The Closing Saloks, Savaiye in Praise of Guru Amar Das (the bard Salh)
The bravest battle is the one won inside.
The Arc
Picture a warrior getting ready. The armor is deep stillness. The horse is wisdom. The bow is doing what is right. The arrows are devotion and gentle goodness. The spear is the Guru's word, driven into your own mind. You stand fearless, in awe of the eternal One. The enemies are all inside you: wanting, anger, greed, clinging and pride. Guru Amar Das, blessed by Guru Nanak and master of kings, beat that whole army this way. That is how the battle is won. At the center, the opening line: wearing the armor of deep stillness, the Guru rides the horse of wisdom.
Key Vocabulary
sanaahu - armor
dharamm - dharma, doing right
nayjaa - spear
panch doot - the five troublemakers inside
Hukumnama
Subject: The bravest battle is won inside you Preview: Armor of stillness, a horse of wisdom, a bow of right, arrows of devotion, a spear of the word.
Today: Picture a warrior getting ready. The armor is deep stillness. The horse is wisdom. The bow is doing what is right. The arrows are devotion and gentle goodness. The spear is the Guru's word, driven into your own mind. You stand fearless, in awe of the eternal One. The enemies are all inside you: wanting, anger, greed, clinging and pride. Guru Amar Das, blessed by Guru Nanak and master of kings, beat that whole army this way. That is how the battle is won.
The bravest battle is won inside you.
For today: When anger flares today, take three slow breaths before you speak.
The bravest battle is the one won inside.
The Arc
Picture a warrior getting ready. The armor is deep stillness. The horse is wisdom. The bow is doing what is right. The arrows are devotion and gentle goodness. The spear is the Guru's word, driven into your own mind. You stand fearless, in awe of the eternal One. The enemies are all inside you: wanting, anger, greed, clinging and pride. Guru Amar Das, blessed by Guru Nanak and master of kings, beat that whole army this way. That is how the battle is won. At the center, the opening line: wearing the armor of deep stillness, the Guru rides the horse of wisdom.
Key Vocabulary
Hukumnama
Subject: The bravest battle is won inside you Preview: Armor of stillness, a horse of wisdom, a bow of right, arrows of devotion, a spear of the word.
Today: Picture a warrior getting ready. The armor is deep stillness. The horse is wisdom. The bow is doing what is right. The arrows are devotion and gentle goodness. The spear is the Guru's word, driven into your own mind. You stand fearless, in awe of the eternal One. The enemies are all inside you: wanting, anger, greed, clinging and pride. Guru Amar Das, blessed by Guru Nanak and master of kings, beat that whole army this way. That is how the battle is won.
The bravest battle is won inside you.
For today: When anger flares today, take three slow breaths before you speak.