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.
pharīdā dar darvesī gākhaṛī calāṁ dunīāṁ bhati.
bann̖i uṭhāī poṭalī kithai vaññā ghati.2.
-Guru Granth Sahib 1377-1378
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the second stanza, Sheikh Farid reflects on two possible paths: that of the world and that of the dervish, the devoted mendicant who is madly in love. He says that the way of the devoted mendicant is much harder than that of the world. To be a dervish requires a particular discipline and restraint in what they listen to and say and eat and wear and in how they present themselves—the worldly do not think of this. Sheikh Farid is reflecting on his journey here: it is hard to be a dervish. The people of the world are following their own way, and I walk like them. I am walking according to worldly customs. I have that bundle of attachment to worldly things and relationships, and I am carrying it on my head. Where can I go to throw it away?
Sheikh Farid is exploring the difficulty of choosing to live as a devotee of IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One). He admits that even as he attempts to walk this path, he is entangled in worldly attachments, weighed down and burdened. For us, he implies that we too ought to try to walk the path of the devotee, to be wary, to keep ourselves from getting entangled in vice-ful things, from forgetting the One. If we want to be truly devoted, we must walk this difficult path. We must face the Divine. We must understand that to be free, to be carefree in love, to be a devotee, also requires much discipline. Can we adopt some of those dervish-like virtues? Will we make an effort toward becoming devoted and carefree?
