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.
iku phikā na gālāi sabhnā mai sacā dhaṇī.
hiāu na kaihī ṭhāhi māṇak sabh amolave.129.
-Guru Granth Sahib 1384
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the one hundred and twenty-ninth stanza, Sheikh Farid says, Do not utter a single tasteless word, the true Owner is in all. Do not break anyone’s heart; all are precious rubies. This stanza is so direct. As we come to the end of the series of stanzas by Sheikh Farid, we begin to close with a return to simplicity. We are human beings in the world. We are subject to the kinds of tendencies that come with the experience of being human. We speak tastelessly. We speak without sweetness. We backbite. We gossip. We can lean into harshness and cruelty and anger and impatience because it feels nice or even righteous in the moment. These are the tendencies that are hard to shake. Why do we do this? Because we do not see or feel the presence of IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One) in all people. We do not work to recognize that the Owner of all is pervading every heart. If we did, we would not be so quick to speak with so much cruelty.
Sheikh Farid is asking us to really reflect on our words and how they land. If we truly recognized the Presence of the Owner, if we recognized it in each and every being, the way we speak would change. The harshness would dissipate. We are urged, do not break anyone’s heart—a simple directive, but hard to do. Every being is jewel-like. Every being is precious. Every heart is precious. Will we remember this? Will we transform our words? Will we speak sweetly and with tenderness?
