The Only Way

The world will laugh with you, but crying is a private affair … you do it alone.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji enlightens (Sorath Mohalla 9 – ਸੋਰਠਿ ਮਹਲਾ ੯ ॥):

ਇਹ ਜਗਿ ਮੀਤੁ ਨ ਦੇਖਿਓ ਕੋਈ ॥

In the whole wide world, I can’t see a true friend.

ਸਗਲ ਜਗਤੁ ਅਪਨੈ ਸੁਖਿ ਲਾਗਿਓ ਦੁਖ ਮੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

The entire world is preoccupied with their own desires and pleasures, no one stands with you, in your hour of need. Pause.

ਦਾਰਾ ਮੀਤ ਪੂਤ ਸਨਬੰਧੀ ਸਗਰੇ ਧਨ ਸਿਉ ਲਾਗੇ ॥

Wives, friends, sons, kith and kin are all after (your) wealth.

ਜਬ ਹੀ ਨਿਰਧਨ ਦੇਖਿਓ ਨਰ ਕਉ ਸੰਗੁ ਛਾਡਿ ਸਭ ਭਾਗੇ ॥੧॥

As soon as, they see, you have nothing left to give, they, hastily distance themselves. 1.

ਕਹਂਉ ਕਹਾ ਯਿਆ ਮਨ ਬਉਰੇ ਕਉ ਇਨ ਸਿਉ ਨੇਹੁ ਲਗਾਇਓ ॥

How do I educate this naive mind of mine, about the fragility of human relationships and worldly attachments?

ਦੀਨਾ ਨਾਥ ਸਕਲ ਭੈ ਭੰਜਨ ਜਸੁ ਤਾ ਕੋ ਬਿਸਰਾਇਓ ॥੨॥

It has forsaken the Lord, the Champion of the humble and and needy, the dispeller of fear. 2.

If the above Salok doesn’t convince/motivate you to focus on Ik Onkar (the all pervasive Lord – All in One, One in All) nothing else will.

However, our stubborn, fickle mind seldom listens to the sane, inner voice, it’s preoccupied with the outside world. Guru Ji further clarifies:

ਸੁਆਨ ਪੂਛ ਜਿਉ ਭਇਓ ਨ ਸੂਧਉ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਜਤਨੁ ਮੈ ਕੀਨਉ ॥

Just like a dog’s tail, it never straightens despite my numerous, persistent efforts.

ਨਾਨਕ ਲਾਜ ਬਿਰਦ ਕੀ ਰਾਖਹੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਤੁਹਾਰਉ ਲੀਨਉ ॥੩॥੯॥ {ਪੰਨਾ 633}

O Nanak, implore the Lord, to invoke His innate benevolence, to bless you with the Elixir of Naam. (633)

Don’t give up, as Guru Ji advises, keep imploring, invoking His Grace. Do your karma, let the Lord decide the reward.

rs ‘arshi’

24-6-25