O mother, I hear of death, and think of it, and I am filled with fear.
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
O mother, I hear of death and think about it, and fear fills me.
So I let go of 'mine and yours' and of the puffed-up self, and took shelter with the One.
This is a rare and honest admission: the thought of death brings fear. Guru Arjan does not pretend to be above it. But watch what he does with the fear — he lets it drive him toward, not away. The fear of death loosens his grip on "mine and yours" (all the grabbing and self-importance) and sends him into sanctuary. Fear, honestly faced, can be a teacher: it shows you what you were clinging to that you cannot keep anyway, and it points you toward what cannot be lost. This is haumai (the illusion of the separate self) being quietly set down under the pressure of a real question.
What do the things you call 'mine' really give you? What would still be yours if you let go of them?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI