Rawel Singh

Rawel Singh I am a Sikh writer currently based in the United States. My interests include the exegesis of the Guru Granth Sahib, along with the comparative study of the Qur'an, Hebrew Bible, New Testament and Hindu texts. This blog is intended to engage in a dialogue with wider audience mostly on theological issues.

Congregation

"Sādh Saṅgat" in the Sikh parlance refers to the congregational body of committed human beings who aspire toward the attainment of self-realization while alive through the dual-act of active engagement with the Divine Word (gur śabad) and loving adherence to the long-established traditions (rahat maryādā) of the Panth.

SGGS pp 341-343 Gaurri Baavan Akhri Kabir Ji 24-45.   ਦਦਾ ਦੇਖਿ ਜੁ ਬਿਨਸਨਹਾਰਾ ॥ਜਸ ਅਦੇਖਿ ਤਸ ਰਾਖਿ ਬਿਚਾਰਾ ॥ਦਸਵੈ ਦੁਆਰਿ ਕੁੰਚੀ ਜਬ ਦੀਜੈ ॥ਤਉ ਦਇਆਲ ਕੋ ਦਰਸਨੁ ਕੀਜੈ ॥੨੪॥ Ḏaḏā ḏekẖ jo binsanhārā Jas aḏekẖ ṯas rākẖ bicẖārā Ḏasvai ḏu▫ār kuncẖī jab ḏījai Ŧa▫o ḏa▫i▫āl ko ḏarsan kījai ||24||   Dadaa. All (j-u) that we (deykhi) see i.e. all physical existence, is (binsanhaara) perishable, but the mortal pays attention only to it. O human being, you should (raakh-i) keep your (bichaara = reflection) thoughts […]

SGGS pp 340-341 Gaurri Baavan Akhri Kabir Ji (1-23).   ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ ਪੂਰਬੀ ਬਾਵਨ ਅਖਰੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀਉ ਕੀ   ੴ ਸਤਿਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Rāg ga▫oṛī pūrbī bāvan akẖrī Kabīr jī▫o kī   Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯnām karṯā purakẖ gurparsāḏ.   Bani (baavan akhree) fifty-two letters of Kabir Ji in Raga Gaurri Poorbi. Invoking One all-pervasive (satnaam) universal Truth, (karta purakh) the Creator, who may be known (gurprasaad-i) with the true guru’s grace/guidance.   ਬਾਵਨ ਅਛਰ ਲੋਕ ਤ੍ਰੈ ਸਭੁ ਕਛੁ ਇਨ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥   ਏ ਅਖਰ ਖਿਰਿ ਜਾਹਿਗੇ ਓਇ ਅਖਰ ਇਨ ਮਹਿ ਨਾਹਿ ॥੧॥ Bāvan acẖẖar […]

ਨਾਨਕ ਕਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੋਇ ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਸਰਬ ਰਹਿਆ ਭਰਪੂਰਿ ਸਚਾ ਸਚੁ ਸੋਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਅ(ਆਸਾ ਮ: ੫, ਪੰ: ੩੯੮). My God is One who belongs to all; God is eternal and all pervasive. Pause. (M: 5, p 398). The above verse from the Sikh scripture Sri Guru Granth Sahib emphasizes the […]

SGGS pp 338-339 Gaurri Kabir Ji (66-74).   Note: The Shabad below describes the fabled love the milkmaids of Gokul had for Krishna of the Mahabharata. It uses this as metaphor to describe a seeker’s love for the Divine.   ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ ੧੧ ॥  ਆਸ ਪਾਸ ਘਨ ਤੁਰਸੀ ਕਾ ਬਿਰਵਾ ਮਾਝ ਬਨਾ ਰਸਿ ਗਾਊਂ ਰੇ ॥  ਉਆ ਕਾ ਸਰੂਪੁ ਦੇਖਿ ਮੋਹੀ ਗੁਆਰਨਿ ਮੋ ਕਉ ਛੋਡਿ ਨ ਆਉ ਨ ਜਾਹੂ ਰੇ ॥੧॥ Rāg ga▫oṛī 11.  Ās pās gẖan ṯursī kā birvā mājẖ banā ras gā▫ūʼn re.  U▫ā kā sarūp ḏekẖ mohī gu▫āran mo ka▫o cẖẖod na ā▫o na jāhū re. ||1||   […]

ਤੂੰ ਵਰਨਾ ਚਿਹਨਾ ਬਾਹਰਾ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਦਿਸਹਿ ਹਾਜਰੁ ਜਾਹਰਾ ॥ ਸੁਣਿ ਸੁਣਿ ਤੁਝੈ ਧਿਆਇਦੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਭਗਤ ਰਤੇ ਗੁਣਤਾਸੁ ਜੀਉ ॥੨੦॥ O Lord, You have no color or features; but Your presence is felt all over; the devotees, hearing and dwelling on Your virtues, are imbued with them (SGGS, p 74). ਤ੍ਵ ਸਰਬ ਨਾਮ ਕਥੈ ਕਵਨ […]

SGGS pp 336-338, Gaurri Kabir Ji (58-65).   ਗਉੜੀ ॥  ਅਗਨਿ ਨ ਦਹੈ ਪਵਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਮਗਨੈ ਤਸਕਰੁ ਨੇਰਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥  ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਧਨੁ ਕਰਿ ਸੰਚਉਨੀ ਸੋ ਧਨੁ ਕਤ ਹੀ ਨ ਜਾਵੈ ॥੧॥ Ga▫oṛī.  Agan na ḏahai pavan nahī magnai ṯaskar ner na āvai.  Rām nām ḏẖan kar sancẖ▫unī so ḏẖan kaṯ hī na jāvai. ||1||   Composition of Bhagat Kabir in Raga Gaurri. O mortal, (kar-i sanchauni = gather) accumulate (dhan-u) the wealth of imbibing (raam naam) Divine virtues and commands; (so) that (dhan-u) wealth does not (jaavai) go […]

SGGS pp 334-336, Gaurri Kabir Ji (51-57).   Note: In the Shabad below Bhagat Kabir Ji says that everyone claims his/her method of spiritual pursuit to be the best. He points out that all physical methods only create bondage to those methods and as a result the Creator is forgotten.   ਗਉੜੀ ॥  ਜੋਗੀ ਕਹਹਿ ਜੋਗੁ ਭਲ ਮੀਠਾ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ਭਾਈ ॥   ਰੁੰਡਿਤ ਮੁੰਡਿਤ ਏਕੈ ਸਬਦੀ ਏਇ ਕਹਹਿ ਸਿਧਿ ਪਾਈ ॥੧॥ Ga▫oṛī.  Jogī kahėh jog bẖal […]

SGGS pp 332-334, Gaurri Kabir Ji (44-50).   ਗਉੜੀ ਚੇਤੀ   ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Ga▫oṛī cẖeṯī   Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.   Bani of Bhagat Kabir Ji in Raga Gaurri Cheyti. Invoking the One all-pervasive Creator who may be known by the true guru’s grace.   ਹਰਿ ਜਸੁ ਸੁਨਹਿ ਨ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਵਹਿ ॥   ਬਾਤਨ ਹੀ ਅਸਮਾਨੁ ਗਿਰਾਵਹਿ ॥੧॥ Har jas sunėh na har gun gāvahi.   Bāṯan hī asmān girāvėh. ||1||   There are people who neither […]

  SGGS pp 329-331 Gaurri Kabir Ji (34-43).   ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਦੁਪਦੇ ॥   ਨਾ ਮੈ ਜੋਗ ਧਿਆਨ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇਆ ॥   ਬਿਨੁ ਬੈਰਾਗ ਨ ਛੂਟਸਿ ਮਾਇਆ ॥੧॥ Ga▫oṛī Kabīr jī ḏupḏe.   Nā mai jog ḏẖi▫ān cẖiṯ lā▫i▫ā.   Bin bairāg na cẖẖūtas mā▫i▫ā. ||1||   Bani of Bhagat Kabir Ji in Raga Gaurri, compositions (dupadey) of two stanzas. I have not (laaia) applied (dhiaan) attention of my (chit-u) mind to attaining (jog) union with the Creator. But influence of temptations […]

SGGS pp 328-29, Gaurri Kabir Ji (26-33).   ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ॥  ਜੋ ਜਨ ਲੇਹਿ ਖਸਮ ਕਾ ਨਾਉ ॥   ਤਿਨ ਕੈ ਸਦ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੈ ਜਾਉ ॥੧॥ Ga▫oṛī Kabīr jī.  Jo jan lehi kẖasam kā nā▫o.   Ŧin kai saḏ balihārai jā▫o. ||1||   Bani of Bhagat Kabir Ji in Raga Gaurri. (Jan) devotees (jo) who (leyh-i = take) assimilate (naau, naam) virtues and commands of (khasam) the Master – and conform to them I (sad) ever (balihaarai jaau […]

SGGS pp 327-328, Gaurri Kabir Ji, (19-25).   ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਤਿਪਦੇ_15 ॥ Ga▫oṛī Kabīr jī ṯipḏe 15.   Bani of Bhagat Kabir Ji in Raga Gaurri, (tipadey) compositions of three stanzas, totalling 15.   ਕੰਚਨ ਸਿਉ ਪਾਈਐ ਨਹੀ ਤੋਲਿ ॥   ਮਨੁ ਦੇ ਰਾਮੁ ਲੀਆ ਹੈ ਮੋਲਿ ॥੧॥ Kancẖan si▫o pā▫ī▫ai nahī ṯol.   Man ḏe rām lī▫ā hai mol. ||1||   One cannot (paaeeai) obtain/find the Creator by weighing against (kanchan) gold i.e. one cannot find the […]

SGGS pp 325-327, Gauri Kabir Ji (10-18).   Note: In the Shabad below Bhagat Kabir Ji points out that there is no place called heaven. It is in the holy congregation or the mind where the Creator is remembered/praised.   ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ॥ ਜੋ ਜਨ ਪਰਮਿਤਿ ਪਰਮਨੁ ਜਾਨਾ ॥   ਬਾਤਨ ਹੀ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਸਮਾਨਾ ॥੧॥ Ga▫oṛī Kabīr jī  Jo jan parmiṯ parman jānā   Bāṯan hī baikunṯẖ samānā ||1||   Bani of Bhagat Kabir Ji in […]

SGGS pp 323-325, Gaurri Kabir Ji (1-9).   ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ ਭਗਤਾਂ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ Rāg ga▫oṛī bẖagṯāʼn kī baṇī   Compositions of (bhagta) saints in Raga Gaurri   ੴ ਸਤਿਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯnām karṯā purakẖ gur parsāḏ   One all-pervasive Almighty with (satinaam-u = with eternal naam) inevitable Hukam/commands/laws, (karta purakh-u) the Creator (gur prasaad-i) who may be known by the guru’s grace.   ਗਉੜੀ ਗੁਆਰੇਰੀ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀਉ ਕੇ ਚਉਪਦੇ ੧੪ ॥ Ga▫oṛī gu▫ārerī sarī Kabīr […]

SGGS pp 320-323, Gauri Ki Vaar M: 5, Pauris 11 to 21 (final).   ਸਲੋਕ ਮ: ੫ ॥  ਕਾਮੁ ਨ ਕਰਹੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਅਵਤਾ ਲੋਇ ॥   ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਇ ਵਿਸਾਰਿਐ ਸੁਖੁ ਕਿਨੇਹਾ ਹੋਇ ॥੧॥ Salok mėhlā 5  Kām na karhī āpṇā firėh avṯā lo▫e   Nānak nā▫e visāri▫ai sukẖ kinehā ho▫e ||1||   Slok of the fifth Guru. A self-willed person (na karahi) does not carry out (aapna = own) his/her (kaam) job that is allotted to him/her, but (phirah-i) wanders […]

Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS), the holy scripture and eternal Guru of the Sikhs has a standard layout totaling 1430 pages. The numbering system of the hymns called Shabads is such as to obviate the possibility of insertions or deletions. Its compilation was accomplished in two stages. The first version, called Pothi Sahib containing the […]

SGGS pp 318-320 Gaurri Ki Vaar M: 5 Paurris 1-10.   Note: The Vaar below is the second in Raga Gaurri and is by the fifth Guru; the one just completed above was that of the fourth Guru. Out of the 31 Ragas in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, only 17 have Vaars of the gurus; […]

Faith and Rationale Faith and drationale or reasoning are two valuable virtues. However if they are treated in two exclusive compartments they can become pitfalls. For example faith alone may lead to the belief that one’s religion is the only one or the best. This is used by some as the basis to criticize or […]

SGGS pp 315-317, Gaurri Ki Vaar M: 4, Paurris 30 to 33 (final).   Note: The Slok below describes the actions of self-professed holy people who are on the lookout for money. It takes the example of a (Tapaa) a self-avowed ascetic, who is attached to materialism.   ਸਲੋਕ ਮ: ੪ ॥  ਤਪਾ ਨ ਹੋਵੈ ਅੰਦ੍ਰਹੁ ਲੋਭੀ ਨਿਤ ਮਾਇਆ ਨੋ ਫਿਰੈ ਜਜਮਾਲਿਆ ॥  ਅਗੋ ਦੇ ਸਦਿਆ ਸਤੈ ਦੀ ਭਿਖਿਆ ਲਏ ਨਾਹੀ ਪਿਛੋ ਦੇ ਪਛੁਤਾਇ ਕੈ ਆਣਿ ਤਪੈ ਪੁਤੁ ਵਿਚਿ ਬਹਾਲਿਆ ॥ Salok mėhlā 4.  Ŧapā na […]

  Note: This study is based on Gurbani or Guru’s Word as contained in Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) and all pages in parentheses are thereof. The original in Gurbmukhi also shows the author e.g. the numeral ੫ means the Fifth Guru. Karma is the phenomenon of cause and effect. Karma literally means ‘deeds’ and […]

SGGS pp 313-315, Gaurri Ki Vaar M: 4, Paurris 24 to 29.   ਸਲੋਕ ਮ: ੪ ॥   ਮੈ ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਖੋਜਿ ਖੋਜੇਦਿਆ ਸੋ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਲਧਾ ਲੋੜਿ ॥  ਵਿਸਟੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਮੈ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਿਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਦਿਤਾ ਜੋੜਿ ॥੧॥ Salok mėhlā 4.   Mai man ṯan kẖoj kẖojeḏi▫ā so parabẖ laḏẖā loṛ.  visat gurū mai pā▫i▫ā jin har parabẖ ḏiṯā joṛ. ||1||   Slok of the fourth Guru. While (khoj-i khojeydia) searching my (man-u) mind and (tan) body, I (ladha) found (so = that) the One (prabh) the Creator […]


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