Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Only the one who has found the teaching truly understands. As the ego is quieted, they receive the living Word of the teaching into their heart.
Real understanding comes as the loud "me" goes quiet.
So boojhai jo satgur paa-ay — the one who finds the Satguru, the True Guru, understands. Understanding is received, not built.
Haumai maaray — the ego is stilled. Haumai is the ego, the me-first feeling. The word maaray can mean "kills." But ego is more like a sickness to heal than a criminal to punish, so here it means growing quiet. That clears the way. Then gur sabday paa-ay — the Guru's Word is received.
The two go together. You cannot really hear the teaching while the loud "me" is talking over it. Think of trying to hear a friend while you are still talking. And the teaching itself is what gently quiets that voice.
Have you ever understood something new only after you stopped insisting you were already right?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI