sukritu sahārai su ih brati caṛai.
andin āpi āp siu laṛai.
surkhī pāṁcaü rākhai sabai.
taü dūjī drisṭi na paisai kabai.6.
-Guru Granth Sahib 344
This composition is based on the seven days of the week. The days of the week are often associated with the notions of good and bad. However, Bhagat Kabir Ji encourages us to focus on connecting with the Nam of IkOankar (the Divine) rather than believing in such notions. He imparts a distinct teaching for each day of the week. The message through Sunday is to practice devotion. Through Monday is to partake Nam from the Wisdom (Guru). Through Tuesday is to understand the true nature of the vices. Through Wednesday is to develop intellect within. Through Thursday is to rid our minds of the overpowering influence of Maya. Through Friday is to remain unaffected by the pride and prestige gained through good deeds. Finally, the message through Saturday is to keep one’s wandering mind steady and stable.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
If one sings the virtues of the 1-Light again and again, having approached the Wisdom (Guru), that being finds the secret of the 1-Light. In the sixth stanza, through Friday, Bhagat Kabir uses the imagery of fasting, discipline, and commitment and says the being who bears praises of their virtuous deed fulfills this fast. In the Indic context, fasting is a spiritual practice or discipline to bring ‘auspiciousness’ or receive particular spiritual gifts or blessings. Friday is usually associated with fasting, cleansing, and complete observation and commitment. Bhagat Kabir talks about the being who is truly completing the ‘fast’ by not just learning to do good deeds and committing to them but also by working through the way that even engaging in this kind of devoted service to the IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One) can feed one’s ego due to praise from others.
The everyday person might ask, what kind of deed to do? What kind of effort to make? Bhagat Kabir says: do virtuous deeds and remain unaffected by the praise for those deeds. Live in humility and selflessness even while doing these deeds. Even as we make these commitments, we must fight with our inner selves daily—our fickle minds that love praise and seek to wander. That devoted seeker does not fight with others. They are involved in a different kind of battle. That seeker fights with their fickle mind daily and keeps it restrained and connected to IkOankar. That seeker brings their senses under control and battles duality within. That seeker eliminates the duality that keeps us from fully connecting with IkOankar. This is the kind of work, dedication, and ‘fasting’ that brings our religious or other observations and commitments to completion. Will we partake in this kind of fast? Will we fight with our fickle minds and eliminate our dualistic perspectives from within?
The everyday person might ask, what kind of deed to do? What kind of effort to make? Bhagat Kabir says: do virtuous deeds and remain unaffected by the praise for those deeds. Live in humility and selflessness even while doing these deeds. Even as we make these commitments, we must fight with our inner selves daily—our fickle minds that love praise and seek to wander. That devoted seeker does not fight with others. They are involved in a different kind of battle. That seeker fights with their fickle mind daily and keeps it restrained and connected to IkOankar. That seeker brings their senses under control and battles duality within. That seeker eliminates the duality that keeps us from fully connecting with IkOankar. This is the kind of work, dedication, and ‘fasting’ that brings our religious or other observations and commitments to completion. Will we partake in this kind of fast? Will we fight with our fickle minds and eliminate our dualistic perspectives from within?
Tags
