With No Powers to Rely On, Refuge Is Enough

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

You do not need to be impressive to be welcome. Asking for shelter is enough.

Jaap taap kachh ukat na moree — I do not have the skill to chant or to do hard meditation. Guru Arjan speaks as someone with nothing grand to show. No special powers. No big achievements.

And still he says, gur naanak sarnaagat toree — Nanak comes into Your shelter. Think of a little child running to a parent in a storm. The child does not bring a report card first. The child just runs in, and the door opens. When no practice of our own can carry us, the boat is shelter, not skill.