Guru Nanak describes our 10 phases of life

lakhvir · May 5, 2004

GuruFatehJi.

at a time when we were going through a difficult phase in life a year back, looking deep within for answers and reasons, the guru holds your hand and leads you to it.

in the past few months, our family has been trying to cope with a domestic crisis which has left almost everyone heartbroken. i just realised what causes family crisis, and the guru has told us about them all along. i found an answer in the beautiful shabad below when i made a search of sikhitothemax.com, in the longing to know what gurbani says about family.

in the following extract, gurbani opened the pages of life right before me. he spoke to me over 500 years ago and the words still ring true for us, and will ever be true.

guru nanak in guru granth sahib (page 137) says:

'pehilai piaar lugaa thhun dhudhh

First, the baby loves mother's milk;

dhoojai maae baap kee sudhh

second, he learns of his mother and father;

theejai bhuyaa bhaabhee baeb

third, his brothers, sisters-in-law and sisters;

chouthhai piaar oupu(n)nee khaedd

fourth, the love of play awakens.

pu(n)juvai khaan peean kee dhhaath

Fifth, he runs after food and drink;

shhivai kaam n pushhai jaath

sixth, in his <admin-profanity filter activated> desire, he does not respect social customs.

suthuvai su(n)j keeaa ghur vaas

Seventh, he gathers wealth and dwells in his house;

at(h)uvai krodhh hoaa thun naas

eighth, he becomes angry, and his body is consumed.

naavai dhhoulae oubhae saah

Ninth, he turns grey, and his breathing becomes labored;

dhusuvai dhudhhaa hoaa suaah

tenth, he is cremated, and turns to ashes.

ge

ae sigeeth pukaaree dhhaah

His companions send him off, crying out and lamenting.

ouddiaa hu(n)s dhusaaeae raah

The swan of the soul takes flight, and asks which way to go.

aaeiaa gaeiaa mueiaa naao

He came and he went, and now, even his name has died.

pishhai puthal sadhihu kaav

After he left, food was offered on leaves, and the birds were called to come and eat.

naanuk munumukh a(n)dhh piaar

O Nanak, the self-willed manmukhs love the darkness.

baajh guroo ddubaa su(n)saar

Without the Guru, the world is drowning.'

WAGEGURU listens to us and advices us, too. gurbani becomes the balm to our life's challenges. i'm learning to discover that all really does happen by HIS WILL, and it is when we are put to test is when we realise if what we believe is truly our practice. it all comes down to practical faith, just as a friend comforted me with another wise quote, 'if GOD takes you to it, HE will take you through it.' in all humility, i submit to my WAHEGURU . . . HIS love never fails, for i know that if all happens by HIS WILL, it is so to put things in order for our good.

L*