Raag Soohee
Commentary

Raag Soohee, Chhant, Mehl 3 (Guru Amar Das)

Sing a quiet song to the One and find peace; the pains of countless lifetimes are erased.

The Arc

Guru Amar Das opens his Soohee chhants on a keynote of peace. Sing the quiet song and gather the fruit of peace (Pauri 0); just listening, the heart is drenched in love (1); in this whole age the Name is what carries a heart across, and all belong to the One (2); the Friend moves into the heart and the inner hunger quiets for good (3).

Key Vocabulary

sohilaa -- a song of gladness. sahj subhaa-ay -- naturally, in effortless ease. bheenay -- drenched. nistaaraa -- being carried across. tripat aghaahee -- satisfied and sated. jorh vichhorhay -- He joins and separates.

Themes and Cross-Connections

The warm center is sabh ko tayraa ... ha-o tayraa too hamaaraa -- all belong to You, I am Yours and You are mine: belonging without hierarchy. Listening (Suniai) is foregrounded -- the good soaks in gently on its own when the heart is receptive. Contentment is inner (fir bhookh na laagai), not dependent on getting more.

For Raag Soohee

Where Guru Nanak's Soohee often longs, Guru Amar Das's often rests. The color of love here is warm settledness -- the Friend at home, the hunger stilled.

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