Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
To die in the Teachings is to truly live. Any other way — is that even living?
Says Nanak: the One gives life to all the living; Lord, please keep me however You will.
This one says the way to really live is to let your selfish "me first" side fade away.
Mat vich maran jeevan means "to die within the teaching is to live." This is not about the body dying. It is about the proud, grabbing part of us quieting down. Sikhs call this jeevat marnaa, "dying while living." Guru Nanak asks: without that, "what kind of life is this?"
Think of a caterpillar in its cocoon. The old caterpillar has to let go before the butterfly can come out. Letting the ego go feels like losing something. Really, it is the door to a fuller life.
Then comes a gentle ending. Jeevaalay jee-aa means the One gives life to every living being. Jah bhaavai tah raakh tuhee means "keep me wherever You please." Guru Nanak hands even this over to the One.
What part of you might need to quiet down for a fuller life to begin?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI