Belong to the One who made you, and fear and sorrow lose their grip.
The Arc
You were made, and you were given this life. Serve the One who did that. Then fear of punishment lets go, and sorrow loses its grip. Spend your days serving everything except the One, and you end up tired, with empty hands. Trying only to please people wears you thin. Helping holy people brings a peace that stays. Want that peace? The Guru's advice is simple: join the Sangat, people gathered to remember the One. There the Naam is remembered, and you are carried across. Of all wisdom, keeping the One in mind is the heart. Of all music, praise of the One is the sweetest. At the centre, the Rahao: serving the One is great good fortune, and it brings perfect peace.
Key Vocabulary
tis too sayv jin too keeaa — serve the One who made you.
doojee sayvaa — service of duality, of everything-but-the-One; it leaves you empty.
maanas sayvaa — serving mortals; leaning your whole self on what cannot hold you.
saadhoo sangat — the Sangat, where lasting peace and freedom are found.
tatt giaan — the essence of all wisdom: keep the One in mind.
Themes and Cross-Connections
Duality (dujaa bhaav) versus single-hearted belonging, a recurring Arjan theme.
For Raag Basant
Spring as lasting peace: the settled, well-watered life that flowers in the Sangat.
Hukumnama
Subject: Great good fortune brings perfect peace Preview: the Maker who gave you life, tiring work that bears no fruit, the Guru's advice, the sweetest melody
Today: You were made, and you were given this life. Serve the One who did that. Then fear of punishment lets go, and sorrow loses its grip. Spend your days serving everything except the One, and you end up tired, with empty hands. Trying only to please people wears you thin. Helping holy people brings a peace that stays. Want that peace? The Guru's advice is simple: join the Sangat, people gathered to remember the One. There the Naam is remembered, and you are carried across. Of all wisdom, keeping the One in mind is the heart. Of all music, praise of the One is the sweetest.
Serving the One is great good fortune, and it brings perfect peace.
For today: Pick one task today and do it with your whole heart, as service to the One.
Belong to the One who made you, and fear and sorrow lose their grip.
The Arc
You were made, and you were given this life. Serve the One who did that. Then fear of punishment lets go, and sorrow loses its grip. Spend your days serving everything except the One, and you end up tired, with empty hands. Trying only to please people wears you thin. Helping holy people brings a peace that stays. Want that peace? The Guru's advice is simple: join the Sangat, people gathered to remember the One. There the Naam is remembered, and you are carried across. Of all wisdom, keeping the One in mind is the heart. Of all music, praise of the One is the sweetest. At the centre, the Rahao: serving the One is great good fortune, and it brings perfect peace.
Key Vocabulary
Themes and Cross-Connections
Duality (dujaa bhaav) versus single-hearted belonging, a recurring Arjan theme.
For Raag Basant
Spring as lasting peace: the settled, well-watered life that flowers in the Sangat.
Hukumnama
Subject: Great good fortune brings perfect peace Preview: the Maker who gave you life, tiring work that bears no fruit, the Guru's advice, the sweetest melody
Today: You were made, and you were given this life. Serve the One who did that. Then fear of punishment lets go, and sorrow loses its grip. Spend your days serving everything except the One, and you end up tired, with empty hands. Trying only to please people wears you thin. Helping holy people brings a peace that stays. Want that peace? The Guru's advice is simple: join the Sangat, people gathered to remember the One. There the Naam is remembered, and you are carried across. Of all wisdom, keeping the One in mind is the heart. Of all music, praise of the One is the sweetest.
Serving the One is great good fortune, and it brings perfect peace.
For today: Pick one task today and do it with your whole heart, as service to the One.