Retired Engineer, U.S.A, I maintain this Gurbani.org website since 1993. In the beginning, it was on a temporary site, and later we moved it to a permanent domain.
I’m just an ordinary being who is learning along with you, and trying to see the world as seen by the Gurbani (Gurmat Giyan–Wisdom of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS).
Neither a scholar, nor a philosopher, nor a writer, nor interested in being one, I do NOT claim to understand the Gurbani fully.
Although I was born in a Sikh family but – according to Gurmat Wisdom of SGGS – to be a True Sikh ( or a true Muslim, Brahman etc. for that matter) is not a question of family of birth, heredity, ancestry, religion, race, social status, casteism (Jaat Paat), education, titles, robes, region, etc., it is a question of mind becoming a Sikh by abiding in its Jot Saroop (i.e. Original Nature, Mool) through Shabad-Vichaar / churning the Gurbani (SGGS)! That said, the word ‘Sikh‘ and ‘Khalsa’ do not represent a physical state, but a Universally applicable Way of life based on the UNIQUE Wisdom or Bibek of the SGGS!
- ਪਰਿਓ ਕਾਲੁ ਸਭੈ ਜਗ ਊਪਰ ਮਾਹਿ ਲਿਖੇ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਗਿਆਨੀ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਜਨ ਭਏ ਖਾਲਸੇ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਭਗਤਿ ਜਿਹ ਜਾਨੀ ॥੪॥੩॥ : The whole world is caught in the embrace of death; it also includes learned people (Giyani) with deluded minds. Says Kabeer, only those humble persons become Khalsae–ਖਾਲਸੇ, who become free from the fear of death and bonds of rituals etc by understanding the loving Bhagti of the Creator (here the word ‘Khaalse-ਖਾਲਸੇ’ = freedom from any form of fear; being Sachiaaraa‘; being linked with the Creator/Hukam/Guru Shabad). ||4||3|| (sggs 655).
- ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮਿਲਿਐ ਉਲਟੀ ਭਈ ਭਾਈ ਜੀਵਤ ਮਰੈ ਤਾ ਬੂਝ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਸੋ ਗੁਰੂ ਸੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਹੈ ਭਾਈ ਜਿਸੁ ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਮਿਲਾਇ ॥: O Mind! Submitting to the ‘Satigur‘ (True Wisdom, ਸਚਾ ਗਿਆਨ), one understands (true Way of living – ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ), and then turns away (from Bikaar, demerits, falsehood etc.) and remains living dead. O Mind! Whose Conscience merges with the Universal Light (the One Creator) through Internalization of the Guru’s Shabad (Enlightenment) becomes a (real) Sikh. (sggs 602).
‘Why do you write?’
To understand the core / authentic Message of the Gurbani (SGGS) is my passion. Attempting to constantly learn and improve myself, while reading it I write it down so that I can remember or refer back to it later. Some seekers may find all this of some value; in that spirit I share on this website. Specifically, some readers – who in their opinion think that the author needs correcting – will correct me with different perspective!
What I don’t know is …
What I don’t know is much greater than what I know! Hence NO guarantee or claim (ਦਾਵਾ) of accuracy or perfection of the interpretation of the Gurbani. I have shared only what I have understood by reading the SGGS. There may be mistakes in it, I apologize. That being said, nothing is perfect, including this!
- ਭੁਲਣ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਅਭੁਲੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਕਰਤਾਰੁ ॥: Everyone makes mistakes; the ‘Guru Karataar‘ (i.e. Rabb…) is infallible. (sggs 61).
However, if you know how to say the Gurbani’s meaning more clearer or accurate, please enhance our understanding by sharing your thoughts in the comment section of each post.