Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Outwardly I get along with everyone.
Yet I stay untouched, like the lotus floating on the water.
Live like a lotus flower: right in the middle of everything, yet clean.
This is the Rahao, the "pause" line at the center of the shabad. Baahar soot sagal si-o ma-ulaa — on the outside I get along with everyone. Alipat raha-o jaisay jal meh ka-ulaa — yet I stay untouched, like the kaulaa, the lotus, on the water.
A lotus grows up out of muddy ponds. It floats right on the water, yet its petals stay clean and dry. Water just rolls off. So a person can be friendly with everyone and still not get stuck in the mess. Being close to people and staying free inside go together. Another shabad (Shabad 40) uses the same picture.
How can you be deeply involved in the world without being weighed down by it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI