The slanderer slanders me, and still he is dear to me.
The Arc
Stay quiet, and someone calls you a fool. Talk too much, and you lose the thread of love. The Naam steadies how you live. Some people will say bad things about you. You can still love them. Their words can wear away your pride and teach you the way. Calling yourself great does not make you great. Turn toward the Guru and soak up the Naam. Even on days you feel you have nothing, love of the Naam is your wealth. Let praise and insult pass by. Cheer for the One who gives. Speak as the One moves you to speak. At the centre, the Rahao: you can love even the one who says bad things about you.
Key Vocabulary
Naam binaa kaisay aachaar — without the Name, how good conduct; the Name as ground of behavior. Nindak / nindaa — slanderer, slander. Neesaanai — the insignia, a mark of belonging. Needhan kou dhan naam — the poor one's wealth is love of the Name. Ustat nindaa — praise and slander, met with equanimity. Kahai kahaavai so-ay — one speaks as the One causes.
Themes and Cross-Connections
The love of one's critic is a landmark of non-retaliation, and it doubles as spiritual method: criticism as sandpaper on the ego. Equanimity toward praise and slander alike recurs across the raag. The humility of the vessel, speaking as one is moved, closes the ego-loop the shabad has been working.
For Raag Prabhaatee
The steady, dawn-clear tone suits a shabad about not being swayed by the winds of insult or flattery.
Hukumnama
Subject: You can love the one who puts you down Preview: silence and chatter, a slanderer still loved, a mark of welcome, poison and ashes, praise and insult passing.
Today: Stay quiet, and someone calls you a fool. Talk too much, and you lose the thread of love. The Naam steadies how you live. Some people will say bad things about you. You can still love them. Their words can wear away your pride and teach you the way. Calling yourself great does not make you great. Turn toward the Guru and soak up the Naam. Even on days you feel you have nothing, love of the Naam is your wealth. Let praise and insult pass by. Cheer for the One who gives. Speak as the One moves you to speak.
You can love even the one who says bad things about you, and keep your heart clean.
For today: If a word stings you today, take one slow breath and let it pass.
The slanderer slanders me, and still he is dear to me.
The Arc
Stay quiet, and someone calls you a fool. Talk too much, and you lose the thread of love. The Naam steadies how you live. Some people will say bad things about you. You can still love them. Their words can wear away your pride and teach you the way. Calling yourself great does not make you great. Turn toward the Guru and soak up the Naam. Even on days you feel you have nothing, love of the Naam is your wealth. Let praise and insult pass by. Cheer for the One who gives. Speak as the One moves you to speak. At the centre, the Rahao: you can love even the one who says bad things about you.
Key Vocabulary
Naam binaa kaisay aachaar — without the Name, how good conduct; the Name as ground of behavior. Nindak / nindaa — slanderer, slander. Neesaanai — the insignia, a mark of belonging. Needhan kou dhan naam — the poor one's wealth is love of the Name. Ustat nindaa — praise and slander, met with equanimity. Kahai kahaavai so-ay — one speaks as the One causes.
Themes and Cross-Connections
The love of one's critic is a landmark of non-retaliation, and it doubles as spiritual method: criticism as sandpaper on the ego. Equanimity toward praise and slander alike recurs across the raag. The humility of the vessel, speaking as one is moved, closes the ego-loop the shabad has been working.
For Raag Prabhaatee
The steady, dawn-clear tone suits a shabad about not being swayed by the winds of insult or flattery.
Hukumnama
Subject: You can love the one who puts you down Preview: silence and chatter, a slanderer still loved, a mark of welcome, poison and ashes, praise and insult passing.
Today: Stay quiet, and someone calls you a fool. Talk too much, and you lose the thread of love. The Naam steadies how you live. Some people will say bad things about you. You can still love them. Their words can wear away your pride and teach you the way. Calling yourself great does not make you great. Turn toward the Guru and soak up the Naam. Even on days you feel you have nothing, love of the Naam is your wealth. Let praise and insult pass by. Cheer for the One who gives. Speak as the One moves you to speak.
You can love even the one who says bad things about you, and keep your heart clean.
For today: If a word stings you today, take one slow breath and let it pass.