Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Chanting practices, deep meditations, all the schools of philosophy, sermons on the scriptures;
yoga and strict right conduct; giving up everything to wander the wilderness;
grand works, charity, jewels offered into the fire; even offering up one's own body; fasts and vows of every kind -
none of it equals thinking on the Name of the One. Nanak says: facing the Guru, hold the Name in your heart even once, with your whole being.
One true moment of remembering outweighs a whole life of showing off.
The verse lists everything people have tried in order to become holy. Chanting and deep meditation. The six schools of philosophy and sermons on scripture. Yoga and strict good conduct. Giving up everything to wander in the wild. Charity, and jewels offered into fire. Fasts and vows of every kind. The list is respectful. Then all of it is outweighed.
The thing that tips the scale is exact. Naanak gurmukh naam japee-ai ik baar — as a gurmukh, remember the Name, even once. A gurmukh is someone who faces the Guru and lives by the Guru's teaching. Ik baar means once. That is the surprise. One true remembrance weighs more than a lifetime of performing.
Why? The ego can do every one of those performances, for its own sake. The ego is the me-first part of us, called haumai. A true remembrance is the very moment the ego steps aside.
Think of a cup turned upside down. Pour a thousand buckets over it, and it stays empty. Turn it the right way up, and a single drop goes in.
Is there something you do to look good at, rather than to be? How would you tell the difference?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI