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Sikhism·Raag Wadahans·Shabad 28
Verse 3 of 4

The Secret They All Share: Let Go of the 'Me'

ਸੋਹਾਗਣੀ ਜਾਇ ਪੂਛਹੁ ਮੁਈਏ ਜਿਨੀ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਆਪੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥
sohaaganee jaa-ay poochhahu mu-ee-ay jinee vichahu aap gavaa-i-aa.
Go and ask the happy soul-brides, O mortal bride, who have eradicated their self-conceit from within.
ਪਿਰ ਕਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਓ ਮੁਈਏ ਜਿਨੀ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਆਪੁ ਨ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥
pir kaa hukam na paa-i-o mu-ee-ay jinee vichahu aap na gavaa-i-aa.
Those who have not eradicated their self-conceit, O mortal bride, do not realize the Hukam of their Husband Lord's Command.
ਜਿਨੀ ਆਪੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ਤਿਨੀ ਪਿਰੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਰੰਗ ਸਿਉ ਰਲੀਆ ਮਾਣੈ ॥
jinee aap gavaa-i-aa tinee pir paa-i-aa rang si-o ralee-aa maanai.
Those who eradicate their self-conceit, obtain their Husband Lord; they delight in His Love.
ਸਦਾ ਰੰਗਿ ਰਾਤੀ ਸਹਜੇ ਮਾਤੀ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਖਾਣੈ ॥
sadaa rang raatee sehjay maatee an-din naam vakhaanai.
Ever imbued with His Love, in perfect poise and grace, she repeats His Name, night and day.
ਕਾਮਣਿ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੀ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਪ੍ਰੇਮੁ ਸੁਭਾਇਆ ॥
kaaman vadbhaagee antar liv laagee har kaa paraym subhaa-i-aa.
Very fortunate is that bride, who focuses her consciousness on Him; her Lord's Love is so sweet to her.
ਨਾਨਕ ਕਾਮਣਿ ਸਹਜੇ ਰਾਤੀ ਜਿਨਿ ਸਚੁ ਸੀਗਾਰੁ ਬਣਾਇਆ ॥੩॥
naanak kaaman sehjay raatee jin sach seegaar banaa-i-aa. ||3||
O Nanak, that soul-bride who is adorned with Truth, is imbued with her Lord's Love, in the state of perfect poise. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Go ask the people who've found real closeness — they'll tell you they let go of the self-important 'me.'

Holding onto self-importance keeps us from sensing the deeper flow of things.

Lucky is the heart that keeps its love steady and its self-conceit set down.

The people who've found real closeness all say the same secret: let go of the self-important 'me.'
The deeper layer

The Chhant uses the beloved device (as in Shabad 14): "go and ask the happy soul-brides... who have eradicated their self-conceit." Their secret, again, is the melting of haumai (self-conceit/ego). Those who haven't dropped it "do not realize the Hukam" — can't feel the larger flow. The teaching is consistent across the raag: self-importance is the wall; setting it down is the way in. For a child: the people who've found real closeness will tell you the secret is letting go of the self-important 'me.'

A Question to Sit With

Why might being less focused on yourself help you feel closer to others and to what's good?

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

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← Verse 2 of 4 The Good You're Looking For Is Right Here
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