Sikhism·Raag Bhairao·Shabad 96
Verse 5 of 9

Gently Learning What I Do Not Know

ਹਮ ਮੂੜ ਮੁਗਧ ਕਿਛੁ ਬੂਝਹਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਤੂ ਆਪੇ ਦੇਹਿ ਬੁਝਾਈ ॥
ham moorh mugaDh kichh boojheh naahee too aapay deh bujhaa-ee.
I am foolish and ignorant, and understand nothing. You Yourself bless me with understanding.
ਜੋ ਤੁਧੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋਈ ਕਰਸੀ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕਰਣਾ ਜਾਈ ॥੪॥
jo tuDh bhaavai so-ee karsee avar na karnaa jaa-ee. ||4||
You do whatever You please; nothing else can be done at all. ||4||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

I am simple and silly, and I understand nothing at all. You Yourself give me understanding.

Whatever pleases You, that is what happens. Nothing else can be done.

Admitting you are still learning is the doorway to understanding.
The deeper layer

A humble heart can pray: "I don't understand much. Please teach me."

Ham moorh mugadh kichh boojheh naahee — I am foolish and simple, and I understand nothing. It is best heard as the honest voice of a beginner, not a put-down. Too aapay deh bujhaa-ee — You Yourself give understanding. Even our clear seeing is a gift.

Jo tudh bhaavai so-ee karsee — whatever pleases You is what happens. Avar na karnaa jaa-ee — nothing else can be done. This is Hukam, the One's will, the flow of all that is. Think of floating in a river. Fighting the current wears you out. Trusting it lets you learn how to swim with it.

A Question to Sit With

When has saying 'I do not know yet' helped you learn something?

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

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