Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
I give myself completely to those who *hear* the Name and settle it deep in their minds. The dear One is true, and the highest of the high — far above everything — and yet He quiets their ego and blends them right into Himself. The greatest of all comes close to the smallest who will only listen.
This is the rahaa-o, the "pause" line — the center of the shabad. It says the Highest One comes close to anyone who listens, once the big "me" gets out of the way.
It holds two things at once. First: har jee-o sachaa oocho oochaa — the dear One is true, and oocho oochaa, the highest of the high. Second: that same Highest One does ha-umai maar milaavani-aa — quiets the ego and blends the soul into Himself. The Highest does not stay far away up high. He bends down to the smallest soul and draws it close. The very great and the very near turn out to be the same One.
Notice the one thing that must happen first: ha-umai maar — the ego has to go quiet. Ha-umai is the feeling of being a separate "me," and it is the one thing standing between us and the One. While the "I" is puffed up and in the way, there is no room to meet. Think of trying to hug someone while holding a huge backpack in front of you. The ego is not quieted as a punishment. It is quieted because it is the only thing in the way. Put it down, and the soul flows into the One, like a wave into the ocean it was always part of.
How does it start? With the first words: naam sun man vasaavani-aa — hearing the Name and letting it settle in the mind. An earlier shabad also put listening first. The singer says ha-o vaaree jee-o vaaree — I give myself — to anyone who does this. The steps are simple and gentle. Listen to the Name. Let it settle in. The "me" grows quiet. And the Highest comes the rest of the way to you.
Where in your life does being "full of yourself" leave no room for someone else to truly meet you? What would making room look like?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI