Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
There is only One. And the One is found by the True Guru's grace — a gift that is always here, waiting for an open heart.
Look how the world is built — bright and busy, but not made to last, like a little house of sand at the edge of the water.
A wave comes and it is gone, the way paper soaks up rain and softens away. Knowing this makes each moment precious.
The world is like a sandcastle: bright and fun, and built for a little while.
Picture a house of sand at the beach. You can spend all afternoon on the towers. Then one wave comes in, and it is smooth sand again. Guru Arjan puts it this way: mitar mandal jag saaji-aa ji-o baaloo ghar baar — this world has been made like a house of sand. Then he gives a second picture. It melts away as fast as paper left out in the rain.
This is not meant to make us sad or scared. When you know the sandcastle won't last, you enjoy building it with your friends even more. Knowing that things pass is what makes each moment precious.
Does knowing a good day will end make you enjoy it more, or less?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI