ਪ੍ਰਥਮੇ ਮਨੁ ਪਰਬੋਧੈ ਅਪਨਾ ਪਾਛੈ ਅਵਰ ਰੀਝਾਵੈ ॥
parathmay man parboDhai apnaa paachhai avar reejhaavai.
First, he instructs his own mind, and then, he leads others.
ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਜਪੁ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਜਾਪੈ ਮੁਖ ਤੇ ਸਗਲ ਸੁਨਾਵੈ ॥੨॥
raam naam jap hirdai jaapai mukh tay sagal sunaavai. ||2||
He chants the Lord's Name and meditates on it in his heart; with his mouth, he announces it to all. ||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
First he instructs his own mind, and only then does he guide others.
He chants the Name and holds it in his heart, and with his mouth he proclaims it to everyone.
Instruct your own mind first — only then are you ready to guide anyone else.
A crucial order: "first, he instructs his own mind, and then, he leads others." Teaching that has not first been lived in oneself is the hypocrite's error (Shabad 129); the true guide has practiced inwardly before proclaiming outwardly.
A Question to Sit With
What would you need to truly live yourself before you could teach it to others?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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