Verse 216 of 450
Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 158 — blowing into bamboo
ਕਬੀਰ ਸਾਚਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਕਿਆ ਕਰੈ ਜਉ ਸਿਖਾ ਮਹਿ ਚੂਕ ॥
kabeer saachaa satgur ki-aa karai ja-o sikhaa meh chook.
Kabir, what can the True Guru do, when His Sikhs are at fault?
ਅੰਧੇ ਏਕ ਨ ਲਾਗਈ ਜਿਉ ਬਾਂਸੁ ਬਜਾਈਐ ਫੂਕ ॥੧੫੮॥
anDhay ayk na laag-ee ji-o baaNs bajaa-ee-ai fook. ||158||
The blind do not take in any of His Teachings; it is as useless as blowing into bamboo. ||158||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Kabir says: what can the True Guru do, if the Sikhs themselves are at fault?
The blind take in none of the teaching. It is like blowing into a bamboo stick.
A teaching helps only the one who takes it in.
Even the truest teacher cannot help someone who will not take the teaching in.
Ki-aa karai ja-o sikhaa meh chook: what can the Guru do if the fault is in the disciples? A Sikh is a learner.
AnDhay ayk na laag-ee: nothing reaches the blind, here meaning those whose inner eyes are shut. Bajaa-ee-ai fook: like blowing into a bamboo stick; the air goes in, and nothing comes out as music.
A Question to Sit With
What helps you stay open when you are learning something hard?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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