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 mahal nisakhaṇ rahi gae vāsā āiā tali.
gorāṁ se nimāṇīā bahsani rūhāṁ mali.
ākhīṁ sekhā bandagī calaṇu aju ki kali.97.
-Guru Granth Sahib 1382-1383
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the ninety-seventh stanza, Sheikh Farid says, O Farid! The palaces have been left completely empty; the abode has come to the ground. Now, having occupied those worthless graves, the spirit will sit there. While we are alive, we are so worried about accumulating more, whether it be power, authority, wealth, or comfort. We tie ourselves to these worldly things knowing they are temporary but believing that if we accumulate enough, if we create a ‘footprint’ that is large enough, we will somehow stave off the reality of death. Maybe this looks like having enough power and influence that we feel we will be able to leave a legacy behind. Maybe this looks like building big houses that feel like a shield from the inevitability of death. But Sheikh Farid says, even those big houses that were once full of life and merriment and family and friends become empty. These bodies that occupied the palaces will go. The spirits of these bodies will occupy the worthless or humble graves. Death is the great equalizer. Our abodes become the earth.
Sheikh Farid continues, O Sheikh! Practice devotion; your departing may take place today or tomorrow. We cannot live in these mansions forever. Sheikh Farid invokes his title—the things that bring him honor and prestige, and influence in society. We cannot live off of our titles forever, either. He urges himself and all of us to practice devotion because we will go, whether it is today or tomorrow. And when we go to the grave, in the Islamic context, we are in a kind of limbo. Under the earth is where our spirits will sit. In our worries about how to stave off death and how to make our lives successful, Sheikh Farid’s guidance is simple: let us be devotees of the One. Let us be in devotion as soon as we can. In the uncertainty of life, will we recognize the certainty of death? Will we devote ourselves to the One?
