ਇਕਿ ਜਪ ਤਪ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਨਾਵਹਿ ॥
ik jap tap kar kar tirath naaveh.
Some chant and practice intensive meditation, and take cleansing baths at sacred shrines of pilgrimage.
ਜਿਉ ਤੁਧੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਵੈ ਚਲਾਵਹਿ ॥
ji-o tuDh bhaavai tivai chalaaveh.
They walk as You will them to walk.
ਹਠਿ ਨਿਗ੍ਰਹਿ ਅਪਤੀਜੁ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਕਿਨਿ ਪਤਿ ਪਾਈ ਹੇ ॥੧੨॥
hath nigrahi apteej na bheejai bin har gur kin pat paa-ee hay. ||12||
By stubborn rituals of self-suppression, the Lord is not pleased. No one has ever obtained honor, without the Lord, without the Guru. ||12||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Some travel far, bathe at holy places, and practice very hard.
We each move as life leads us.
But grinding myself down by force does not bring me closer; it is gentle love, with the Guru, that opens the door.
I do not get closer to the One by being harsh with myself.
Hath nigrahi, stubborn self-suppression, leaves the heart unsoftened (apteej na bheejai). The path is love and tenderness, with the Guru beside you.
A Question to Sit With
Why do you think gentleness often works better than force?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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