੰਦੁ ਦੀਪਾਇਆ ॥
ਚੰਦੋ ਦੀਪਾਇਆ ਦਾਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਕੈ ਦੁਖੁ ਅੰਧੇਰਾ ਉਠਿ ਗਇਆ ॥ ਗੁਣ ਜੰਞ ਲਾੜੇ ਨਾਲਿ ਸੋਹੈ ਪਰਖਿ ਮੋਹਣੀਐ ਲਇਆ ॥
ਵੀਵਾਹੁ ਹੋਆ ਸੋਭ ਸੇਤੀ ਪੰਚ ਸਬਦੀ ਆਇਆ ॥ ਜਿਨਿ ਕੀਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਦੇਖਿਆ ਜਗੁ ਧੰਧੜੈ ਲਾਇਆ ॥੧॥
O Man! The Lord, who has created this universe, maintains and looks after its sustenance as well( and then enables everyone to carry out certain chores or functions in the world. The Lord has also enlightened your mind with the gift of light within your heart through His might and Grace as if the moon had shone within Your body.
Whosoever had accepted the might and greatness of the Lord in lighting this candle of knowledge within, got the darkness of ignorance along with its sufferings dispelled from his person. Even the collection of virtues would appear nice when the possessor of such qualities, the True Master, is accompanying us.
The Guru's Sikhs (disciples) have attained the realization of the Lord's spouse by carrying out trials and proper searches, like the wedded woman, confirming the presence of her spouse. Thus such persons finally get wedded to the Lord-Spouse and merge with Him. The Lord, who has created this universe, also maintains it and enables all beings to perform their respective functions in life. (1)
Surrendering to the Divine Saints
ਹਉ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਸਾਜਨਾ ਮੀਤਾ ਅਵਰੀਤਾ ॥ ਇਹੁ ਤਨੁ ਜਿਨ ਸਿਉ ਗਾਡਿਆ ਮਨੁ ਲੀਅੜਾ ਦੀਤਾ ॥
ਲੀਆ ਤ ਦੀਆ ਮਾਨੁ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਸਿਉ ਸੇ ਸਜਨ ਕਿਉ ਵੀਸਰਹਿ ॥ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਦਿਸਿ ਆਇਆ ਹੋਹਿ ਰਲੀਆ ਜੀਅ ਸੇਤੀ ਗਹਿ ਰਹਹਿ ॥
ਸਗਲ ਗੁਣ ਅਵਗਣੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਹੋਹਿ ਨੀਤਾ ਨੀਤਾ ॥ ਹਉ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਸਾਜਨਾ ਮੀਤਾ ਅਵਰੀਤਾ ॥੨॥
I would offer myself as a sacrifice to such saints who follow different paths and customs than normal persons, so we have developed an attachment for such persons whom we have surrendered our body and mind to attain True Name in lieu.
How could we forget such friendly saints, who have given us so much respect and love? We should keep such saints within our reach and inculcate love for them in our hearts, whose very sight has given us so much joy and bliss.
There are all the virtues in such saints, without having any vices, which go on increasing day by day and I would offer myself as a sacrifice to those saints, who behave differently from the world. (2)
ਗੁਣਾ ਕਾ ਹੋਵੈ ਵਾਸੁਲਾ ਕਢਿ ਵਾਸੁ ਲਈਜੈ ॥ ਜੇ ਗੁਣ ਹੋਵਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ਸਾਜਨਾ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਝ ਕਰੀਜੈ ॥
ਸਾਝ ਕਰੀਜੈ ਗੁਣਹ ਕੇਰੀ ਛੋਡਿ ਅਵਗਣ ਚਲੀਐ ॥ ਪਹਿਰੇ ਪਟੰਬਰ ਕਰਿ ਅਡੰਬਰ ਆਪਣਾ ਪਿੜੁ ਮਲੀਐ ॥
ਜਿਥੈ ਜਾਇ ਬਹੀਐ ਭਲਾ ਕਹੀਐ ਝੋਲਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪੀਜੈ ॥ ਗੁਣਾ ਕਾ ਹੋਵੈ ਵਾਸੁਲਾ ਕਢਿ ਵਾਸੁ ਲਈਜੈ ॥੩॥
(Guru Nanak Ji's Sayings about Qualities of Guru Minded Person) If the Guru-minded person inculcates the Lord's love in his heart, we should take the fragrance of his virtues and develop the friendship with such a person sharing his good qualities.
Thus we could follow the right path of the Lord's truthfulness by getting rid of our vices and managing to attain self-realization by developing noble qualities (of pure silk) and wearing the apparel of costly silk, thus gaining an honorable position in the Lord's Presence.
(Guru Nanak Ji's Sayings about Nectar of Naam) Thus we could drink the nectar of True Name enjoying spiritual bliss and develop such qualities of speech that wherever we go, we speak sweet and meaningful (words) language; thus taking the fragrance of virtuous deeds by ridding ourselves of worldly desires in the company of holy saints.
ਆਪਿ ਕਰੇ ਕਿਸੁ ਆਖੀਐ ਹੋਰੁ ਕਰੇ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥ ਆਖਣ ਤਾ ਕਉ ਜਾਈਐ ਜੇ ਭੂਲੜਾ ਹੋਈ ॥
ਜੇ ਹੋਇ ਭੂਲਾ ਜਾਇ ਕਹੀਐ ਆਪਿ ਕਰਤਾ ਕਿਉ ਭੁਲੈ ॥ ਸੁਣੇ ਦੇਖੇ ਬਾਝੁ ਕਹਿਐ ਦਾਨੁ ਅਣਮੰਗਿਆ ਦਿਵੈ ॥
ਦਾਨੁ ਦੇਇ ਦਾਤਾ ਜਗਿ ਬਿਧਾਤਾ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸਚੁ ਸੋਈ ॥ ਆਪਿ ਕਰੇ ਕਿਸੁ ਆਖੀਐ ਹੋਰੁ ਕਰੇ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥੪॥੧॥੪॥ {ਪੰਨਾ 765-766}
But how could we blame anyone else for our failures when the Lord controls everything Himself? How do we address anyone else for any wrongs done, as there is no other power capable of taking all these decisions? If someone were forgetful and had made some mistakes, while performing certain actions, then even we may contact him for his explanation.
How could the Lord Himself make any mistakes when He created this universe? If someone makes mistakes then even we may approach Him for His clarification. The Lord provides us with all - the worldly pleasures and joy of life without our askance, as He knows everything without even seeing hearing, or saying and blesses us with (all types of) blissful life.
O Nanak! The Lord is an embodiment of Truth, who bestows on all His benediction and decides the fruit of our actions by considering all details. How could we approach anyone else for any help as the Lord is, all in all, Himself and there is none else worth approaching, as none else has the power? The Lord is omnipotent and omniscient.(4-l-4)
The core message of this Shabad is to recognize and acknowledge the divine power of the Lord who created and sustains the universe. The Lord's grace and enlightenment illuminate the minds and hearts of individuals, dispelling ignorance and its associated suffering. By accepting the greatness of the Lord and embracing the knowledge bestowed upon them, individuals can experience the transformative power of spiritual enlightenment. The passage also emphasizes the importance of virtuous qualities and the presence of a True Master or Guru who guides and accompanies individuals on their spiritual journey. The analogy of a wedded woman searching for her spouse represents the dedicated and persistent efforts of the Guru's disciples in realizing and merging with the Lord. Overall, the passage highlights the Lord's role as the creator, sustainer, and facilitator of all beings and emphasizes the path of spiritual realization and union with the divine.
