The Reserved One Percent Is the Old Self's Office

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

Give the Teaching all of you, not most of you.

Bees bisvay gur kaa man maanai — whoever accepts the Guru's teaching twenty parts out of twenty. That means one hundred percent. The number teaches something. Ninety-nine percent is not just a little less. It is a different thing altogether. The one percent you hold back is where the old self keeps its office. Picture a new team leader, while the old boss still keeps one desk down the hall. As long as that desk is there, the old boss is still giving orders.

Then the verse rises to its high point, calm and sure. Barahm meh jan jan meh paarbarahm — the servant is in God, and God is in the servant. Aykeh aap nahee kachh bharam — He Himself is One; there is no doubt about it. The last wall between the teacher, the learner and the One melts away, like water poured into water.

This way of speaking helps explain why Sikhs honor the Guru so deeply. It is not the whole story of how Sikhs worship. But it shows what is honored in the True Guru: the very thing the opening verse named. It is the One, living inside.

And as always, one line stands guard. Sahas si-aanap la-i-aa na jaa-ee-ai — a thousand clever tricks will not find Him. Meeting such a Guru is great good fortune. You can get ready for it. You cannot scheme your way into it.