Barah Maha (Mahala 5)

Guru Arjan Sahib

Delivering the message through the month of Jeth (mid-May to mid-June), Guru Arjan brings our focus to the external as well as the internal shifting seasons. Message through the month of Jeth: One ought to connect with that supreme Hari, before whom all bow. Jeth marks the prelude to the summer season, and it’s associated with heat and the intense energy of nature. It is also a time when the earth begins to feel the full force of summer’s warmth, and the agricultural cycle is well underway in Panjab. In the context of Barah Maha, Jeth symbolizes a billowing unease within, as the season’s heat mirrors the intensity of our longing for reunion with the One. In the context of family dynamics, a jeth refers to a husband’s elder brother. This significant role in the familial structure of Panjabi culture is laden with great respect and prestige. In a world where we often define greatness by worldly standards—by power, wealth, and fame—Guru Arjan gently redirects us to the One who is truly great, the fear-removing One, Hari, IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One). We may bend to figures of social importance in our lives, whether they be cultural, religious, or familial, but in this moment, we are reminded to surrender only to the all-pervasive One, who is not bound by anything or anyone. The fear that attaches itself to human relationships or possessions—fear of loss, separation, and so on—disappears when we surrender to the true One, whose essence is fearlessness. In the material world, we place great value on things like bullion, pearls, and precious jewels, but Guru Arjan tells us that these, though shiny and beautiful, are fleeting. The true treasure, the priceless jewel, is Nam (Identification with IkOankar) of Prabhu, the sovereign and protective One. This Identification surpasses all earthly valuables in worth. The Identification cannot be stolen from us. It cannot be stripped from our person the way a gold chain may be; no one can overpower us when it resides within us. When immersed in the Identification, we are shielded from the anxieties accompanying worldly possessions. The Identification of the fear-removing One is the eternal jewel that gives true joy, unlike any temporary pleasure the mind might chase. This Identification, beyond any material value, is the only thing that can steady the heart, calm the restless self, and unite us with the One. The colors, the joys, and the very essence of life are all found in Narayan, a synonymous divine name highlighting the primal and steadying nature of the One. Just as the physical world wears many colors, so does the inner being; when we surrender to the One, it is imbued with those colors. Everything that the mind desires—harmony, joy, love—is found in the primal One, and when the seeker aligns in this union, the two become one. The mind, once separate, now moves as the primal One moves; thoughts and actions no longer belong solely to the self but are in perfect harmony with the One. This union marks the state of a blessed being, one whose relationship has evolved into a bi-directional relationship with the One. For those who do not yet understand or experience this divine love, the Wisdom (Guru) is the one who opens the path. For those who have submitted themselves to the One, who have aligned their hearts with the sovereign One, the heat of the summer and life’s challenges will not scorch them. Just as the weather changes, so too does our inner state transform. It’s a process, an unfolding of the self. This union, however, is not solely a product of personal effort—it is the result of the One’s grace of having been chosen as the Beloved’s own. When we recognize and submit to the true Jeth—the One’s eternal presence—we are better prepared to navigate this season of intense transformation. This is the invitation and a plea: to surrender, to align, and be graced to truly become one with the One so that every moment—every season—becomes a celebration of union.

Let us ask ourselves: How may we shift our inner landscape to invite coolness—an ever-steady harmony within which is independent of the changing seasons? What must we release, and what must we nurture to cultivate this harmony within? Can we learn to root ourselves in something more constant, something that does not rise and fall with the external world?