SHADOW OF A TREE
Some would say that the word love is hugely overused nowadays, and often in a manner that really undervalues the true meaning and depth that should come with it.
The real reason for this is that people now use it in a very conditional and non-permanent sense. In other words, we are loving things that provide us some form of personal benefit, and the love will only remain, as long as that benefit is available to us.
The love of a spiritually awakened person is never conditional. They are attuned to the universe through their spiritual practice of Naam meditation, and have a very clear appreciation of what is permanent and what is temporary or fleeting.
Spiritually devoid individuals, waste their lives getting attached to things that ultimately will not last and they ignore the one universal truth, that always has been and will be there.
Guru Arjan Dev Jee in Sukhmani Sahib gives us a great example of this teaching through the following verse.
anik bhaat maiaa ke het || sarapar hovat jaan anet ||
The many forms of attachment to Maya (materialism) shall surely pass away - know that they are transitory
birakh kee chhaiaa siau ra(n)g laavai ||
People fall in love with the shade of the Tree
oh binasai uh man pachhutaavai ||
and when it passes away, they feel regret in their minds
jo dheesai so chaalanahaar ||
Whatever is seen, shall pass away
lapaT rahio teh a(n)dh a(n)dhaar ||
and yet, the blindest of the blind cling to it
baTaauoo siau jo laavai neh ||
One who gives her love to a passing traveller
taa kau haath na aavai keh ||
nothing shall come into her hands in this way.
man har ke naam kee preet sukhadhaiee ||
O mind, the love of the Name of the Lord bestows peace
kar kirapaa naanak aap le laiee
O Nanak, the Lord, in His Mercy, unites us with Himself.
Vaheguroo!
