By Surinder Kaur Sohan Singh | SIKHI STUDY | OPINION |

Milath piaaro Praan Nath kavan bhagath tae? (SGGS 1293)

ਮਿਲਤ ਪਿਆਰੋ ਪ੍ਰਾਨ ਨਾਥੁ ਕਵਨ ਭਗਤਿ ਤੇ ॥

Milath means to meet. Praan Naath refers to God. Bhagat Ravidas ji is asking a question that is also in our minds: Which is the right devotional worship that will lead me to meet my beloved God, who is the Lord of my breath?

Bhagat ji gives the answer in the following line:

Saadhsanggat paaee param gathae (Rehao)

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਪਾਈ ਪਰਮ ਗਤੇ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Saadh sanggat does not refer to a congregation. It means a place where the Guru’s true message is discussed and contemplated on. It can be two or more people or it can be even a single person reading and contemplating on the Guru’s message.

Param gathae means being enlightened.

Bhagat ji explains what kind of transformation took place for him in the Saadh Sanggat in the following lines:

Mailae kaprae kehaa lo dhhovo? 

ਮੈਲੇ ਕਪਰੇ ਕਹਾ ਲਉ ਧੋਵਉ ॥

Literal meaning: My clothes are dirty. Where should I wash them?

The deeper meaning is: After going to the Saadhsanggat, I got the realisation that my inside is very dirty. It is filled with prejudices, animalistic tendencies and slandering of others.

Aavaigee neendh kehaa lag sovo?

ਆਵੈਗੀ ਨੀਦ ਕਹਾ ਲਗੁ ਸੋਵਉ ॥੧॥

Neendh means sleep but in this line it means sleep of ignorance. Meaning: How long am I going to carry on my unconscious behaviour? How long am I going to ignore the dirt that has accumulated inside me due to my ignorance?

We are all suffering from this disease of ignorance. We perform an opinion of a person and even if we meet him again after 10 years, we still have the same opinion. That person might have become a saint but our opinion never changes.

We go on accumulating all the negative attitudes and perceptions and these become our habits which become very difficult to change.

Bhagat ji got the realisation and he did the following:

Joee joee joriou soee soee faattio.

ਜੋਈ ਜੋਈ ਜੋਰਿਓ ਸੋਈ ਸੋਈ ਫਾਟਿਓ ॥

Jorio means accumulated. Fattio means to tear and throw away. Meaning: Whatever rubbish that was accumulated over the years, Bhagat ji decided to tear and throw it away for good after getting the awareness that it is hurting him the most.

Choothai banaj outh hee gaee hattiou.

ਝੂਠੈ ਬਨਜਿ ਉਠਿ ਹੀ ਗਈ ਹਾਟਿਓ ॥੨॥

Chothai banaj means transactions that only brings losses. Meaning: I have stopped doing such false transactions that only brings losses to me.

What are these transactions that only brings losses to us? Guruji mentions all these transactions in the Sukhmani Sahibji (SGGS 268):

Bair Birodh Kaam Krodh Moh

Enmity, conflict, lust, anger, attachments”

Chooth, bikaar, meha lobh dhhroh.

Falsehood, vices , immense greed and deceit. “

Eiaahoo jugath bihanae kee janam.

Living a life of falsehood I have wasted a great part of my life.

Kahu Ravidas bhaeiou jab laekho.

Joee joee keeno soee soee dhaekhiou.

ਕਹੁ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਭਇਓ ਜਬ ਲੇਖੋ ॥

ਜੋਈ ਜੋਈ ਕੀਨੋ ਸੋਈ ਸੋਈ ਦੇਖਿਓ ॥੩॥੧॥੩॥

Bhagat ji says in the end when the accounts are called for, we will have to see whatever we have done. Nothing is hidden.

Surinder Kaur Sohan Singh is a Malaysia-based Gurbani enthusiast. This is an edited version of her regular articles shared within a circle of fellow Sikhi seekers. The articles appear on Mondays and Thursdays.

* This is the opinion of the writer, organisation or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Asia Samachar.

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