Sikhism·Raag Gauree·Shabad 12
Verse 5 of 5

Live Unruled by Wanting, Even in the Middle

ਜਿਨਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਗੁਰਿ ਦੇਖਿ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ ॥
jin paa-i-aa gur daykh dikhaa-i-aa.
One who meets the Guru, beholds Him, and inspires others to behold Him as well.
ਆਸਾ ਮਾਹਿ ਨਿਰਾਸੁ ਬੁਝਾਇਆ ॥
aasaa maahi niraas bujhaa-i-aa.
In the midst of hope, the Guru teaches us to live above hope and desire.
ਦੀਨਾ ਨਾਥੁ ਸਰਬ ਸੁਖਦਾਤਾ ॥
deenaa naath sarab sukh-daata.
He is the Master of the meek, the Giver of peace to all.
ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਚਰਣੀ ਮਨੁ ਰਾਤਾ ॥੪॥੧੨॥
naanak har charnee man raataa. ||4||12||
Nanak's mind is imbued with the Lotus Feet of the Lord. ||4||12||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Whoever meets the teacher sees the One -- and helps others see it too. Right in the middle of all our wanting and hoping, the teacher shows us how to live free of being ruled by it. The One is the friend of the humble and gives peace to everyone. My mind is soaked in love for the One.

Live unruled by wanting even while you are in the middle of it -- and pass the seeing on to others.
The deeper layer

Realization overflows: the one who beholds also inspires others to behold -- awakening is contagious. The exquisite teaching is to live desireless in the midst of desire, unruled by hope while still in the world -- pure engaged detachment. The One is merciful to the meek. The closing is devotion, not doctrine: the mind dyed with love for the One.

A Question to Sit With

How can you hope for things without letting the hoping run your whole life?

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

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