Free While Still Alive

ਸਬਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰਿ ਭਏ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੀ ॥

sabad beechaar bha-ay nirankaaree.

Contemplating the Shabad, we become Nirankaari - we come to belong to the Formless Lord God.

ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਜਾਗੇ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਪਰਹਾਰੀ ॥

gurmat jaagay durmat parhaaree.

Awakening to the Guru's Teachings, evil-mindedness is taken away.

ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਜਾਗਿ ਰਹੇ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਈ ॥

an-din jaag rahay liv laa-ee.

Remaining awake and aware night and day, lovingly focused on the Lord,

ਜੀਵਨ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਗਤਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਪਾਈ ॥੪॥

jeevan mukat gat antar paa-ee. ||4||

one becomes Jivan Mukta - liberated while yet alive. He finds this state deep within himself. ||4||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Thinking deeply on the Word, you come to belong to the Formless One.

Awake to the Guru's teaching, crooked, unkind thinking is swept away.

Staying awake and full of love day and night, you become free while still alive, and you find that freedom deep inside.

*Freedom is something you can live inside right now.*

The deeper layer

Freedom can be lived now, while you are alive, and it is found inside.

Sabad beechaar bha-ay nirankaaree means that by thinking on the Word, one comes to belong to Nirankaar, the Formless One. Durmat parhaaree means crooked, unkind thinking is driven off. Jeevan mukat means free while alive. It is a core Sikh ideal: freedom found antar, within, here and now, not only after death.

A Question to Sit With

What would it feel like to be free and at ease inside, even before anything around you changes?

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

About this shabad →

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