Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
From the air came the beginning; this is the age of the True Guru's teaching.
The Word is my Guru; my attention, tuned to it with love, is the disciple.
Speaking what cannot be spoken, I stay free of it all.
Nanak says: through every age, the Lord of the world is my Guru.
I think on the one Word, the story of the One.
Facing the Guru, I put out the fire of ego.
The Word is the Guru, and your attention, tuned to it like a string, is the disciple.
Sabad guroo surat dhun chelaa are among the most famous lines in Gurbani, the answer to the Siddhas' question, who is your Guru? Guru here is the Word itself, met by deep listening. Surat is attention; dhun is its tuned, ringing quality, the way a guitar string sounds when it is in tune. Pavan arambh, from air the beginning, answers their question about the root of all.
What would change if you treated your best listening as your teacher?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI