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 sāhib dī kari cākarī dil dī lāhi bharāṁdi.
darvesāṁ no loṛīai rukhāṁ dī jīrāṁdi.60.
-Guru Granth Sahib 1381
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the sixtieth stanza, Sheikh Farid says, O Farid! Do service of the Sovereign, having shed off the wandering of the heart. For dervishes, the patience of trees is needed. After being told we ought to do deeds that are virtuous and fruitful, we might still be asking ourselves what we ought to do. What is a virtuous deed? To serve the Sovereign, IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One). We serve IkOankar through remembrance and praise, through devotion. If we do this with focus and without expectation, we can shed all the illusions we carry in our hearts. We can stop our wandering, and we can focus on doing the things that bear fruit.
Remembering the One is the service. If we do this, we transcend intellectual exercises and chip away at the duality we hold within. We become full of faith, patient and gracious, tender and not harsh. True devotees of IkOankar need a tree-like patience. Sometimes, when we engage in devotion, we might expect something in return. We become impatient on our spiritual paths. We think that if we do things a certain way a certain number of times, we will be able to reap the rewards, like inserting a coin into a machine. We treat our relationship with IkOankar as a transaction, and we lose patience. We start to feel as if we are owed something. What if we cultivated the patience of a tree? If we throw a stone at a tree, it still gives us fruit. A tree provides shade. A tree provides steadiness. We can cultivate these qualities if we take the support of IkOankar and remain standing in that support. We can cultivate a devotion that withstands every climate, every ebb and flow of life. We can serve the Sovereign by living in the will of the Sovereign. Will we cultivate the patience for this kind of lifestyle? Will we become this devoted?
