THE WORLD IS BURNING
During the global pandemic, many followers of the Sikh faith, have added small verses to their daily Ardas (prayer) in recognition of the fact that the whole of humanity is facing a crisis. They are asking the almighty to guide us all through these testing and troublesome times.
The metaphor that is often used in these verses is one that refers to the whole world as being on fire.
Considering Guru Sahib Ji wrote these verses almost 500 years ago; was there a pandemic during those times, that caused them to utter such prayers?
Was Guru Sahib Ji perhaps preparing us for a period like the current one that we all find ourselves in?
When we dive deep into these lines and really study them, we realise that perhaps the context within which they are being used nowadays, was not the original intention of Guru Jee.
The reality is that they were indeed observing a pandemic during their time on this earth. But, the disease that they identified as afflicting the whole of the human race was that of ego and materialistic tendencies.
It was to deliver humanity from these ailments of the mind, that Guru Jee wrote the verses and importantly also gave us the cure in the form of Naam meditation.
As we come out of the other side of the global pandemic, lets maintain our focus on ensuring that we all take the medicine prescribed by Guru Sahib Jee to cure the ills that afflict all our minds.
The below verse from the Third Master, Guru Amar Das Jee is one of the most popularly recited couplets in this context.
Jagat jala(n)dhaa rakh lai aapanee kirapaa dhaar ||
The world is going up in flames - shower it with Your Mercy, and save it!
Jit dhuaarai ubarai titai laih ubaar ||
Save it, and deliver it, by whatever method it takes.
Satigur sukh vekhaaliaa sachaa sabadh beechaar ||
The True Guru has shown the way to peace, contemplating the True Word of the Shabad.
Naanak avar na sujhiee har bin bakhasanahaar ||1||
Nanak knows no other than the Lord, the Forgiving Lord. ||1||
Vaheguroo!
