[salok] Bhagat Kabeer Jeo Kae

[lowest of the low singhni]

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

This subforum has been very quiet recently. Interesting. I felt 'obliged'.

ਕਬੀਰ ਬੈਸਨਉ ਕੀ ਕੂਕਰਿ ਭਲੀ ਸਾਕਤ ਕੀ ਬੁਰੀ ਮਾਇ ॥

kabeer baisna-o kee kookar bhalee saakat kee buree maa-ay.

Kabeer, even the dog of a devotee is good, while the mother of the faithless cynic is bad.

ਓਹ ਨਿਤ ਸੁਨੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮ ਜਸੁ ਉਹ ਪਾਪ ਬਿਸਾਹਨ ਜਾਇ ॥੫੨॥

oh nit sunai har naam jas uh paap bisaahan jaa-ay.

The dog hears the Praises of the Lord's Name, while the other is engaged in sin.

ਬੈਸਨਉ = devotee; ਭਲੀ = good; ਸਾਕਤ = cynic; ਬੁਰੀ = bad; ਨਿਤ = continually; ਜਸੁ = praise; ਪਾਪ = sins; ਬਿਸਾਹਨ = to be engaged in

Bhagat Kabeer Ji says that even a dog who hears the praises of Maharaj is blessed in this world. The power of Akaal Purakh is so great that even just mentioning or hearing of His Glories has so much worth. We take being Sikh for granted, we don't fully appreciate the gift we've been given, the knowledge through Gurbani. We consider our time to be well spent arguing fruitlessly over the past or each other's mistakes, but when will we realise that time is too precious to use in this way?

Gurbani can guide us in every pathway of our life. When we stray from the path, it can bring us back to safer ground. But this will only happen if we open our minds and accept that Gurbani has this power. Instead we think we know it all, that we don't need anything greater than ourselves to live life, because deep down we think nothing is greater than ourselves. Maharaj doesn't need us, He's beyond 'need' as we know it. He doesn't need us to praise Him, He knows how great He is. But it's for our own good - we need Him - and until we swallow our pride and realise it, we'll continue wandering around, blindly thinking that we're doing fine.

Not only do we have the responsibilty to follow the right path ourselves, but we should encourage others onto it as well. Of course, nothing is possible without the Mercy of Akaal Purakh, but seeing as we do have things like Gurbani to help us along in life, we should use these gifts to help others too. Sharing is caring. If we have children, bring them up to appreciate the life they've been given, no matter how rotten it seems to our minds. There's always something bigger out there, something more positive. How can we call ourselves Sikhs when we don't jump at the chance to help those who need it most? Even if it's something small, like giving a smile or blanket to someone sleeping in the street, or helping a mouse escape from a the clutches of a mischevious/barbaric cat.

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~l~

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh