The
saloks of Sheikh Farid
Ji guide the seeker towards life’s true purpose, the devotion to the one absolute Divine, IkOankar. In these saloks, he reminds us that our time in this world is finite; therefore, one must turn to IkOankar without delay. Yet, attachment to transient possessions and relationships causes many to forget this truth, becoming entangled in vices that lead to restlessness and inner turmoil. In contrast, those who cultivate virtues such as love, humility, patience, contentment, selfless service, and righteousness experience the bliss of connection with IkOankar even while living a householder’s life. Their life becomes serene and suffused with inner joy.
mati hodī hoi iāṇā.
tāṇ hode hoi nitāṇā.
aṇhode āpu vanḍāe.
ko aisā bhagatu sadāe.128.
-Guru Granth Sahib 1384
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the one hundred and twenty-eighth stanza, Sheikh Farid juxtaposes the polarities we operate within and says, having intellect, be ignorant. Having power, be powerless. Not having anything, share own-self. If there is any such being, only that being can call themselves a devotee. Sheikh Farid asks us to reflect on the qualities that we may have and to complement them with their ‘opposites’ so that we are not operating in polarities. If we are wise and full of intellect, let us remain humble—let us refrain from showing off or flexing the intellect. If we are powerful, let us be powerless—let us refrain from imposing our power on others. If we have nothing to share, let us share ourselves. This is how we become true devotees. Sheikh Farid interestingly uses the word bhagat for devotee, which is a decidedly Indic term. In this, he transcends the Islamic ideas of the transcendence of the Divine, and brings in ideas of immanence—of the One, IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One), permeating all things, and of his desire to become one with the One. So many of us operate in the pursuit of intellect, power, and accumulation, that we do not think about humility, powerlessness, and giving. We chase these worldly qualities and hope to still call ourselves devotees, but we have not embodied the virtues of a devotee.
Sheikh Farid is asking us to examine the lives we are currently living, and reflect on how to live a life of benevolence—to make these qualities our lifestyle rather than one-off acts that we do every so often. Let us give of ourselves even when we have nothing. Let us transcend our polarities and soften to these virtues. Will we dismantle our binaries? Will we cultivate virtues such that we embody them? Will we become true devotees of IkOankar?
