The
saloks of Sheikh Farid
Ji guide the seeker toward the devotion of the one absolute IkOankar (the Divine), which is the true purpose of life. In these saloks, Farid Ji shares that our time in this world is finite, and thus, one should immediately turn to the devotion of IkOankar without delay. However, due to attachment to transient things and relationships, many forget this truth and become entangled in vices, leading to a perpetually restless and uneasy life. However, the being who embraces virtues such as remembrance of IkOankar, love, humility, tolerance, patience, contentment, selfless service, and righteous living, experiences the bliss of connection with IkOankar even while leading a householder’s life. Their life becomes comfortable and peaceful.
kijhu na bujhai kijhu na sujhai dunīā gujhī bhāhi.
sāṁīṁ merai caṅgā kītā nāhī ta haṁ bhī dajhāṁ āhi.3.
-Guru Granth Sahib 1378
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the third stanza, Sheikh Farid continues his self-reflection and says, Nothing is understood, nothing is realized. This world is a hidden fire. We cannot see this hidden fire, but it burns everything. This is the fire of vices, of attachment, of forgetting IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One). This fire of desires and entanglements consumes us. We know this from experience! We find that our own engagement with various worldly things—whether relationships, objects, emotions—feeds itself. These things are hidden because we often do not understand when they are happening. We might not sense that we are entangled or separated at all! However, as time passes, it becomes increasingly difficult to break free from that way of being. We end up in pain. Sheikh Farid emphasizes the Grace of the beloved Owner, IkOankar. He says, my beloved Owner has done good; otherwise, I too would have been burned. Though this is a personal reflection, the implied guidance here is that if we too want to feel the Grace of IkOankar, if we too want to be saved from burning, we can practice the way of the dervish, of the devotee. The previous stanza invokes a kind of helplessness. Here, Sheikh Farid is showing us that we don’t have to be helpless. Will we become aware of the hidden fire that burns us from within? Will we, even in our burning, feel the Grace?
