Alive by Listening

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

Hearing the Guru's words, again and again, keeps you alive. Here is the Rahao, the pause, the center of the shabad. Sun sun jeevai daas — Your servant lives by hearing, again and again. Hearing what? Banee jan aakhee — the Bani, the sacred words sung by the humble.

Japji Sahib praises listening too, in the verses that begin Suniai, which means "by listening." Think of a favorite song that lifts you every single time. Here, listening is like breathing. It keeps you alive.

Then: pargat bha-ee sabh lo-a meh sayvak kee raakhee — the Guru is seen in all the worlds and guards the honor of the servant. At the center of this shabad, hearing is life itself.