Salok Mehlaa 9, Salok 19 — setting down the heavy I
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The person who gives up ego (haumai — the feeling of being a separate self) and comes to know the Creator, the Lord —
Nanak says: that person is free. O my mind, know this as true.
Set down the heavy load of "me, me, me," and you are free.
jihi paraanee ha-umai tajee — the person who lets go of ha-umai. Ha-umai is the feeling of being separate, the constant "I did it, it's mine." kartaa raam pachhaan — they recognize the Creator. vahu mukat nar — that person is free.
Think of carrying a backpack stuffed with rocks all day. You get used to the weight and forget it is there. Putting it down feels amazing. Letting go of ha-umai feels like a wave remembering it is part of the ocean. You find you were connected to everyone all along.
When has putting yourself aside for a moment made you feel closer to someone?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI