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O! Ignorant. Wake up! Why Are You Asleep?

ਤੈ ਜੀਵਨੁ ਜਗਿ ਸਚੁ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਨਾ ॥

Monday
,
10
July
2017

O! Ignorant. Wake up! Why Are You Asleep?

ਤੈ ਜੀਵਨੁ ਜਗਿ ਸਚੁ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਨਾ ॥

Monday
,
10
July
2017
Sabad of the Week
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O! Ignorant. Wake up! Why Are You Asleep?

ਤੈ ਜੀਵਨੁ ਜਗਿ ਸਚੁ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਨਾ ॥

Monday
,
10
July
2017

Bhagat Ravidas's Sabad captures the essence of deep love, devotion, and reverential adoration in the resonance of Rag Suhi.

Bhagat Ravidas's Sabad captures the essence of deep love, devotion, and reverential adoration in the resonance of Rag Suhi. Suhi, one of the oldest rags, perfectly encapsulates the timeless nature of these emotions, providing a profound backdrop for the spiritual teachings embedded within the Sabad.


The Sabad begins with a poignant reflection on the transient nature of life. Each day that dawns eventually fades away, and the impermanence of our stay in this world is underscored by the inevitability of departure. Bhagat Ravidas paints a vivid picture of the journey ahead, emphasizing that death is always looming, a reminder of our mortal existence.


A call to awareness follows, urging the ignorant to awaken from their slumber. The illusion of eternal life in this world is a common misconception, and Bhagat Ravidas prompts us to recognize the fleeting nature of our earthly existence.


The Sabad then transitions to the sustenance provided by the One, who nourishes and sustains all beings. It encourages embracing devotion and abandoning the egoistic notions of "I" and "mine." Remembering the Nam of the One within the heart, especially at dawn, is highlighted as a means to cultivate this devotion.


As life progresses and the day turns to dusk, the Sabad reminds us that our lives remain incomplete without beautifying the path with devotion and remembrance. The darkness of ignorance spreads, and without the light of Nam, we remain lost.

Whichever day comes, that day goes.
Stay is impermanent; departure is imminent.
Companions are departing. I, too, will be departing.
Long journey ahead. Death hovering overhead.  1.

O! Ignorant. Wake up! Why are you asleep?
You deem the life in this world to be eternal. 1. Reflect.

The One who gives life also nourishes.
Inside all beings, dispensing consumables.

Embrace devotion; leave “I” and “mine.”
At dawn, remember Nam¹ within the heart.  2.

Life is passing; the Path is not beautified.Dusk descends. Everywhere, darkness spreads.Ravidas says, O! Ignorant, crazy being,No Remembrance? The world is a perishable house. 3.

1 Divine Identification

     Bhagat Ravidas in Rag Suhi  |  Guru Granth Sahib 793

ਸੂਹੀ ॥

ਜੋ ਦਿਨ ਆਵਹਿ ਸੋ ਦਿਨ ਜਾਹੀ ॥
ਕਰਨਾ ਕੂਚੁ ਰਹਨੁ ਥਿਰੁ ਨਾਹੀ ॥
ਸੰਗੁ ਚਲਤ ਹੈ ਹਮ ਭੀ ਚਲਨਾ ॥
ਦੂਰਿ ਗਵਨੁ ਸਿਰ ਊਪਰਿ ਮਰਨਾ ॥੧॥
ਕਿਆ ਤੂ ਸੋਇਆ ਜਾਗੁ ਇਆਨਾ ॥
ਤੈ ਜੀਵਨੁ ਜਗਿ ਸਚੁ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਨਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਜਿਨਿ ਜੀਉ ਦੀਆ ਸੁ ਰਿਜਕੁ ਅੰਬਰਾਵੈ ॥
ਸਭ ਘਟ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਹਾਟੁ ਚਲਾਵੈ ॥
ਕਰਿ ਬੰਦਿਗੀ ਛਾਡਿ ਮੈ ਮੇਰਾ ॥
ਹਿਰਦੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਰਿ ਸਵੇਰਾ ॥੨॥
ਜਨਮੁ ਸਿਰਾਨੋ ਪੰਥੁ ਨ ਸਵਾਰਾ ॥
ਸਾਂਝ ਪਰੀ ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਅੰਧਿਆਰਾ ॥
ਕਹਿ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਨਿਦਾਨਿ ਦਿਵਾਨੇ ॥
ਚੇਤਸਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਫਨ ਖਾਨੇ ॥੩॥੨॥

About Sabad of the Week

We are finite; our understanding is finite. Our understanding was different yesterday and may evolve tomorrow as we deepen our relationship with the Sabad. In this trans-creation, we have chosen to keep the repeating words in the Sabad same. We aspire to learn and retain the Divine attribute used in the original Sabad and avoid terms like God or Lord.

Revised:

This Content has been made available for educational purposes only. SikhRI does not make any representation concerning the completeness of the Content. This Content is not intended to substitute research or a deeper understanding of the topic. SikhRI encourages readers to read multiple authors to gain a complete understanding of the topic.

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Written By

Senior Fellow, Research & Policy

Harinder Singh is the Senior Fellow at the Sikh Research Institute. He holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Wichita State University, an MS in Engineering Management from the University of Kansas, and an MPhil from Punjab University in the linguistics of the Guru Granth Sahib. 

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Creative Director

Inni Kaur is Creative Director at the Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI). She has served SikhRI in several capacities since 2010, including Chair of the Board, and most recently as CEO. 

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