We Are All Guests Here for a While

ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਸਿਮਰਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈਹੋ ਸਭਨਾ ਏਹੁ ਪਇਆਣਾ ॥

saahib simrahu mayray bhaa-eeho sabhnaa ayhu pa-i-aanaa.

Meditate in remembrance on the Lord and Master, O my Siblings of Destiny; everyone has to pass this way.

ਏਥੈ ਧੰਧਾ ਕੂੜਾ ਚਾਰਿ ਦਿਹਾ ਆਗੈ ਸਰਪਰ ਜਾਣਾ ॥

aythai DhanDhaa koorhaa chaar dihaa aagai sarpar jaanaa.

These false entanglements last for only a few days; then, one must surely move on to the world hereafter.

ਆਗੈ ਸਰਪਰ ਜਾਣਾ ਜਿਉ ਮਿਹਮਾਣਾ ਕਾਹੇ ਗਾਰਬੁ ਕੀਜੈ ॥

aagai sarpar jaanaa ji-o mihmaanaa kaahay gaarab keejai.

He must surely move on to the world hereafter, like a guest; so why does he indulge in ego?

ਜਿਤੁ ਸੇਵਿਐ ਦਰਗਹ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਨਾਮੁ ਤਿਸੈ ਕਾ ਲੀਜੈ ॥

jit sayvi-ai dargeh sukh paa-ee-ai naam tisai kaa leejai.

Chant the Name of the Lord; serving Him, you shall obtain peace in His Court.

ਆਗੈ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਮੂਲੇ ਸਿਰਿ ਸਿਰਿ ਕਿਆ ਵਿਹਾਣਾ ॥

aagai hukam na chalai moolay sir sir ki-aa vihaanaa.

In the world hereafter, no one's commands will be obeyed. According to their actions, each and every person proceeds.

ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਸਿਮਰਿਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈਹੋ ਸਭਨਾ ਏਹੁ ਪਇਆਣਾ ॥੨॥

saahib simrihu mayray bhaa-eeho sabhnaa ayhu pa-i-aanaa. ||2||

Meditate in remembrance on the Lord and Master, O my Siblings of Destiny; everyone has to pass this way. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

So keep what's good close to your heart, because this is the road every one of us walks.

We're all a bit like guests visiting this world for a while — so there's no need to be puffed-up.

Live kindly and truly, and there's a deep peace waiting for you.

Remembering that we're all guests here for a while helps us stay humble and kind, and treasure our days.

The deeper layer

The Alaahanee turns the thought of endings into a gentle teaching for living: "everyone has to pass this way," so "why indulge in ego?" We are all guests here — visiting for a while — which is a reason to be humble and kind, not proud. The awareness that our time is precious and limited is meant to make us treasure it and live well, not to frighten us. For a child: remembering that we're all guests here for a while helps us stay humble and kind, and treasure our days.

A Question to Sit With

If you thought of yourself as a special guest somewhere, how would you treat the place and the people?

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

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