The Mind Takes the Temperature of What It Dwells On
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Where would anyone run to be away from Him? Remember the Protector instead - and be kept.
Remembering the Fearless, fear drains away; by His grace, the mortal is released. Whom He shelters, pain cannot finally reach.
Keeping the Name, the mind grows peaceful; anxiety leaves; the me-first knot unties. No one can equal such a servant -
for the Mighty One Himself stands over his head. Whatever he sets his hand to, comes to completion.
This one says that since no one can get away from the One, no one can be lost from the One's protection either.
tis tay door kahaa ko jaa-ay — where could anyone go to get away from the One? That can sound like a warning. But the pauri turns it into comfort right away. An earlier pauri already checked every exit and found them closed. If escape is impossible, then protection is everywhere too. The One who cannot be run from also cannot be lost.
Then a line about how feelings spread: nirbha-o japai sagal bha-o mitai — remembering the Fearless One, all fear leaves. Nirbha-o means without fear. The mind catches the feeling of whatever it keeps thinking about. Dwell on scary things, and you catch fear. Dwell on the Fearless One, and you catch that calm. Sukhmani calls this rang, being dyed the color of what you love.
Last comes a picture for every child to keep: sir oopar thaadhaa gur sooraa — the brave Guru stands right over their head. Not behind. Not nearby. Right overhead, like someone holding a shield over you. Under that cover, the last line follows naturally: naanak taa kay kaaraj pooraa, their work is completed.
What does your mind dwell on most - and what temperature has it been catching from that?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI