Sikhism·Raag Wadahans·Shabad 52
Verse 62 of 64

Just Seeing the Good Isn't Enough; Take It In

ਸਲੋਕੁ ਮਃ ੩ ॥
salok mehlaa 3.
Shalok, Third Mehl:
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨੋ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਵੇਖਦਾ ਜੇਤਾ ਜਗਤੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥
satgur no sabh ko vaykh-daa jaytaa jagat sansaar.
All the living beings of the world behold the True Guru.
ਡਿਠੈ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਜਿਚਰੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਨ ਕਰੇ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
dithai mukat na hova-ee jichar sabad na karay veechaar.
One is not liberated by merely seeing Him, unless one contemplates the Word of His Shabad.
ਹਉਮੈ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਚੁਕਈ ਨਾਮਿ ਨ ਲਗੈ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥
ha-umai mail na chuk-ee naam na lagai pi-aar.
The filth of ego is not removed, and he does not enshrine love for the Naam.
ਇਕਿ ਆਪੇ ਬਖਸਿ ਮਿਲਾਇਅਨੁ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਤਜਿ ਵਿਕਾਰ ॥
ik aapay bakhas milaa-i-an dubiDhaa taj vikaar.
The Lord forgives some, and unites them with Himself; they forsake their duality and sinful ways.
ਨਾਨਕ ਇਕਿ ਦਰਸਨੁ ਦੇਖਿ ਮਰਿ ਮਿਲੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਹੇਤਿ ਪਿਆਰਿ ॥੧॥
naanak ik darsan daykh mar milay satgur hayt pi-aar. ||1||
O Nanak, some behold the Blessed Vision of the True Guru's Darshan, with love and affection; conquering their ego, they meet with the Lord. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Just seeing something good isn't the same as taking it into your heart.

The self-important feeling stays until we truly let the good in.

But a heart that beholds the good with real love conquers its pride and meets it.

Just seeing something good isn't enough — you have to take it into your heart with love.
The deeper layer

"All behold the True Guru, but one is not liberated by merely seeing Him, unless one contemplates the Shabad." A key distinction: seeing good (or being near it) does nothing unless you take it into your heart. Those who behold "with love and affection, conquering their ego, meet with the Lord." For a child: just seeing something good isn't enough — you have to take it into your heart with love.

A Question to Sit With

What's the difference between just noticing something good and really taking it to heart?

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

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