Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
O mind, take up true contemplation.
Without the One's Name, know that this whole world is passing and unreal.
Guru Tegh Bahadur's characteristic teaching, stated plainly: "without the Name, the whole world is false." Jhooth — false — does not mean the world doesn't exist; it means it is impermanent, not finally real, unable to bear the weight of ultimate trust. Everything you can see is passing; only the Name endures. And the instruction is to "embrace true contemplation" (saach) — to turn the mind toward what is real rather than staking it on what is passing. This is the sober clarity of the Ninth Guru: see the world truly, as the temporary thing it is, and root yourself in the one thing that lasts.
What's the difference between something being unreal and something being temporary? Where is it wise to place your deepest trust?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI