Sikhism·Raag Aasaa·Shabad 256
Verse 6 of 9

Your Pilgrimage Is Contemplating the Guru

ਅੰਤਰਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਮਹਾ ਰਸੁ ਸਾਰਾ ॥
antar gi-aan mahaa ras saaraa.
Spiritual wisdom within is the supreme, sublime nectar.
ਤੀਰਥ ਮਜਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਵੀਚਾਰਾ ॥
tirath majan gur veechaaraa.
Contemplation of the Guru is one's bathing at holy places of pilgrimage.
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਪੂਜਾ ਥਾਨੁ ਮੁਰਾਰਾ ॥
antar poojaa thaan muraaraa.
Worship and adoration within is the Lord's dwelling.
ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਮਿਲਾਵਣਹਾਰਾ ॥੫॥
jotee jot milaavanhaaraa. ||5||
He is the One who blends one's light with the Divine Light. ||5||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Wisdom within is the supreme nectar. Contemplating the Guru is your pilgrimage-bath.

Worship within is the One's dwelling. He is the One who blends your light into the Divine Light.

Your pilgrimage is contemplating the Guru, your temple the worship within — and your light blends into the Light.
The deeper layer

Guru Nanak finishes moving every outer practice inside, and then he names the goal.

The nectar is the wisdom inside you. Tirath majan gur veechaaraa — bathing at a pilgrimage place, a tirath, is thinking deeply on the Guru's teaching. The temple is worship within. The One lives there.

And the goal? Jotee jot milaavanhaaraa — the One blends your light into the Divine Light. Jot means light. Picture a drop of water falling into the ocean. It does not vanish. It becomes part of something vast.

A Question to Sit With

What is the most sacred 'place' inside you?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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