ਨਾਮਿ ਸਮਾਵੈ ਜੋ ਭਾਡਾ ਹੋਇ ॥
naam samaavai jo bhaadaa ho-ay.
The Naam, the Name of the Lord, is collected in the vessel of the mind.
ਊਂਧੈ ਭਾਂਡੈ ਟਿਕੈ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
ooNDhai bhaaNdai tikai na ko-ay.
Nothing is collected if the vessel is upside-down.
ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਮਨਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ॥
gur sabdee man naam nivaas.
Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, the Naam abides within the mind.
ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚੁ ਭਾਂਡਾ ਜਿਸੁ ਸਬਦ ਪਿਆਸ ॥੪॥੩॥੨੩॥
naanak sach bhaaNdaa jis sabad pi-aas. ||4||3||23||
O Nanak, True is that vessel of the mind, which thirsts for the Shabad. ||4||3||23||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The Name is gathered in the cup of the mind. But if the cup is turned upside-down, nothing collects in it. Through the Word, the Name settles in. True is the mind-cup that thirsts for the Word.
Grace rains on everyone, but only a cup turned upright -- a thirsty mind -- catches it.
The famous upside-down vessel (cf. the inverted lotus elsewhere): grace rains on all, but only the mind turned upright -- open, thirsting -- can catch it. This reconciles grace and effort: the rain is free, but you must hold your cup the right way up. Thirst itself is the readiness.
A Question to Sit With
Is your "cup" turned up to receive, or turned down? What would turning it up look like?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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