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Sikhism·Raag Goojaree·Shabad 58
Verse 24 of 63

Often the Real Obstacle Isn't Circumstance but Ego

ਪਉੜੀ ॥
pa-orhee.
Pauree:
ਹੋਵੈ ਸੁਖੁ ਘਣਾ ਦਯਿ ਧਿਆਇਐ ॥
hovai sukh ghanaa da-yi Dhi-aa-i-ai.
Meditating on the Lord, there comes a great peace.
ਵੰਞੈ ਰੋਗਾ ਘਾਣਿ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਇਐ ॥
vanjai rogaa ghaan har gun gaa-i-ai.
Multitudes of illnesses vanish, singing the Glorious Praises of the Lord.
ਅੰਦਰਿ ਵਰਤੈ ਠਾਢਿ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਚਿਤਿ ਆਇਐ ॥
andar vartai thaadh parabh chit aa-i-ai.
Utter peace pervades within, when God comes to mind.
ਪੂਰਨ ਹੋਵੈ ਆਸ ਨਾਇ ਮੰਨਿ ਵਸਾਇਐ ॥
pooran hovai aas naa-ay man vasaa-i-ai.
One's hopes are fulfilled, when one's mind is filled with the Name.
ਕੋਇ ਨ ਲਗੈ ਬਿਘਨੁ ਆਪੁ ਗਵਾਇਐ ॥
ko-ay na lagai bighan aap gavaa-i-ai.
No obstacles stand in the way, when one eliminates his self-conceit.
ਗਿਆਨ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਮਤਿ ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਪਾਇਐ ॥
gi-aan padaarath mat gur tay paa-i-ai.
The intellect attains the blessing of spiritual wisdom from the Guru.
ਤਿਨਿ ਪਾਏ ਸਭੇ ਥੋਕ ਜਿਸੁ ਆਪਿ ਦਿਵਾਇਐ ॥
tin paa-ay sabhay thok jis aap divaa-i-ai.
He receives everything, unto whom the Lord Himself gives.
ਤੂੰ ਸਭਨਾ ਕਾ ਖਸਮੁ ਸਭ ਤੇਰੀ ਛਾਇਐ ॥੮॥
tooN sabhnaa kaa khasam sabh tayree chhaa-i-ai. ||8||
You are the Lord and Master of all; all are under Your Protection. ||8||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Remembering the One brings a deep peace.

Crowds of illnesses vanish when you sing the One's praises. Utter calm fills you when the One comes to mind. Hopes are fulfilled when the mind is full of the Name. No obstacle stands when self-conceit is cleared. The intellect gains wisdom from the teaching. The one the One gives to receives everything. You are Master of all; all are under Your protection.

Often the real obstacle isn't circumstance but ego — drop the self-conceit, and much of what blocked you clears.
The deeper layer

The eighth Pauree is a catalogue of remembrance's fruits — peace, healing, fulfilled hope, cleared obstacles, wisdom. One line stands out: "no obstacles stand in the way, when one eliminates his self-conceit." Often the real obstacle is not circumstance but ego — the insistence on our own way. Drop the self-conceit and the road clears. Most of what blocks us, we were carrying.

A Question to Sit With

What 'obstacle' in your life might really be your own insistence on having it your way?

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

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