Into the Burning World, a Coolness Prevails

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In the middle of a hot, burning world, a cool calm can spread inside you.

This goes with the lamp in the verse before. Tapat maahi thaadh vartaa-ee — in the burning heat, a soothing coolness spreads. Many people have found comfort in this line. Tapat, heat, is how Gurbani often names the world's fever: worry, anger, wanting more and more. Earlier, Sukhmani said no special robes could put that fire out.

Thaadh, coolness, does not carry you out of the hot world. It spreads right inside it. It is like air conditioning on a scorching day. You don't have to leave town; the cool comes to where you are.

Then come the familiar Sukhmani steps of freedom, one after another. The fear of birth and death goes. Bha-o chookaa nirbha-o ho-ay basay — fear lifts, and you come to live in fearlessness. Fear is not just gone; fearlessness becomes your home. The troubles drain out of the mind. Jis kaa saa tin kirpaa Dhaaree — He takes us in as His very own, like family.

And how does it all happen? As simply as ever: good company, the Name and listening. Sun naanak har har jas sarvan — just let your ears hear the praise. The way in never gets harder. Only how high you can rise keeps growing.